Hoyer: Dexter Fowler Deal 'Independent' Of Kris Bryant Situation
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) The masterful deal that brings outfielder Dexter Fowler to the Cubs from the Astros solidifies two positions and batting order issues at one time for Chicago.
In this case, the Cubs solved (at least for one season) the problem of finding a lead-off man and center fielder in one deal. At the same time, by trading away Luis Valbuena (along with right-hander Dan Straily), the Cubs opened a path for elite third baseman prospect Kris Bryant to make the Opening Day roster, if they so choose.
The smart money is still on Bryant opening the season at Triple-A Iowa. That strategic move would assure that the team would control Bryant's contract through the 2021 season before he becomes a free agent. Each major league season consists of 172 days of service time. Anything less than the six years-times-172 factor would give the Cubs an extra year of contract control before free agent eligibility kicks in.
"This move is totally independent," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said in reference to the trade and Bryant's major league status. "Kris' development is totally independent of any move we made today. We have a number of guys that will be working at third. We also have a number of different guys we can move into that role at times."
What's this all mean? Well, Mike Olt could be the third base starter to begin the season if Bryant is in the minors to begin 2015. Olt spent a good amount of 2014 in the major leagues before a late-summer demotion to Triple-A Iowa. His power numbers are solid, but his swing-and-miss factor was really troubling. Olt had 100 strikeouts in 225 plate appearances in 2014, a strikeout rate of nearly 39 percent.
Infielder Tommy La Stella, utilityman Arismendy Alcantara and even second baseman Javier Baez may get playing time at third, Hoyer said. Both Hoyer and Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein have said the organization looks at Alcantara, who often played center field last season, as a super-utilityman -- much like Ben Zobrist was for new Cubs manager Joe Maddon back in Tampa Bay.
Fowler has a .271 lifetime batting average over seven seasons. His .366 on-base percentage makes him the top candidate to lead off in manager Maddon's lineup on opening night against the Cardinals and likely starter Adam Wainwright. Fowler is a fine defender and has a strong, accurate arm. He also adds a speed element to a team that has been one of the slowest in baseball for the past five years.
The Cubs brass counted heavily on new hitting coach John Mallee in determining Fowler's makeup and work habits. Mallee worked as Houston's hitting coach the past two seasons, and he signed off on Fowler after working with him in 2014.
"There is no better information you are going to get than from a guy that coached him for a year," Hoyer said. "The thing John kept telling us is (Fowler) really puts on an at-bat. He really grinds for you, sees pitches and gets on base."
The Cubs only have contract control of Fowler for 2015. He can opt for free agent status this November.
Fowler's in his last year of arbitration. He filed for $10.8 million, while Houston responded with $8.5 million, which now becomes Chicago's figure. The two sides have until Feb. 1 to work a deal out before an arbitration date is set. Arbitration hearings are heard by an independent arbitration expert during the first three weeks of February.
