We've heard enough rumors focusing on what starting pitcher the Chicago Cubs will go after in the offseason. That's an easy one because there are so many top arms set to be available in November. But what about their center field situation heading into the 2016 MLB season?
Chicago traded for Dexter Fowler last offseason and saw great results from the leadoff man. He batted .250/.346/.411 with 102 runs scored, 17 home runs, 46 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 156 games and went 10-for-36 with six runs scored, two home runs and three RBIs in the postseason.
However, he might not be back with the team next year. Rumors suggest the Cubs will extend him the qualifying offer to ensure themselves a draft pick if Fowler leaves, which may indicate there's a good chance the two sides may not agree to a contract. The 29-year-old is hitting free agency for the first time and likely wants to cash in on one of his most successful campaigns in his MLB career.
"The pending free agent earned himself a nice payday with a big second half as it should land him a qualifying offer from the Cubs," writes Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com. "If he takes it he'll make about $16 million for one year but that's not likely to happen as Fowler will get multi-year offers for at least that much. The Cubs aren't likely to be in that bidding, preferring to spend on pitching and replacing him internally."
Well, it won't be easy for them to fill the void internally unless Kris Bryant moves to center field on a permanent basis, which is unlikely to happen. As a result, ESPN Insider Jim Bowden provided a few candidates the Cubs might consider.
"There will be free-agent options available, including Denard Span, as well as players that can be had in a trade, such as Jacoby Ellsbury (if they're willing to pay most of his remaining salary) and Brett Gardner of the Yankees, Joc Pederson of the Dodgers and Marcell Ozuna of the Marlins."
Based on Rogers' assessment we can rule out Ellsbury since he's signed on for over $110 million through 2020.
As for the others, they're all realistic acquisitions. Pederson is a bit iffy because the Dodgers may not look to trade him after his rookie season unless they have bigger plans in mind (still, we can't rule anything out with them). But Span, Gardner and Ozuna are well within reach.
Span will be a free agent and won't be commanding top dollar because of his injury-filled 2015 campaign; Gardner is under a reasonable contract and is signed through 2018 for about $40 million; and Ozuna, 24, is under club control through 2019 and the Marlins are apparently open to trading him.
The free agent market doesn't provide much in terms of center fielders, so Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer may have to get creative.
Perhaps the Cubs can give the Colorado Rockies a call and check on the availability of Charlie Blackmon, who knows.
Span would be a nice signing and he'd also provide a short-term stopgap for prospect Albert Almora, who is probably two years away from making his MLB debut. Gardner would be a solid acquisition because of his salary, leadoff capabilities and flexibility on defense. Ozuna would perhaps be a bit of a gamble after he followed up a tremendous 2014 campaign with a dud in 2015, but he still has a promising ceiling and is also flexible in the outfield.
Chicago has also been linked to Justin Upton and Jason Heyward in rumors and both of them are expected to land a lucrative contract, so it's still not out of the realm of possibility they keep Fowler.
Just be prepared if that's not the case because the front office will have to sift through a number of options and ensure they replace Fowler's contributions on offense and defense.
