This MLB offseason featured so many talented and high-profile free agents that a player such as Dexter Fowler is still somehow available. However, rumors indicate his market is perhaps narrowed down to the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
Fowler rejected the Cubs' qualifying offer, which means he's now tied to draft pick compensation. Chicago already lost two draft picks when they signed John Lackey and Jason Heyward away from the St. Louis Cardinals, so it was said they were relying on Fowler to sign elsewhere so they can get one back (they don't pick until No. 104 overall in the upcoming MLB draft as of right now).
On the other hand, the White Sox have long been in the market for an outfielder. Rumors found the team was keeping tabs on Alex Gordon, Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes before they all signed with their respective teams, but Chicago was unwilling to go above a three-year contract for either of the stars.
Both Chicago teams have been hesitant to make more signings and deals after their early activity in the offseason, but the two might be starting to come around.
"For various reasons - notably a slow-developing, strange free-agent outfield market - Fowler will most likely have to settle for a one- or two-year contract. As it sits, the Cubs and White Sox appear to be the two teams with the most interest in signing him to a deal," writes Bruce Levin of 670 The Score.
"Both Chicago teams are monitoring the Fowler's free-agent market daily, according to sources."
Levine talked to an insider who believes the Cubs have the best chance to re-sign Fowler.
"'The Cubs are still the most likely landing spot for Fowler,' one baseball executive whose club has also followed the Fowler free-agent process said. 'He should have taken the Cubs' qualifying offer and moved into the free agent class of 2017.'"
I'm not so sure Fowler should have accepted the qualifying offer since he arguably had the best season of his career heading into free agency, but he's certainly an excellent fit for them. The only issue would be for the Cubs to figuring out the outfield situation with Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber since Fowler would take over in center and Heyward would shift over to right.
But that's a good problem to have.
As for the White Sox, they can certainly use an upgrade in the outfield as well as another bat atop the order. Avisail Garcia doesn't appear to be a formidable long-term option in the outfield, so adding Fowler alongside Melky Cabrera and Adam Eaton would further propel them into contention in the AL Central.
Additionally, Fowler isn't expected to command a lucrative long-term deal like Gordon, Upton and Cespedes did.
The bottom line is that both of these teams can probably make it work. The Cubs have such a deep farm system that they don't really need that extra draft pick, although it certainly would help. The White Sox don't have the deepest of pockets, but they can afford a player such as Fowler and perhaps structure his contract to make it easier on their 2016 payroll.
Spring training isn't too far off at this point in the offseason, so Fowler should have a home relatively soon.
