Dexter Fowler reneged on his deal with the Orioles and has signed with the Chicago Cubs. According to Jon Heyman, it was over a 1-year player opt-out clause dispute.
word on fowler is he insisted on an opt-out with orioles after 1 year. o's didnt want to do it #cubs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 25, 2016
Our staff reacts.
Ryan Blake
Yesterday, the Orioles had their everyday right fielder, bonafide leadoff hitter, stolen base threat, and high-OBP guy and today he’s a Chicago Cub.
I don’t understand. I guess the deal is not official until pen hits paper. I’m trying to keep my thoughts PG, here, but I’m pretty upset.
It looks like, unless we trade for a Jay Bruce type, we’ll be seeing a lot of Nolan Reimold this year. I’m alright with that, as long as he stays healthy. That said, I would much rather have Dexter Fowler in our lineup.
Stephen Adams
Wow. Just wow.
Joel Katz
Obviously, this is a very frustrating development, but I respect the Orioles’ Front Office for holding true to their “no opt-outs” policy. At the end of the day, this is a business — and opt-outs are bad business. That said, the Orioles should re-examine this policy for next season as nearly every major free agent got an opt-out this year and I don’t see that trend changing any time soon.
Phil Backert
No other way to describe it other than a kick right in the gut. Watching video of Folwer strutting out to the mound with his Cubs teammates cheering is the ultimate wrestling heel move. The Orioles are now back to square one where they need a right fielder and more importantly, a leadoff hitter. They could look to trade for Jay Bruce to play right field or sign Pedro Alvarez and see if Mark Trumbo can be a serviceable option out there. There’s no positive way to spin this, it’s a gut punch.
Tyler Lombardi
I can appreciate a player wanting to go back to his “home” but I can’t appreciate someone leading a team and its fanbase on the way Fowler has and then reneging on the deal because of an opt-out clause that the Orioles were never going to agree to, especially when they have to give up a draft pick.
I don’t fault the Orioles at all on this one.
Joe Polek
I am confused. Fowler apparently talked Adam Jones and told him he was coming to Baltimore. But in his press conference today, Fowler said there was never an agreement, and he doesn’t know where that rumor came from. So someone is lying.
On a side note, if the Orioles continue their stance of no opt-outs in contracts, which might be a good thing, but all other teams will give opt-outs then the Orioles will be screwed in the future.
They still need to sign someone to play right field. Using a right fielder by committee will not work again.
Paul Valle
The Orioles lost a player, but kept a draft pick. Silver lining, I suppose. Fowler claims they never had an agreement, but Adam Jones claims to have spoken to him personally. At the end of the day, the Orioles are left scrambling for a right fielder. Is Jay Bruce a possibility again?
Jonathan French
I’ll keep this one short.
I’m curious to see why Jones thought the Fowler deal was done, as well as all the reporters.
Fowler would have fit the Orioles’ lineup, but defensively, there are better fits for RF, a postion he’s never played. A trade for Jay Bruce or possibly Andre Ethier, both natural corner outfielders, might actually serve the #Orioles better.
The Orioles also get to keep their compensation pick for Chen to help stock their farm system, something that is extremely important.
2 Responses
And his math is bassackwards. He turned down the Cubs qualifying offer for $15.9 million which, if he too it, would leave him a free agent at the end of 2016. So….he and his agent go looking for a patsy that will sign him long term BUT allow him to leave after one year for greater riches. The Birds correctly say no to what is basically a one year rental AND the loss of a draft pick. So then Mr. Fowler goes back to the Cubs for (reportedly) $2.9 million less than his original qualifying offer. If this guy is that stupid and selfish, I don’t want him on the team
Well that was 3 minutes I’ll never get back in my life after reading this. Just state the obvious, He wanted to go back to and play for a ring with the Cubs not last place with the O’s!