Whether it was to make room for younger players or to shed salary, the St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder Dexter Fowler to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday for a player to be named or cash considerations.
Both teams announced the trade Thursday night. Fowler, who has played center field and right field in his career, waived his no-trade clause to enable the transaction to happen.
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Los Angeles will be the fifth team for Fowler, a 13-year veteran who played for current Angels manager Joe Maddon for two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, 2015-16. Fowler’s only All-Star recognition came in 2016, when he was part of the Cubs’ World Series championship lineup.
Fowler has a career .259 batting average and a .359 on-base percentage in 5,020 at-bats. He played six seasons for the Colorado Rockies and one for the Houston Astros before his stint in Chicago. He signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in December 2016.
Fowler, who will turn 35 next month, has one year left on the five-year, $82.5 million contract with St. Louis. He will make $14.5 million for the upcoming season, and multiple media outlets reported that the Cardinals will get $12.75 million of that figure.
Aside from money, the Cardinals’ outfield is crowded with younger player such as Harrison Bader, Dylan Carlson, Austin Dean, Tyler O’Neill, Lane Thomas and Justin Williams.
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Conversely, the Angels could be looking at Fowler to complete an outfield that includes Mike Trout in center and Justin Upton in left.
Top Los Angeles prospect Jo Adell hit .161 with three home runs in 124 at-bats in his rookie season in 2020. He could begin the 2021 season in the minor leagues.
–Field Level Media