Chicago Cubs: Who will replace Dexter Fowler in center?

After one successful season in Chicago, Dexter Fowler’s future with the team is now unclear.

This year marked one of the best seasons of Fowler’s career thus far. Playing under a $9.5 million salary, he had career-highs in many areas, including runs, hits, walks, home runs and games played. His success was vital to the Cubs, and like manager Joe Maddon said “you go, we go” meaning if Fowler plays well, the entire team does.

Clearly, Fowler has earned himself a huge pay raise because of his breakout year. Many think he has played his way into earning $20 million per season, something the Cubs might not be willing to offer. After all, Fowler will be 30 next season, and history shows many careers start going downhill once a player reaches their 30s.

What the Cubs more than likely will do is give Fowler a qualifying offer, which he will most likely reject. If he does decline the offer and signs with a new team, the Cubs will receive a compensatory first-round draft pick from whoever signs him.

Fowler’s departure would leave a gaping hole in center field and the leadoff spot in the batting order. Chicago has 21-year-old first-rounder Albert Almora in Double-A Tennessee, but he is not expected to be big league ready on Opening Day 2016.

This leaves the team with two options: sign a more cost-effective replacement or look within to replace their catalyst.

Next: Denard Span

Jun 24, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Denard Span (2) catches a fly ball during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Denard Span

Span has spent the past three seasons as the Washington Nationals’ center fielder and leadoff hitter, tying for the National League lead in hits during the 2014 season with 184 base knocks.

He hit .301 in 2015, but was limited to only 61 games due to injury.

Statistically, Span is a better hitter throughout his career than Fowler, but at the same time he is two years older. If the Cubs sign him, it would only be for a couple of years until Almora is ready to take over running the outfield.

Next: Austin Jackson

October 20, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) hits a two run home run in the eighth inning against the New York Mets in game four of the NLCS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Bryant

As far-fetched as it may seem, there is a relatively decent chance Kris Bryant moves to the outfield sooner or later.

He has not been a disaster by any means at third base, but many project him to move to the outfield due to his 6’5″ height. He has shown that he is capable of such a move over a small sample size, playing at all three outfield positions over 19 games this season.

Another reason this move would be beneficial is because the team would not have to trade Starlin Castro and/or Javier Baez to make room up the middle. It is obvious the Cubs have a logjam of middle infielders, but Bryant moving to center field would allow Baez to play third base and Castro to stay at second.

However, the team may need to trade Baez or Castro for pitching this offseason, which would not allow the Bryant move to take place – or, at the very least, complicate matters.

Next: Albert Almora

Albert Almora

February 25, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora (78) throws the baseball during a spring training workout at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The cheapest and most interesting option for the Cubs would be to give Albert Almora the job out of Spring Training.

Almora will be 22 in April, right between the ages of Addison Russell and Bryant when they were promoted to the big leagues. Even though he is the team’s best center field prospect, this move will most likely not happen – regardless the intrigue it draws.

First, the Cubs front office is generally patient with its prospects, wanting them to get time at Triple-A before promotion. Yes, players like Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell are exemptions from this, as Schwarber skipped Triple-A and Russell only played 11 games there.

However, the team passed on promoting Bryant in 2014 and kept Baez in Iowa until September this season. Almora’s time in Chicago will come, but that time will most likely not be on Opening Day 2016.

Next: Decisions loom for Cubs' front office this winter