Chicago Cubs: Dexter Fowler still available; Top prospects list continues

We’re a little under a month away before spring training is underway, and former Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler is still looking for employment after rejecting a qualifying offer.

He had himself a fantastic 2015 campaign and helped the North Siders defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, claiming the National League Wild Card and advancing to the Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

However, their run to their first World Series title in over 100 years was cut short when Daniel Murphy and the New York Mets swept them four games to none, sending them on a short ride home. It was tough to watch the Mets clinch the pennant in Chicago, but 2016 is a new year.

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Despite the Cubs possibly being interested in bringing him back, I personally believe that they should move forward with the lineup they have. Sure, they could bring in another pitcher by trading right fielder Jorge Soler, but he performed well during the second half of the season after missing some time due to multiple injuries.

It would be disappointing to see Chicago letting him go for a reliever or, at least, one mediocre pitcher like they did with Starlin Castro and the New York Yankees over the winter.

With the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago White Sox looking to add to their outfield, both teams should become aggressive over the next couple days in order to sign him to a multi-year deal that could give him around $20 million this season alone.

After all, the man deserves to be paid and given a starting position without the club needing to move a key piece in order to make room. I’m sure I’ll catch some heat for that, but hey, we all have personal opinions.

I love Fowler as both a player and human being and would love to see him return to Chicago. I just don’t it would quite work out if the Cubs are forced to move Soler. He still has plenty of potential and freakish power in the batters box when he’s red-hot.

Here’s more from around the league:

‘Let’s face it, Dexter Fowler is not coming back‘ – Cubbies Crib

‘Chicago Cubs: Top Prospects list No. 20-11‘ – Cubbies Crib

‘2016 preview: June and July are table setters‘ – Cubbies Crib

‘Cespedes thanks fans on social media‘ – MLB.com

‘Fowler linked to both Chicago teams‘ – MLB.com