The Cubs, as expected, extended the $15.8 million qualifying offer to OF Dexter Fowler for next season prior to Friday’s deadline. Fowler has until Nov. 13 at 4:00pm CST to accept or decline the offer.
Dexter Fowler is a free agent and is expected to turn down the qualifying offer. The Cubs would like to re-sign Fowler but on a shorter-term deal than he is likely to receive from another team. Estimates have Fowler signing a four-year contract with at least a $12 million AAV (average annual value).
The Cubs acquired Fowler last January from the Astros for INF Luis Valbuena and RHP Dan Straily. Fowler avoided arbitration and made $9.5 million this past season. Fowler had a good year and an excellent second half.
Fowler played in a career-high 156 games and batted .250/.346/.411 with 29 doubles, eight triples and 17 home runs for a .757 OPS. Fowler set career highs in hits (149), home runs (17), runs scored (102), walks (84) and strikeouts (154).
After the break, Dexter Fowler batted .272/.389/.463 with 16 doubles, four triples and nine home runs for a .852 OPS. Fowler walked 49 times with 72 strikeouts in 71 games in the second half.
Several of the free agents connected to the Cubs received qualifying offers before the deadline.
One possible option in center field for the Cubs next season, Denard Span, did not receive a qualifying offer from the Nationals.
A player has not accepted a qualifying offer in the first three years of the system. Twenty qualifying offers were made this year. There were a total of 34 offers made the previous three years.
2015 Qualifying Offers
- Brett Anderson, Dodgers
- Wei-Yin Chen, Orioles
- Chris Davis, Orioles
- Ian Desmond, Nationals
- Marco Estrada, Blue Jays
- Dexter Fowler, Cubs
- Yovani Gallardo, Rangers
- Alex Gordon, Royals
- Zack Greinke, Dodgers
- Jason Heyward, Cardinals
- Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
- Howie Kendrick, Dodgers
- Ian Kennedy, Padres
- John Lackey, Cardinals
- Daniel Murphy, Mets
- Colby Rasmus, Astros
- Jeff Samardzija, White Sox
- Justin Upton, Padres
- Matt Wieters, Orioles
- Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals
Teams that sign free agents that have rejected qualifying offers have to forfeit draft picks and the slot money. The Cubs’ first round pick is not protected this year. By making Dexter Fowler a qualifying offer, the Cubs will receive a compensatory pick if/when he signs with a new team.