Major League Baseball

Cubs, Dexter Fowler agree to $13M, 1-year contract

Published Feb. 25, 2016 6:32 p.m. ET

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MESA, Ariz. (AP) Outfielder Dexter Fowler agreed to stay with the Cubs, spurning a $33 million, three-year offer from the Baltimore Orioles to accept a $13 million, one-year deal with Chicago that includes a mutual option for 2017.

Fowler turned down a $15.8 million, one-year qualifying offer from the Cubs in November to test the free-agent market. Under the agreement announced Thursday, he gets $8 million this year, and the sides have a $9 million option for 2017 with a $5 million buyout.

Orioles executive vice president for baseball operations Dan Duquette said Fowler insisted on being able to terminate his agreement early and become a free agent again.

''We made a very competitive offer. The issue was the opt out,'' Duquette said. ''The Orioles have made it clear that that type of deal wouldn't really work for us. Based on that, it sounds to me like he wanted to return to Chicago.''

Duquette said the sides had never reached a deal.

''There was not an agreement to terms because they kept insisting on an opt out,'' he said. ''I don't see, club ownership doesn't see, the value in that type of arrangement to the Orioles. If we are going to guarantee a contract, it should be a contract.''

The 29-year-old Fowler hit .250 in 156 games last year and set career highs in many offensive categories as the Cubs reached the NL Championship Series. He had 102 runs, 17 homers, 149 hits and 84 walks. The speedy, switch-hitter has a .267 average in eight major league seasons, spending his first six years in the big leagues with Colorado and 2014 with Houston.

To make room for Fowler on the 40-man roster, the Cubs placed left-hander Zac Rosscup on the 60-day disabled list due to left shoulder inflammation.

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