Dexter Fowler signs five-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals
Center fielder Dexter Fowler, fresh off a historic championship run with the Chicago Cubs, will be joining the rival St. Louis Cardinals.
Fowler flew to St. Louis on Thursday night to have a physical, according to KSDK-TV, who first reported the story, and was introduced by the team at a press conference Friday morning.
FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported the terms of the deal on Twitter.
The Cardinals will have to give up a first-round pick for Fowler, who was tendered a qualifying offer by the Cubs.
Fowler was a free agent before last season, but didn't find the long-term deal he was seeking. Instead, he signed with the Cubs on a one-year deal and drove up his value with a stellar season.
He had a career-best .393 on-base percentage in 2016 and finished the regular season with 13 home runs. Fowler kept it up in the postseason, picking up eight extra base hits and leading off Game 7 of the World Series with a home run.
The deal ought to add a little extra drama to Opening Day -- when the Cubs will travel to St. Louis to begin their title defense.
Source: Fowler deal with #STLCards: Five years, $82.5M, full no-trade.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2016
Fowler bet on himself. Turned down three years, $33M from #Orioles last off-season. Signed one-year, $13M deal with Cubs. Now: $82.5M.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2016
