Blue Jays add some outfield depth with former all-star Dexter Fowler

By: Laura Armstrong - Staff Reporter, Toronto Star Posted: 8:13 PM CDT Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022 Last Modified: 9:50 PM CDT Wednesday, Mar. 30, 2022

Advertise with us

DUNEDIN, Fla. There was a locker set up for Dexter Fowler in the Blue Jays clubhouse at its player development complex here Wednesday, a sign of things to come for the organization’s outfield depth.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/03/2022 (1355 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The veteran outfielder, 36, is expected to sign a minor-league deal with Toronto that includes an invite to what is left of spring training, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak on the record.

Fowler, who can play all three outfield spots, will slot into Toronto’s outfield depth chart behind George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Raimel Tapia. He is expected to land in Triple-A alongside Josh Palacios, the fifth outfielder currently on the Jays’ 40-man roster. It is not yet known if an opt-out date or any guarantees are written into his deal with Toronto.

Rob Carr - GETTY IMAGES
Dexter Fowler, who can play all three outfield spots, will slot into Toronto’s outfield depth chart behind George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Raimel Tapia. — Rob Carr - GETTY IMAGES Dexter Fowler, who can play all three outfield spots, will slot into Toronto’s outfield depth chart behind George Springer, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Raimel Tapia.

Bringing in the 14-year league veteran, who helped the Chicago Cubs break their 108-year World Series drought in 2016 with an all-star season, offers the Jays some protection in the event of injuries. Springer, Hernandez and Gurriel have all spent time on the injured list in recent years.

It has been a few years since Fowler has been at his best at the plate. He hit .276 with an .840 OPS in 2016, and .264 average with an .851 OPS a year later in St. Louis. But he hit just .180 in 2018 and .238 in 2019.

The 2022 season will be a comeback year for Fowler either way. He suffered a torn ACL in the first weeks of his first season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, which ended his year before it really had a chance to start. Fowler was hurt ury during a game against Toronto in Dunedin, after running into second base awkwardly and colliding with Marcus Semien. .

This is not the first time the Jays have circled around Fowler. The club reportedly offered him a four-year deal worth $64 million (U.S.) after his all-star turn during the 2016 off-season. Fowler, one of the top free agents on the market at the time, eventually signed a five-year deal with St. Louis worth $82.5 million.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy