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December 4, 2013 13-14 Offseason Joe Janish

Astros Acquire Dexter Fowler

For those of you who shed the dreams of sugarplum fairies surrounding Jacoby Ellsbury, and moved instead toward visions of Dexter Fowler in Flushing, well, strike that thought from your brain, as well.

The Astros sent outfielder Brian Barnes and RHP Jordan Lyles to Colorado for centerfielder Dexter Fowler and a player to be named later.

Wait, what?

I have no idea who Barnes is, and Lyles has a 5.35 ERA and 6.2 K/9 ratio in three years of MLB service. Maybe Barnes is the next what-Lastings-Milledge-was-supposed-to-be, I don’t know. Maybe Fowler is not as good as I think he is, on both sides of the ball. I could be wrong about the fleet-footed, sure-handed, switch-hitting center fielder with pop and a career .365 OBP going into his prime years. But I would think he’d have been on the Mets’ radar, and considering the paltry package that landed him, I’d also think the Mets could have put together something similar or better to acquire him.

But what do I know? Let me hear your thoughts in the comments.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. argonbunnies December 5, 2013 at 3:24 am
    Fowler’s a weird player. At times, he can look like a star in every phase of the game. Other times, he can look terrible at everything, and be a dog about it. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s either red hot or a total liability. The consensus seems to be that he’s under-achieved his potential, and his success is Coors Field-driven. Not a guy I’m eager to add.

    The stats and skills do look impressive on paper, though.

    Yet another terrible trade this week, to not get more for him — Barnes and Lyles is like Den Dekker and Gorski.

  2. DaveSchneck December 6, 2013 at 11:15 am
    Fowler vs. Chris Young is interesting. Assuming the Mets could have provided a similar package, the choice would be:
    a. dealing two players for two years of Fowler, less power but better OBP, can lead off, two years of control
    b. signing C Young, cost similar, more power, less OBP, maybe could lead off if he miraculously became a successful Hudgens disciple in ST, only one year of control

    Mets selected option b, leaving them a continued need for improvement at leadoff, another #6/#7 hitter, but improved OF D and still holding those two potential trade pieces. I think I would have opted for Fowler if Colorado would have accepted a deGrom/Captain Kirk package.