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.
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.
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.