Dexter Fowler, St. Louis Cardinals. (Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)
Dexter Fowler is reunited with Joe Maddon, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels.
After four years apart, Dexter Fowler is going to play for Joe Maddon again.
The veteran outfielder spent the last four MLB seasons playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, but will now play his age-35 season in the City of Angels. Fowler was traded on Thursday night to the Los Angeles Angels, reuniting with his former Chicago Cubs skipper. Fowler spent two seasons with the Cubs in the mid-2010s, winning a World Series at the end of the 2016 campaign.
Dexter Fowler, Joe Maddon won a World Series with the 2016 Chicago Cubs
While the Angels were looking for a corner outfielder this offseason, Fowler seems to be a bit over the hill. He has not hit above .238 in any of the last three seasons. We will be five years removed from Fowler’s best statistical season in 2016, his lone All-Star appearance in his 13-year big league career. So what can Fowler provide to an Angeles team that never makes the postseason?
Perhaps that is exactly what the Halos need. Fowler has been a part of five postseason teams in his 13 seasons, punching tickets into October with the Cardinals, the Cubs and the Colorado Rockies before that. The Angels have not qualified for the postseason since 2014, which is the only time they have made it in while having Mike Trout on their ball club. This has to change now.
By trading for Fowler, it means he will be expected to take on a leadership role with the Angels.