Re: Cubs trade Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily for Dexter Fowler
Two drivers behind this move for the Cubs. First, it opens up 3B for Alcantara and Bryant. Alcantara has been tearing it up in winter ball and needs regular playing time. Bryant will probably be up in June if not earlier, and has been tabbed as the future at 3B. The second reason for the move is getting Fowler, who is a free agent after this upcoming season. That means the Cubs will get a #1 compensatory pick if someone else signs him. Fowler is also a nice fit at the leadoff spot in the short-term, as they bring along their young talent.
Nice move by the Cubs. I still think they need at least one more impact player to compete for a playoff spot, but they're close.
I think Alcantara stays in CF because Fowler is a pretty poor defensive CF. True, that will be mitigated playing in Wrigley Field, which is a pretty easy center field to play with the small gaps, however, I see Fowler fitting nicely in LF.
Mike Olt will probably start at 3B, which I'm not stoked about, but that'll be short term because he will likely strikeout 40% of his at bats again and pressure them to call up Bryant sooner rather than later.
Later down the road, they will have a lot of decisions to make, as Addison Russell is the legitimate SS of the bunch. This will move Castro to 3B likely, which will force Bryant to LF.