The Toronto Blue Jays offered outfielder Dexter Fowler a four-year deal worth $64 million back in the off-season, reports ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported in December that the Blue Jays offered Fowler a four-year contract in the range of $60 million.
Fowler, one of the top free agents available this past winter, ultimately signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for $82.5 million over five years.
Coming off an all-star appearance as a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2016, Fowler has slashed .236/.310/.427 in his first 22 games with St. Louis. While he’s seen his batting average dip early in the season, he is on pace to set a new career-high in home runs should he remain healthy, having already connected for four long balls.
Toronto has struggled mightily to begin 2017, sitting in last place in the American League East with a record of 7-17. Kevin Pillar is thriving at the plate through the first month of the season but the outfield remains a concern beyond that.
Ezequiel Carrera and Steve Pearce have been splitting time in left field, with the latter failing to record an extra-base hit to this point. Jose Bautista, who re-signed with the team in January, has not been able to find success with the bat, posting an OPS of .523 with a concerning 29 strikeouts in 86 at-bats.
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