Despite having already added catcher Russell Martin through free agency, and All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson via trade, the Toronto Blue Jays are remaining active in bolstering a team that finished four games above .500 in 2014.
Toronto is reportedly chatting with the Houston Astros about obtaining outfielder Dexter Fowler, likely to replace Melky Cabrera.
Cabrera hit .301 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI last season, but is still unlikely to return, partly because of his own doing. Cabrera himself has stated he'd rather not remain a Blue Jay because he dislikes playing on the artificial turf surface at the Rogers Centre.
Melky Cabrera's preference is to sign with a team other than the Blue Jays so he doesn't have to play his home games on artificial surface.
- Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 28, 2014
According to Fox Sports 1's Jon Morosi via Twitter, Fowler, a switch-hitter, could provide them with versatility and a left-handed bat against good right-handed pitching.
Blue Jays have had trade discussions with Astros on Dexter Fowler. He is a switch-hitter; Jays would like to get more left-handed. — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 3, 2014
In 116 games last season Fowler slashed .276/.375/.399 with eight home runs, 35 RBI and 11 stolen bases. In 2014, Fowler hit .327 with two home runs, 15 RBI, and a .419 on-base percentage as a left-handed batter. The sample size was relatively small though-just 124 plate appearances. For his career Fowler is a .299 hitter as a righty vs. left-handers, and a .269 hitter as a lefty vs. right-handers.
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