Fansided

Cardinals: 3 players we need to drop like a bad habit

By Steven Kubitza

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Andrew Miller #21 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during a team workout at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 19, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Andrew Miller #21 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during a team workout at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 19, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Dexter Fowler, St. Louis Cardinals
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 15: Dexter Fowler #25 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 15, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cardinals defeated the White Sox 5-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

2. Dexter Fowler

Dexter Fowler is entering the final year of his five-year, $82.5 million deal signed in the winter of 2016. He won a World Series in Chicago and decided to see if he could continue his success in St. Louis. That has not been the case.

He is now set to earn $16.5 million in 2021 and also carries a no-trade clause. That is a lot of money for a player who has posted a WAR of 2.0 in four seasons with the Cardinals. Fowler has not lived up to his 2016 All-Star season and is only slashing .233/.334/.408 in St. Louis.

This is a similar situation to Miller’s. The Cardinals can call around and see if any contending teams are interested in Fowler. If so, that could help convince him to accept a deal in order to compete for another World Series. However, that is no easy task considering he is almost a replacement-level outfielder who will turn 35 in March and is set to earn over $16 million.

His money is not going to ruin the Cardinals’ chances of competing in 2021. It is just a lot to spend on someone who is not going to get anywhere near that money on his next deal.

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