FanPost

Dr. Strange-Mo: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Trust the Process

Please know that write this in the wee hours of the morn of December 9th. Mere minutes after reading a myriad of reports, that I'm sure you all have perused as well, that John Mozeliak and his magic elves have conjured up an agreement with Dexter Fowler. I write with an antiquated sense of wonder as I revisit last winter's David Price debacle. But this time optimism keeps me company as well because this man has been pre-destined for Saint Louis from the moment Kris Bryant fielded the last out of the World Series, heck he was answering questions about this very scenario during the Series itself. This is as good as it's going to get for Cardinal Nation so let's dive in!

Firstly let's look at what we've had if ever so quickly. Randal Grichuk, Tommy Pham, Jeremy Hazelbaker and Kolten Wong roamed center field in 2016. YEESH. So rejoice we finally get that all-too-necessary-thing in this wonderful game: consistency. They all tried admirably but effort and reality aren't interchangeable. Now secondly this is, to me, a multifaceted trade of sorts, stick with me here. Last winter John Lackey and Jason Hayward followed the money to Chicago donning the red "C". This netted the Cardinals two compensatory draft picks (Dylan Carlson and Dakota Hudson) now Fowler defects to us making the teams first round selection a necessary forfeiture. So in my view the transaction should read: Lackey, Hayward and a PTBNL for Fowler and two PTBNL's. A trade that in all likely hood sounds logical and by all means, even likely had the Cubs been say the Twins.

Then we have the second facet. Matt Holliday. His all too generous $17 million salary combined with his $1 million buyout were the first departures from the payroll, thankfully. Well that $18 million will quickly be allocated to Mr. Fowler's account almost assuredly. A trade of a decrepit Holliday for an electrifying Dexter Fowler only happens on PS3's, 4's and X-Box's. But nonetheless this is what took place. This is a significant raise for a proven centerfielder but it won't last for an eternity as is Hayward's case. Five years $90 mil sounds fair he'll be able to produce, not pilfer the coffers and groom wunderkind Harrison Bader. He'll be approximately 35 when the contract ends and most likely be ready to cash in again (looking at you Mets).

Now what we are getting is a career .268 hitter coming off of a .276 batting average from the season prior, has 10-15 or 15-20, pending your optimism, home run power, solid defense, enough speed and savvy initiative on the base paths to make Jon Lester have to change jersey's mid game and he is a kindred spirit for the clubhouse. He is the epitome of dynamic, defensive and athletic and most importantly Cardinals baseball. So we have our LOOGY (Cecil the lion, too soon?) and starting center fielder this team is already better than last year and that is a start. Oh and Matheny should call Joe Maddon and ask how to best utilize his new center fielder and lead off man. No shame in it. And so we wait with baited breath. Merry Christmas everybody and Happy New Year! Go Cards!