The St. Louis Cardinals’ president of baseball operations John Mozeliak didn’t mince words when asked about Dexter Fowler recently. Is it time for Fowler’s Cardinals tenure to reach its conclusion?
Occasionally, you’ll see athletes criticize teammates to the media. It’s uncommon, but it happens. Even less often you might see a coach speak negatively of one of their players. Almost never, however, does an executive of a major sport lobby such attacks, but St. Louis Cardinals head of baseball operations John Mozeliak did just that.
Mozeliak on Fowler: “I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and question his effort and energy level. And those are things I can’t defend. I try to create opportunities for him, but not if it’s at the expense of other players who are hustling and playing hard.”
— Trevor Vallese (@TVallese) July 2, 2018
Jesus. https://t.co/Bh1lpXSfi3
It’s one thing if an executive airs shared frustrations with a player underperforming to the media, but that’s not what Mozeliak did in his statements. He’s accusing Fowler of doing one of the worst things a professional athlete can do: not try.
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Mozeliak’s loose lips and bluntness could be an indicator that Fowler’s on borrowed time in St. Louis.
A pipe-dream trade
Ideally, the Cardinals would like to get Fowler off the books. Midway through his second season in St. Louis he doesn’t even look replacement level. If he’s off the books, the Cardinals might be able to shuffle their outfield and see if Bryce Harper has any interest in Busch Stadium.
But the hard truth is no one is taking on that contract. Fowler’s game just hasn’t corresponded with his salary, especially this season with his -1.1 WAR. If the Cardinals want to get rid of Fowler, they might have to DFA him.
It’s not an easy decision, but fortunately it’s also not one of particular urgency. The NL Central is still anyone’s division and ridding themselves of Fowler won’t be the move that launches the Cardinals past the Cubs and Brewers.
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St. Louis Cardinals fans will always remember an iconic moment or two from Dexter Fowler, but in between those are too many bad and effortless at bats.