NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 18: Dexter Fowler #24 of the Chicago Cubs scores a run off of a double hit by Kris Bryant #17 in the sixth inning against Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets during game two of the 2015 MLB National League Championship Series at Citi Field on October 18, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
2016By Ken Fang on

It was one of the stranger stories that surfaced over the past few days. It appeared that Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler was going to leave Chicago and sign with the Baltimore Orioles. It was a done deal. There was nothing that was going to stand in the way of Fowler leaving the Cubs and taking his talents eastward. But a funny thing happened at Spring Training. He returned to the Cubs.

But let’s backtrack. Let’s look back at what happened. It seemed like this was a done deal for the Orioles. When you have one of the national MLB insiders like ESPN’s Buster Olney saying Fowler to the Orioles for three years, you believe it’s a done deal:

Jon Heyman was on board:

Multiple reports? Yes. Plenty of them:

MLB Trade Rumors: “Orioles to Sign Dexter Fowler”

WGN: “Former Cubs outfield Dexter Fowler signs with the Orioles: Reports”

Fox News: “Orioles, Dexter Fowler reportedly agree on 3-year, $35 million deal”

And there are other sites that reported that Fowler signed with the Orioles, but they changed their stories once he returned to the Cubs. Fowler’s agent issued this scathing statement attacking the O’s after Fowler’s return to the Cubs was made official:

Interesting how these things happen. While everyone was certainly led to believe that Fowler-to-the-Orioles was set in stone, it’s funny how something happened on the way to the signing. It appears that Fowler asked for an opt-out clause, something the Orioles were not willing to give, so the deal fell apart. Funny how these things happen.

 

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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