The Colorado Rockies are listening to offers on outfielder Dexter Fowler, general manager Dan O'Dowd told 850 KOA's Dave Krieger in a candid interview on Monday.
Dexter Fowler trade rumors: Rockies GM willing to listen to offers for outfielder
Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd doesn’t sound extremely enthralled with his center fielder and says the team is willing to listen on him.
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The Rockies, who have been busy this offseason but have only made one move, don’t appear to be actively searching for a trade partner for their center fielder. However, O’Dowd wasn’t shy about bringing up the possibility of a deal.
“I think Dexter right now has got a big year in front of him. Whether that’s with us or whether that’s with somebody else at this point in time is too hard to say. I think it’s fair to say we are more willing to listen to calls about Dexter than we might have been in the past. He has a lot to prove this year within the industry. He’s got to show up and he’s got to do that.”
The Rockies GM didn’t stop there. O’Dowd went on to perhaps provide some insight on why the team will entertain offers for its effective leadoff hitter:
“I think he’s got to get tougher. No doubt. He’s got to show up and play with an edge every day, not just when he thinks he has to.”
Fowler struggled down the stretch in 2013 after a hot start. He hit .305/.411/.621 with eight home runs in April but finished the campaign with a pedestrian .263/.369/.407 line while limited by injuries. That came a year after the 27-year-old Georgia native hit .300/.389/.474 in 530 plate appearances.
Fowler will be a free agent after the 2015 season.
The Rockies were surrounded by trade rumors regarding their star shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki, prior to the GM meetings earlier this month. That doesn't appear to be going anywhere after the St. Louis Cardinals, who were the supposed suitor for Tulowitzki, signed free-agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta.
Colorado signed reliever LaTroy Hawkins last week but has recently come up short on bids for free agents Jose Dariel Abreu, Carlos Ruiz and Brian McCann.
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