Orioles, Dexter Fowler agree to terms on three-year, $35 million deal

Gallardo and the Orioles had agreed to a three-year, $35 million contract last Saturday, but it’s likely that will not stand following this news.

Fowler is coming off a strong season on the North Side, in which he appeared in 156 games for the Cubs during their 97-win regular season. By signing him, the Orioles must give a first-round draft pick to the Cubs – the 28th overall selection, which Baltimore got for losing free agent left-hander Wei-Yin Chen to the Seattle Mariners.

The Orioles were originally discussing a two-year, $24 million contract with the outfielder, as reported by Roch Kubatko of MASNSports, but the two parties made a decision to agree on a third-year.

The deal, is of course as we know here in Birdland, pending a physical. Fowler, who turns 30 in March, stole 20 bases a year ago and walked a career-best 84 times.

Becoming one of the most effective hitters in the top spot in the batting order by season’s end, Fowler is a switch-hitter that will presumably find himself in right field for the Orioles come Opening Day.

Fowler is a career.267/.363/.418/.781 hitter with 65 home runs and 291 RBIs during 939 games.

Free agent outfielder Dexter Fowler will play for his fourth team in four years.

Last season with the Chicago Cubs, Fowler hit.

If the Orioles do sign Gallardo, they would have to surrender the No. 14 overall pick in the draft as part of compensation after the pitcher turned down a qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers.