Cubs upgrade outfield by acquiring Dexter Fowler from Astros

The reworking of the Chicago Cubs continued Monday, as they struck a deal to acquire centerfielder/lead-off man Dexter Fowler from the Houston Astros.

Fowler gives the Cubs speed atop the order, a good on-base percentage (his .375 was 15th in baseball last season) and something of a veteran presence on a young team.

That's relative, of course, since Fowler will be 29 by opening day, but the Cubs outfield otherwise would have included youngsters Arismendy Alcantara (23) and Jorge Soler (23).

The trade was first reported by Bruce Levine of WSCR-AM in Chicago and verified by Yahoo Sports' own Jeff Passan. The teams have since made the three-player trade official.

Straily is a 26-year-old pitcher the Cubs acquired from the Oakland Athletics last summer in the Jeff Samardzija trade, so he'll be back in the AL West. He's shown flashes of being good, but still hasn't quite put it together at the big-league level. He's a good fit for the rebuilding Astros, however, who can let Straily develop. Valbuena was penciled in as the Cubs' starting third baseman, and should assume that same role with the Astros. He hit .249/.341/.435 with 16 homers and 51 RBIs last season. Matt Dominguez, who was Houston's third baseman last season, hit just .215 in 2014. George Springer figures to move to centerfield for the Astros now.

Trading Valbuena clears the way for mega prospect Kris Bryant, who is the Cubs' third baseman of the future. It wasn't a sure thing that the Cubs would start Bryant in the big leagues after he hit 43 homers in the minors in 2014, but this move surely makes it look more possible. Otherwise Mike Olt, who played 52 games at third last season, would be the Cubs' opening day starter.

With Fowler aboard, the Cubs also figure to make Alcantara a ulilityman, since he can play both the infield and outfield. That won't necessarily be long-term, though, since Fowler is a free agent after this season. The move seems to indicate the Cubs have high hopes for 2015, with new ace Jon Lester and new manager Joe Maddon also in the fold.

All-star first baseman Anthony Rizzo said last week he sees the Cubs winning the NL Central. Adding Fowler is a step in that direction.