Jay joins Chicago Cubs, figures to replace Fowler

The Chicago Cubs are quite familiar with outfielder Jon Jay, having seen him regularly when he was with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2010-15.

On Tuesday, the Cubs made Jay one of their own, signing him to a one-year, $8 million contract.

The move easily can be read that the Cubs are prepared to move on from center fielder Dexter Fowler, as Jay's primary position is center.

Fowler, the Cubs' spark plug from the leadoff spot the past two seasons, is a free agent again this winter, and he's looking to cash in on the Cubs winning the 2016 World Series.

Jay, who turns 32 in March, played this past season with the San Diego Padres, putting up a line of .291/.339/.389 with 2 home runs and 26 RBI in 90 games. He suffered a broken right forearm in June when hit by a pitch.

For his career, Jay has a batting line of .287/.352/.384 with 31 homers and 252 RBI. He was a member of the Cardinals' 2011 world-championship team, and his .996 fielding percentage in center field is the highest of any active player at the position with at least 500 games there.

Jay, who bats and throws left-handed, could share time in center with Albert Almora, a former first-round draft pick who came up this year and made a positive impression on the Cubs and made the postseason roster.

It will be a tall order to replace Fowler, who put up a line of .276/.393/.447 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI this year. Fowler hit 1 home run in the National League championship series against the Dodgers and 2 against Cleveland in the World Series, one leading off Game 7.

Fowler was a free agent last off-season, but he wound up re-signing with the Cubs in the early days of spring training after a deal with the Baltimore Orioles fell through.