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Dexter Fowler is switching teams in the National League Central.?A little more than month after helping the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years, the free-agent center fielder has joined the rival St. Louis Cardinals.?The deal is for five years and worth $82.5 million with a full no-trade clause, as first reported by Fox Sports and confirmed by ESPNs Jerry Crasnick.The Cardinals introduced Fowler at a Friday morning news conference.St. Louis primary goal entering the offseason was to become more athletic and better defensively. On Thursday, the Cardinals left the winter meetings near Washington, D.C., intent on finding a center fielder after trade talks proved fruitless because of the teams lack of high-end prospects.Its believed the Cardinals had discussions with the Chicago White Sox about Adam Eaton before he was shipped to the Washington Nationals for a trio of highly regarded pitching prospects.Fowlers arrival likely means Randal Grichuk will move to left field and leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter will become the Cardinals No. 3 hitter.It came as no surprise that Fowler turned down his mutual option with Chicago; he was seen as grossly underpaid for his performance in the teams World Series triumph. Fowler made $13 million in 2016, returning to the Cubs for one year only after exploring the free-agent market last winter and finding it unsatisfactory. After producing an on-base percentage of .393 in 2016 and hitting 13 home runs -- in addition to a blast in Game 7 of the World Series -- Fowler was due a big payday.He also was credited with playing better defense in 2016, after he and the team agreed he should play deeper. The result was a plus-1 in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs. In 2015, Fowler was minus-12.Fowlers biggest contributions came at the top of the order, where Cubs manager Joe Maddon used to say to him, You go, we go. Fowlers first-inning on-base percentage in 2016 was .479. He was the ignition to the Cubs offense throughout his two years with the team.The Fowler move comes after the Cubs signed Jason Heyward and John Lackey away from the Cardinals last offseason.Fowler is the first free agent to sign with the Cardinals after finishing the previous season with the Cubs since Mark Grudzielanek did so in the 2004-05 offseason.The Cardinals and Cubs open the 2017 season on April 2 in St. Louis (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).?ESPNs Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.MLB Jerseys From China . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. MLB Jerseys 2020 .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. https://www.mlbjerseys2020.com/ . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. MLB Jerseys 2020 Online . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Wholesale MLB Jerseys . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less.KENT, Ohio -- While the nation counts ballots, No. 14 Western Michigan might be able to influence some voters Tuesday night.One of five unbeaten teams in the Top 25 , the Broncos (9-0) jumped three spots in the poll this week and have risen steadily despite minimal national attention. They will get a chance to showcase what theyre all about on election night in a televised game against Kent State (3-6), which has played better than its record.Theres a lot on the line as Western Michigan, No. 23 in the initial college football playoff ranking and the highest rated Mid-American Conference school in the AP poll since Ball State was No. 12 in 2008, plays its final road conference game.A victory would give the Broncos their first 10-win season in school history, extend their winning streak to 12 -- only top-ranked Alabama has a longer one -- and keep them in line for a major bowl bid. If Western Michigan wins its final three regular-season games and the MAC championship game, it would be in line to go to the Cotton Bowl, which reserves a spot for the highest-ranked, non-Power Five conference team.Dont tell any of that to Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck, who continues to preach his Row the Boat motivational mantra to anyone who will listen. Fleck has turned around a program that went 1-11 in his first season and may be college footballs best story in 2016.Were not even there yet, Fleck said. This is part of the journey. Were a long way away from our goal.A national title is out of the question, but that doesnt diminish what Western Michigan has done this season, which began with a 22-21 win over Northwestern. The Broncos also have a win over Illinois on their resume and have been gaining support as the season wears on.Theyve got a few NFL-caliber players on their roster, led by wide receiver Corey Davis, who is coming off a three-touchdown, 272-yard performance in a win over Ball State.Before the Ball State game, Fleck told Davis that he was going to be used heavily as Weestern Michigans coaches designed their game plan for him.ddddddddddddI told him this is going to be a huge day for you, if you prepare and get yourself ready and ready to have one of the best games youve ever had, Fleck said. And there it goes, 272 yards, three touchdowns and he left a lot of meat on the bone as well. He could have had 340 or 350 yards.Here are some other things to watch as the Broncos try to stay unbeaten:KENT COUNT `EM OUTKent States record could easily be reversed. The Golden Flashes have lost four games by a combined 15 points.They also wont be intimidated playing a ranked school as they know what its like to take on the best after traveling to Tuscaloosa in Week 2 and getting thrashed 48-0 by the Crimson Tide. But Kent State finally has some positive momentum after rallying from 14 down in the second half last week to win 27-24 at Central Michigan.DOMINANT DAVISAn All-American candidate, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound Davis has pro scouts buzzing. He leads the nation with 14 receiving TDs and hes on the verge of becoming the FBS career yardage leader.Davis needs to 209 yards for that mark and one TD to become the MACs career leader in touchdown catches.HOLLEY SUSPENDEDKent States defense took a major hit late Monday with the indefinite suspension of star senior safety Nate Holley.The school did not offer any details in suspending Holley, who leads the nation in tackles per game. His twin brother, Nick, took over at quarterback following early season injuries. The Holleys are one of six sets of twins on FBS rosters.Nick Holley, a former running back and wide receiver who hadnt played QB since his senior year at high school before making the switch, reminds Fleck of former Kent State quarterback Julien Edelman, now a wide receiver with the New England Patriots.---More AP college football coverage: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '