The Chicago Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in four games in the National League Division Series. The Cubs went on to lose to the New York Mets in the League Championship Series as the team from the north side of Chicago showed their weaknesses.

Chicago got swept in four games with Viva El Birdos pointing out the Cubs' problems including a tired ace in Jake Arrieta and the lack of rotation depth. The report also noted the very weak outfield in terms of defense, which was composed of rookie Kyle Schwarber, slugger Jorge Soler and soon-to-be-free agent Dexter Fowler.

In a report from ESPN, Fowler is expected to make $16 million if the Cubs offer him a qualifying offer, but it is highly unlikely as the center fielder would prefer hearing multi-year offers from different teams. Chicago's front office would likely replace him internally as a prospect Albert Amora is MLB-ready.

The report also noted that Chicago would let him walk and have a draft pick from the team that signed him and try to add Jason Heyward. However, team president Theo Epstein insisted that they will try to make it work with Fowler and his agent Casey Close.

"He had an unbelievable year. He fit in tremendously well in this organization He made a great impact on the field and off and we love having him around, " Epstein told Chicago Sun Times. The report added that the Cubs would prefer Fowler signing a two-year deal, but the player would likely want a four-year deal somewhere else.

According to Bleacher Nation, Heyward can command a contract worth more than $200 million as he is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball and is only 26 years old. Da Windy City added that if the Cubs indeed sign Heyward, they will probably still play him in either corner outfield and create a buzz for Schwarber and Soler.

The report also said that Schwarber may become a full-time catcher next season and Soler would become trade bait for a top starting pitcher. The Cubs reportedly had interest trading for Heyward last season before the Atlanta Braves sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In his first season in St. Louis, the 26-year-old had a .293 batting average, hitting 13 home runs with 60 RBIs, per Baseball-Reference.com. According to Today's Knuckleball, the Cubs and Cardinals will have competition for the signature of Heyward as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are all interested.