ST. LOUIS -- Dexter Fowler is headed from the World Series champions to their biggest rival.After helping the Chicago Cubs end their long championship drought, he finalized an $82.5 million, five-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Fowler fills the last big hole left in the Cardinals lineup after moves made earlier in the offseason to shore up the bullpen.It was an honor just to be considered to be in the Cardinals organization, said Fowler, who will wear No. 25 in honor of his mentor, Barry Bonds, because his usual 24 is retired by the Cardinals.You play against the Cardinals, Ive been playing against them for eight years now, Fowler said, and they always come out fighting. Always fighting. And then being with a rival, being the Cubs however many times we play them a year, you see them and -- its always good a winning team wants you.Fowler was also a free agent a year ago, when he spurned a $33 million, three-year offer from Baltimore, which refused to offer an opt out after one year. He signed a $13 million, one-year deal with the Chicago Cub and hit .276 with 13 homers and a career-best .393 on-base percentage that landed him in his first All-Star Game. He had a pair of home runs in helping the Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years.Playing over there, and playing against the Cardinals, you see them and you saw that they werent far away, Fowler said. Obviously they beat up on us, we beat up on them. It was almost even. It was one day or another. I cant put my finger on one thing or another, but were definitely close.His new deal calls for a $10 million signing bonus, payable in $1 million installments each July 1 and Oct. 1 for the next five years, and annual salaries of $14.5 million.He gets a full no-trade provision, $50,000 bonuses for making the All-Star Game and winning a Gold Glove, a $25,000 bonus for a Silver Slugger, $100,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $150,000 for World Series MVP. He would get $250,000 for NL MVP, $150,000 for finishing second in voting and $100,000 for third through fifth. He would get $50,000 for Division Series MVP if the award is created.One of the goals this offseason for St. Louis was to get more athletic, both defensively and on the base paths. Fowler was identified early in the process as someone who filled that role.He was always someone we were hoping to sign, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said, but after this past week at winter meetings ... we certainly wanted to get this done. And were excited we got this done.The lanky 30-year-old from Atlanta is a .268 career hitter over nine seasons with Colorado, Houston and the Cubs. Hes expected to slot into the Cardinals leadoff spot, giving St. Louis a switch-hitter in front of lefty-hitting Matt Carpenter and righties Aledmys Diaz, Stephen Piscotty and Yadier Molina.You obviously have great presence at the top of the lineup, manager Mike Matheny said. The athleticism, the excitement of bringing in a player that has all those physical attributes, I think its been well-said, this is the guy we were hoping to be sitting up here with.Fowler said negotiations with the Cardinals were easy with one notable exception.We were on a 2-hour time difference, and I guess he wanted to get in touch with me, Fowler said, but I was in the dentist chair, so he couldnt get in touch.So, Fowler sent his agent Casey Close a photo of him to pass along to Mozeliak -- That was a first for me, that kind of photo, the GM said -- and everything proceeded smoothly after that.The news of his signing started breaking while Fowler was on a plane to St. Louis, and that also created some problems: namely, with his sleep. People started coming up to him while he was trying to take a nap and asking him whether the news was true.I was like, `Uh, you know, I dont know, Fowler said with a grin. It was definitely funny.Fowler is eager to help the Cardinals add their 12th World Series championship.This is a baseball city, said Fowler. The fans, every time you come here, you see red everywhere. Thats awesome to see. Even going through our parade (in Chicago), you saw Cardinals fans out there. Theyve won World Series (and) theyre poised to be back in the World Series and win again. That was a big part of my decision.The Cardinals were investigating the trade market for an outfielder during the winter meetings, but decided Fowler was their best option. Because Fowler did not accept Chicagos $17.2 million qualifying offer, St. Louis forfeits its top draft pick next June, No. 18 overall, and the Cubs get an extra selection after the first round as compensationIt was a sacrifice the Cardinals were willing to make to not only improve their lineup, but snag a piece away from their biggest rival in the NL Central.Theres always the baseball angle in all decisions, but theres also the human element, Mozeliak said. We think about him as a leader. He wants to have a voice in that clubhouse. When you think back to wanting to change the culture of what we have going on -- we like what we have, but now its even better.---AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta and AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. NFL Jerseys Cheap Authentic . 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FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Pride in the Rio Olympics is palpable in this Boston suburb, nicknamed Little Brazil for its thriving population of Brazilian immigrants and their shops and bakeries flying the nations green and yellow flag, often alongside the U.S. flag.But here and in other major Brazilian-American enclaves, many expats also are striking a cautionary tone, reflecting concern that the celebration of the Rio games may only serve to mask Brazils deeper political, economic and environmental problems.Estimates of how many people with Brazilian roots live in the U.S. vary widely, as the Census Bureau includes South Americans under the umbrella of those of Latino or Hispanic descent. Framingham, a diverse town of nearly 70,000 total residents, first began attracting large numbers of Brazilian immigrants some three decades ago.At Rosas Beauty Salon near the heart of downtown, owner Rosa Barrosa gushes over Brazils opportunity to host the Olympics.Perfeito, perfeito, perfeito! (perfect, perfect, perfect), said Barrosa, who glides between English and Portuguese while discussing the games. The world is going to be surprised. Its going to be the best Olympic games. I know Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is a perfect country for this.Barrosa, 54, emigrated 20 years ago but keeps close ties with Brazil and believes skeptics are focusing too much on the negatives, rather than positives about a country which she boasted, really knows how to throw a party.Nearby, at the Brazilian-American Center -- which helps immigrants assimilate -- young children in a summer camp program shouted yes in unison when asked if they were proud the Olympics were being held in Brazil. The youngsters displayed a keen knowledge of Olympic happenings, aware for instance that Brazils vaunted mens soccer team was struggling in early matches, and that its first gold medal had come in womens judo (Rafaela Silva).Thulio Felisberto, a staffer supervising the children, sensed mixed feeliings about the Olympics among many adults in the community.ddddddddddddSome people see it as `wow, a really prideful thing to have it in our country, but other people look at it as maybe like a cover-up for these other political things that have happened, especially recently, said Felisberto, a Worcester State University student who came to the U.S. with his parents at age 5 but still has extended family in Brazil.While preparing for the games, Brazil has endured a recession, a political crisis that led to impeachment proceedings against the countrys president, reports of polluted waterways and a health emergency caused by the Zika virus.Right now I think Brazil is not ready for this kind of event, said Gustavo Mota, a manager at Tropical Cafe. Yet while citing similar worries about the nations economy and politics, Mota also saw potential for the games to present a more upbeat image of Brazil to the world and provide a needed boost to its own self-confidence.As for the competition itself, he noted that many Brazilians are largely ambivalent toward most sports -- with one exception, of course. People get crazed about soccer but not the other games, Mota said.Few among the lunchtime diners were paying much heed to rugby or other events being shown on TVs at the restaurants bar. Larger crowds were anticipated for the soccer matches.To many young immigrants like Mota, 27, Brazils future is of far more than passing interest because they havent ruled out returning someday to live in their native country.Otavio Souza, 18, a restaurant worker and Framingham High School student, said he came to the U.S. with his mother two years ago to pursue a better life. His father and brother remain in Brazil. Souza echoes the mix of pride and skepticism about the Olympics.Half the Brazilians they like it, and half dont, he said. Cheap NFL T-shirts Discount Jerseys Wholesale NFL Gear Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping China Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Stitched Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic ' ' '