Manager Joe Maddon described the situation between former Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler and the Cardinals as “unfortunate” in the wake of pointed words expressed Monday by Cardinals president John Mozeliak.

“I love Dexter,” Maddon said of Fowler, who has been relegated to a bench role less than two seasons after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract. “He’s effervescent. He is gregarious. He always lit up the room when he walked in. That’s how I see Dex. He and I had great conversations all the time.

“I don’t have any idea what’s going on there in St. Louis. I just know my personal relationship with him is outstanding.”

Maddon always was fond of telling Fowler, “you go, we go.” Fowler helped the Cubs win a World Series title in 2016 but is batting .171 with five home runs and 20 RBIs this season.

Mozeliak was candid in his assessment of Fowler on a podcast with Cardinals announcer Dan McLaughlin.

“I’ve also had a lot of people come up to me and question his effort and energy level,” Mozeliak said. “Those are things I can’t defend. What I can defend is trying to create opportunities for him, but not if it’s at the expense of someone that’s out there hustling and playing hard.”

Mozeliak later tempered some of his comments in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Meanwhile, Maddon wouldn’t offer his opinion on Fowler’s on-the-field performance during his time with the Cubs.

“That’s up to those guys (the Cardinals),” Maddon said carefully. “That’s not up to me. That’s St. Louis. That’s not me.”

mgonzales@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @MDGonzales

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