Let's take a look at the latest edition of Full Count from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- The free agent market for outfielders is rather thin and after Carlos Beltran, Jason Kubel might be the next most attractive option. Rosenthal floats the idea of Kubel going to a more hitter-friendly park, such as Fenway where he can replace a departing J.D. Drew. The Twins want to re-sign Kubel, but he intends to test the market.
- Veteran Jamey Carroll is on waivers and almost certain to be claimed. The Dodgers might be more open to dealing Carroll than they were before the July 31st deadline. Justin Sellers has played well, Dee Gordon should be back soon, and Ivan DeJesus is a candidate for promotion. The Brewers had interest in him before the trade deadline but they've since acquired Jerry Hairston Jr. and Rickie Weeks will return to action soon.
- Aramis Ramirez has cleared waivers but he'll remain with the Cubs this month. His agent, Paul Kinzer, told Rosenthal in July that his client might be open to waiving his no-trade clause in August, but he's since turned red hot and will play it out in Chicago. He'll be a very interesting decision for the Cubs' next GM and maybe an interesting free agent.
- Rosenthal says that the choice between Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder is no longer obvious. Fielder has had the better season and he's nearly four-and-a-half years younger than Pujols. Still, Pujols has 31 homers and a slugging percentage that's just ten points lower. The big question for both men is how will they look three years and five years from now.
I’m afraid that because of his weight, Fielder might have a quick decline, early. I wouldn’t offer more than 6 years.
I would say that it was a non-issue if Fielder could control his weight. Vegetarian, or not, that man is entirely too large to be a productive first baseman. If he keeps up at this pace he’s bound for a DH position.
It looks to me like he moves pretty well.
Pujols is by far the better all-around player. He might be having a sub-par year at the plate (for him) but he’s still the better contact hitter, and adds defensive skills to the package, and he isn’t a liability on the base paths. Between the two, no question which one I’d want on my team.
The issue is that there is significant evidence that suggests Pujols is older than he says he is.
So now speculatative articlse on the Internet constitute “significant evidence”?
Not to be mean, racist, a jerk or… whatever I can be called for this comment, but… who would be surprised if Pujols turn out to be older and it becomes public after an extension? I know I wouldn’t.
Not to be mean, racist, a jerk or… whatever I can be called for this comment, but… who would be surprised if Pujols turn out to be older and it becomes public after an extension? I know I wouldn’t.
No. Statistical analysis of similar players, opinions of scouts and front-office people does not constitute “speculative articles”
Unless those “opinions of scouts and front-office people” include a neurosurgeon examining Pujols’ spine (or a similar medical procedure to determine approximate age), then, actually yes, those are speculative. It doesn’t matter if the opinion comes from someone that commands respect in the baseball world, it’s still speculation.
Stastical analysis is about as close to “proof” as you’re gonna get without going the medical route (which would never happen).
I’ll take the data over Albert’s word.
But yes, your point about the scouts and front-office guys is speculative. Though significantly more reliable than typical internet shenanigans.
No. Statistical analysis of similar players, opinions of scouts and front-office people does not constitute “speculative articles”
Yeah, Pujols is a youngster still. I thought he was 34 or 35 by now. Its just dumb to give a guy in his early 30’s a 6 or 7 year deal. I mean his best years are behind him- that Barry Bonds stuff playing good until 40 is long gone with the HGH.
I think Fielder is a better player at this stage of his career simply because he is still young.
The issue is that there is significant evidence that suggests Pujols is older than he says he is.
I believe he has said he’s perfectly willing to DH, and there are likely a few AL teams interested in signing him to do so.
You have to ask yourself two questions:
1) Do you think this year is just a fluke for Pujols or the beginning of a downward trend?
2) Which do you find to be the bigger risk? Pujols’ laundry list of nagging injuries that he plays through and his age or Fielder’s weight?
I figure both players will be top-tier 1st basemen at least for 3-4 more years, and probably beyond, but as a Cardinals fan, I know I’m always seeing mentions of little injuries that Pujols is just playing through, like that elbow that he’s had issues with since early in his career, but you just look at Fielder and you have to assume at some point the weight will hinder him, even if it doesn’t seem to affect his production yet.
Well if you look at Pujols’s monthly splits it looks a lot more like a simple slump to start the season, possibly can be attributed to contract pressure. That said he’s at the age where he’s going to naturally decline but he can still probably be an elite hitter for another 4-5 years and an above average hitter for 3 years.
As for who will be worth more for the price tag. Best answer is six of one, half a dozen of the other. There’s a laundry list of variables but I think the big one is the four year age difference. If Fielder signs with an AL team of course he’ll have to move to DH sooner or later but that may not be a huge issue.
Unless he’s 34. Lol.
Unless he’s 34. Lol.
I could see Carroll being claimed by Detroit. They need a second basemen.
With the Brewers/Zduriencik connection, questions about Smoak’s development at 1B, and the hole at DH since the retirement of Edgar Martinez, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mariners pursue Prince Fielder in the off season. The issue would be the money; but with Ichiro’s contract winding down (2012 is the last year his is currently contracted for), convincing the M’s ownership to allow an increase in budget (at least for the 2012 season) shouldn’t be too difficult. The real question is what kind of deal would Fielder accept? Given his value according to WAR over the last 5 years, he should be able to get a deal for about 18M/YR. But I think given the weight issue and concerns of a quick decline, a contract large than 5 years could be dangerous for a relatively small market team. However, it is possible that Fielder might receive a deal equivalent to Jayson Werth’s 7YR/126M deal.
With the Brewers/Zduriencik connection, questions about Smoak’s development at 1B, and the hole at DH since the retirement of Edgar Martinez, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mariners pursue Prince Fielder in the off season. The issue would be the money; but with Ichiro’s contract winding down (2012 is the last year his is currently contracted for), convincing the M’s ownership to allow an increase in budget (at least for the 2012 season) shouldn’t be too difficult. The real question is what kind of deal would Fielder accept? Given his value according to WAR over the last 5 years, he should be able to get a deal for about 18M/YR. But I think given the weight issue and concerns of a quick decline, a contract large than 5 years could be dangerous for a relatively small market team. However, it is possible that Fielder might receive a deal equivalent to Jayson Werth’s 7YR/126M deal.
Clearly non of you guys have actually seen prince up close and in person. He is slowly turning his fat into muscle and I’d pay him around 160 for 8 to play in seattle
Pujols has some serious marketing advantages over prince, particularly in the latter half of a big deal. That should help him to outstrip Prince other things aside.
Does he? How are you quantifying that?
I could make a significant argument the other way.
The home run record. If he breaks Bonds and presumably ARod’s records then the home run record will be in the hands of a clean player, it would give legitimacy back to the record. That’s gotta be worth something to a team, in terms of the sales and television revenue.
How much money that will bring in, no clue.
You are looking way too far ahead, and I don’t think that this contract will reflect those thoughts quite yet.
You are looking way too far ahead, and I don’t think that this contract will reflect those thoughts quite yet.
Agreed. Also Prince has a much more marketable personality than Pujols.
From a marketing standpoint… I’d take Prince over Albert every day of the week and twice on sunday.
Because marketing is what the game is all about.
The post we’re all replying to specifically said Albert was more marketable. Hence the discussion.
Read OP’s post before commenting.
Agreed. Also Prince has a much more marketable personality than Pujols.
From a marketing standpoint… I’d take Prince over Albert every day of the week and twice on sunday.
Love to hear it.
Last time I checked CC was fat, is he beasting or what? Arguably pitchers do more work on the field than hitters do anyway.
So was Bobby Veale and he threw 200++ IP with an upper 90’sFB for over 10 seasons before hurting his arm and moving to the relief role to finish his career. Different standard for pitchers it seems and the thing in this time and age to worry about Sabathia is his workload ALONG with his conditioning.
Wild guess says money. Rumor was a while ago that they couldn’t add more salary and the Cubs have no reason to include money in any deal unless the Angels offer better prospects.
You go ahead and take a $16M gamble on Aramis keeping his word.
You go ahead and take a $16M gamble on Aramis keeping his word.
Kind of ruins the moment, doesn’t it.
Touche.
I cannot see him getting 20m a year for 5 even, unless that 5th is a total team option.
Most of the lunatic GM’s are gone now with the firing of Hendry. Boras may find his market in Cubbie land drier than he thought if an inteligent GM takes over and the place everyone thought he would land bids intelligently for his services.
It’s actually more than 38 million. Payroll is only at 76 million before arbitration so about 85 million after arbitration and increases in salary for Marmol. The payroll will be around 120 million leaving at least 35 million to spend. Go get CJ Wilson and Prince Fielder and Ricketts has completely changed the landscape of the Chicago Cubs in less than 5 months (Firing Hendry was the first step)