It's not the first time someone has suggested the Brewers might soon be looking for a new first baseman. But it's the clearest indication yet that Prince Fielder will leave Milwaukee this offseason. The free agent-to-be himself publicly conceded that this is likely his final season with the Brewers in an interview with TBS (link at SI.com).
"I'm signed for this year, but being real about it, it is probably the last year," Fielder told TBS.
The Scott Boras client figures to be one of the most sought-after free agents of the offseason. Still just 27, Fielder began the day with a .294/.407/.543 line and 32 homers. He'll cost a top draft pick, not that that will deter serious suitors. I examined the market for Fielder and fellow free agent Albert Pujols a week ago.
The hopes and dreams of Blue Jays fans every where just went up.
Do they have enough money to get Fielder and Darvish?
the cubs do
The cubs currently have 72.6 MM committed to the 2012 payroll with 6 players headed to arbitration. Assuming Blake Dewitt and Koyie Hill are not tendered contracts, and internal options like Steve Clavenger and Wellington Castillo or DJ Lemehieu are used instead, that puts the Cubs at about 73.4MM. Now let’s take into account that Matt Garza is in his last year of arbitration, and will probably get an extension, let’s say he gets 4 years 30MM that ups the committed payroll to about 80MM. Soto, Baker and Wells will probably take up another 6MM trough arbitration, and Samardzija has an option that appears to be 3.25MM. Let’s
just say 10MM altogether to keep it easy, and the payroll is up to 90MM. Most suggestions I’ve read have the Cubs’ payroll at between 120MM and 130MM, so we’ll say 125MM just to make it easy. That leaves 35MM to play with. Now, here’s a hypothetical 25 man roster right now assuming the Cubs carry 12 pitchers.
Dempster
Garza
Wells
Cashner
5th starter
Marmol
Marshall
Russell
Bullpen Spot
Bullpen Spot
Bullpen Spot
Bullpen Spot
Soto
Backup Catcher
Castro
Barney
Soriano
Byrd
Right Fielder
Third Baseman
First Baseman
Fourth Outfielder
Fifth Outfielder
Jeff Baker
2nd Backup Infielder
That’s potentially 11 spots the cubs have to fill with about 35MM. If the Cubs sign Ramirez to an extension for 13MM and fill 8 of the other sports with league minimum guys that’s about 17MM committed leaving the Cubs with about 18 MM to use. No way the Cubs sign both Fielder and Darvish, and odds are the don’t sign either of them.
Starters
Garza….Dempster……Wells……ZAMBRANO…..cashner/samardzija/marshall
Bullpen
Marmol…Russell…Carpenter…Gaub…Wood…2 of 3 marshall/cashner/samardzija
Infielders
Soto…castillo………..catchers
Castro…Barney…Fielder(maybe)…Ramirez(hopefully)
backup infielders
Baker…Lamahue(sp?)
Outfielders
SORIANO……Byrd…..Lahair
Back up outfielders
Colvin…..Johnson…..(maybe)Brett Jackson if there is a injury
The only ones that I list that are not signed are Fielder (20 mil per) Ramirez(13 mil per) Wood(2 mil per if he will give the discount again) R Johnson(2 mil per roughly). I dont know about the arb raises but fielder could fit into the current payroll estimate if they dont raise it any, but I see your point darvish would represent the cubs raising payroll 15-20 mil and therefore very unlikely.
I don’t think you understand a few things.
1) When the owner of a team publicly says he/she doesn’t see that individual playing for their team again, it means that individual’s tenure with said team is over. Therefore, Zambrano will not be in the rotation.
2)Brett Jackson will not come up to the big league club to be a back up.
I did you a solid and assumed the cubs would fill out the roster with minimum salaried players, and I lowballed Garza. Fielder does not fit in financially, unless the Cubs get real creative via trades, he takes a pay cut or the Cubs raise payroll.
I list Z because he is signed what they decide to do with him may be very interesting providing they can find a taker offering anything usefull in return. Im not that crazy about the team with pena at 1st base again so if they are attempting a rebuild them put Lahair at 1st and let pena walk. With pena gone and lahair at 1st base then attempt a long term contract with Garza. If the cubs could trade Z for Burnett that would be awesome send them a prospect also if they require 1. Or attempt to sign C J Wilson and the rotation is set for a few years.
no way but im positive the cardinals do
yes
and a bit extra for a nice night out with Mantooth’s mom (but then we won’t call her after).
I’m all for the Orioles nabbing him as long as we also sign 3 TOR starting pitchers and a mashing DH. Yet, all those things will for sure happen.
you can have tallet, rauch and camp and we’ll give McCoy.
he meant top of the rotation, not toronto.
Oh, hey thanks man, that makes much more sense. Although, i wouldnt be surprised if they did take in all those guys, they are the Orioles. If they dont want them maybe Tony Reagins does. Tony Reagins is so much fun, i feel bad for the Angels but we suffered through JP. Also, i’m aware that we no longer have Tallet.
The Orioles aren’t interested in players that aren’t over the hill or on the decline. Sorry bud.
Might you have interest Jason Varitek? The supplemental pick we’d get for him is about eight times as valuable as his presence on the roster.
Admittedly, I make that mistake nearly constantly. I’ve at least gotten to the point where it only takes me a second or two to remember, but it always makes for some immediate confusion.
“Prince Fielder is too fat, even for the Oakland A’s” – Billy Beane
The guy’s weight is a factor no matter what. Yeah, he’s only 27, but in 3-5 years, when whatever team signs him would expect him to still be very productive, it’s perfectly reasonable to anticipate that a man of his carriage is likely going to have knee, back, and hip problems. Anybody who offers him more than 5 guaranteed years is nuts, but I’m sure some dumb, win-hungry losers (read, the Nationals) will be more than willing to do whatever it takes.
Yeah stupid Nationals. Rich owner, elite farm system, and trying to sign great players to win games. Idiots.
LaPorta is like 26 isnt he lol
Why are we talking about this? I already told yall that Fielder abd Pujols will sign with the Yankees for 500million each. Done deal.., now shuttup.
If Fielder leaves Milwaukee….lookout for a trade between Blue Jays and Brewers….core components>>Adam Lind for an expensive Type A pitcher in last year of his contract>>KRod Greinke or Marcum
In my opinion, the Nats should have re-signed Adam Dunn for the 4 years and 48 Million he got from the White Sox, traded to get B.J. Upton (who said he would like to play in Washington), and then sign Reyes this off-season. Line-up in 2012:
1. Reyes
2. Upton
3. Zimmerman
4. Dunn
5. Werth
6. Morse
7. Espinoza
8. Ramos
9. pitcher’s spot
Not sure why they let Dunn go just to go sign LaRoche instead. Think about it, Werth did well in Philly when he had Howard batting around him. The Nats need to do the same by getting a power bat again. Also, Dunn played like crap in the AL…they could bring him back rather cheap if the Sox want to get rid of his contract. Why not bring him back, take on all of his salary, and have him for three years rather than spending 150-200 Million on Fielder or Pujols while worrying about their declines in 5 years and where to put them with no DH. And is Harper such a bad catcher that they drafted him as a RF? Otherwise, let him catch, then you have his bat in place of Ramos late in 2012 and on into the future. All of the sudden the lineup could be 1. Reyes (SS), 2. Upton (CF), 3. Zimmerman (3B), 4. Dunn (1B), 5. Werth (RF), 6. Harper (C), 7. Morse (LF), 8. Espinoza (2B). They’d win a few ballgames with that and their young pitching.
Then, the Mariners sign Fielder to DH (Jack Z was the one that scouted him while in Milwaukee), since they haven’t had a power hitter in forever. Mariner fans have missed seeing homeruns by the home team. Pitching wins championships, but those pitchers can’t worry about giving up 2 runs and losing every time out. They need an RBI and HR threat. Fielder would be that.
More drivel from the GOP huh? What a surprise.
Well, at least your edits have made it look better. But thinking that all Werth needs is another big bat in the lineup near him? No understanding that Harper as a C adds years to his development time? Pining for a .162/.292/.285 hitter with 160 strikeouts in under 400 official atbats?
Next you’re going to tell me that the Earth is only 10,000 years old, and that Carl Everett walked with dinosaurs.
Dunn has had 38 or more HRs since 2004, and then the year he switched to the AL, he dropped to 11. I’d be willing to bet that if he returned to the Nationals and the NL, he could continue with those numbers since that’s where’s he been his entire career. The reason for his decline this year clearly has to be his switch to the AL. So yes, I’ll take my chances on Dunn back in the NL despite that .162 line. This year was a fluke. And yeah, he strikes out, who cares. He always has. I think I could deal with that if he hits near 40 bombs and keeps having 100 RBI.
As for Harper, put him in center field. Just saying, he’s still incredibly young and talented, so I bet he could do it. Still have Norris coming up to catch too.
Earth…10,000 years old. Now you’re just being silly. And I don’t care about politics, so don’t go comparing me to the GOP. Not at all what my name refers to.
I suppose I was feeling a bit cantankerous yesterday, just wanted to needle on the gop thing. What’s it refer to?
It actually just refers to my last name lol. No special meaning or anything. I did notice that you really didn’t have anything nice to say to anyone…though for good reason. This thread went downhill.
like dunn is doing SOOOO well in chicago
I could see the phillies getting fielder…and if that happens I’ll barf up a lung
Dude, it’ll be okay…just put the bong down and slowly back away…
i was gonna say crack pipe but oh well