The market for Prince Fielder is developing slowly. Yesterday we heard of varying degrees of interest from the Orioles and Mariners, while the Brewers and Dodgers admitted they likely can't afford the big man. Today's Fielder rumors are below:
- Zduriencik told Brock and Salk of 710ESPN there has been ongoing dialogue about Fielder, but there will be a point where they can't be involved. Zduriencik says a time will come, be it this year or sometime in the next 2-3 years, where ownership "will step up and give us the resources that we absolutely need to get us over the top and I think we are all excited about that." (Hat tip: Shannon Drayer of MyNorthwest.com)
- The Mariners are planning to meet with Fielder tonight, says Heyman (on Twitter). He's unsure of their chances to sign him, but says they "love" the slugger.
- The Cubs' interest in Fielder appears to be "sincere," tweets Heyman.
- Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik believes calling the Mariners the frontrunner for Fielder is "misleading," writes MLB.com's Greg Johns. "On any free agent," said the GM. "I have no clue how many clubs are in on any free agent that we’re talking to. To say anybody is a front runner, I don’t know how that would have come out." Zduriencik's comments at least indicate that the M's are talking to Prince.
- For what it's worth, agent Scott Boras talked to Bowden (Twitter link) about Fielder, saying he has "many suitors and the coffee isn't even hot yet."
- The Cubs aren't in any kind of a process with Fielder, Cubs manager Dale Sveum told reporters.
- The Mariners are the frontrunner for Fielder, tweets Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio and ESPN.
- Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio he's unlikely to sign Fielder because he's not going past a five-year commitment.
- The Cubs are eyeing Fielder more than Albert Pujols, tweets Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The Cubs won't do nine or ten years for Pujols, and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that they prefer high dollars and a shorter term for Fielder as well.
The Cubs are eyeing Fielder more than Albert Pujols. Good! Take them both for all I care!
Fielder makes sense for the Cubs, they are trying to build a team and Fielder is the piece to do that. If Feilder signs with the Cubs and Pujos signs with the Marlins then the Central is up for grabs.
And the Mariners, O’s, and Nats aren’t trying to build teams?
“Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik believes calling the Mariners the front runners for Fielder is misleading”
TRANSLATION
Dont pin that shlt on me…
You’re pretty funny, no sarcasm. You think he goes to the Cubs?
Wasn’t there a report last week that they preferred Pujols?
Welcome to the Hot Stove!
The Cubs were saying they would give Pujols a shorter contract with more guaranteed money per year. With the Marlins putting a 10 year deal on the table, I think they will go for Fielder since he is a few years younger and more comfortable giving out a longer term deal.
I actually think the Cubs were only “interested” in Pujols to drive up the price for St. Louis. Miami has already done that (if the Cardinals end up keeping him), so there is no reason for Chicago to be involved.
While hard to quantify, I’d have to think there’s some added value to the Cubs for the suffering that will be inflicted on Cards fans by seeing Pujols in a Cubs uniform for 10 years. Fielder just doesn’t bring that bonus with him.
Pujols to the Cubs would be like Jeter to the Sox, only the Cubs would actually be getting a great player (for a few more years, at least).
No worries, watching Pujols in that g-d awful Miami uniform should be almost as good (and cheaper).
Will probably be gut-wrenching for the Cubs when the Cards still win championships without Pujols and the Cubs still tread in mediocrity despite having one of the greatest hitters of all time.
I feel your Cub-fan pain. I’m a Mariners fan.
I think the hope is that Fielder will take fewer years to sign.
Anyone who gives Pujols a 10 year contract (esp at his age) needs to have their head examined. Can you imagine how much a 37-41 year old is going to handcuff a payroll?
I know this is Pujols, I know he is the best in the game, but even superstars like him eventually digress. 10 years is way too long.
Miami doesn’t do no-trade clauses. They’ll keep him for two or three years, then trade him away to be someone else’s problem.
I really doubt Pujols would sign a deal without a NTC.
Does he really need one? There’s a list of maybe 5-6 teams that can afford to have his salary when he’s 37-41.
I think they’ll have to make an exception to the rule and include at least a minor NTC, I just don’t see it being the difference between a deal or not.
Yes, I think it would no doubt require a NTC unless they overpay so bad no team would be willing to take it on.
Albert didn’t want to be traded last year, he doesn’t want to have to deal with moving his family all over. At least if he gets a NTC and it comes to the Marlins having to move him and him being okay with it, he can pick and choose where he gets traded to.
I think Albert will at least requier a 5 year NTC because by that time he will have the 10-5 Rule where he could veto any trades.
you might want to re check your facts
I wish I could take cash bets that the Cubs sign neither…
take the under – theo likes name in paper
I prefer Community to Arrested Development, but they’re both great shows.
Agreed both great shows, but other way around 🙂
Agreed. AD is endlessly quotatable
Since it seems the list of potential suitors for Fielder continues to get shorter and shorter, perhaps Theo and Co. believe they can get Fielder and a decent contract, especially compared to Miami’s 10 year offer to Pujols.
If the Cubs do sign Fielder, I would like to see them make a push for Chase Headley, assuming he doesn’t come at a huge asking price.
If the Cubs signed Fielder away from Milwaukee, Pujols left for South Beach, and the Cubs were able to acquire Headley, I could see the Cubs improving much more than I have been anticipating. Probably not enough to contend in 2012, but definitely on the right track.
Seems like it’s down to the Cubs, Mariners, Orioles and Marlins (if they don’t sign Albert) at this point.
Not exactly the market that Boras was hoping for…
It seems like a lot of teams are backing off Fielder. I wonder if he would start to consider a shorter deal, either with a higher-than-expected AAV or even an expected AAV but with the hopes of more interest down the road. He’s young enough that a 31-33 year old Fielder may still be able to get one more large deal if he performs well for a shorter contract.
I had thought Matt Kemp might do the same sort of thing, given his age. He obviously didn’t, and I’m not sure Fielder will either. I think the thing that is giving teams pause now, his physique, is going to be even more of a concern with a few more years of mileage on him. If they’re worried about him breaking down now, it’ll be tenfold when the next contract would be covering his mid-30’s.
Fielder’s situation could become a case study for supply and demand, but I still don’t put it past some team like the Nats to inexplicably offer him 180-200 MM. I mean, if Jayson Werth was worth 126MM to them, they’ll have no problem making some insane offer to Fielder. Hell, if I were a billionaire, I’d have some fun, too.
I love how Fielder’s market is growing slowly just because the Cubs are now supposedly kicking the tires. Doesn’t mean they are going to sign him. And Theo has already said that they are unlikely to be big spenders. And Theo also said that he still likes Carlos Pena. I doubt the Cubs sign him. They have other needs to address.
Isn’t the more pertinent question “Do either Pujols or Fielder prefer the Cubs?” Who wants to sign with a club that doesn’t have a title for over a century?!
It’s a fair point, but then again, you have to consider the optimistic school of thought. Either one of them can be a difference maker. With Epstein making the moves now and a player like Fielder or Pujols signing, should they turn that team around and give them the World Series Championship those fans have been looking for for over 100 years, they’re nothing but heroes to them. Chicago has shown that they’re not always afraid to spend their money, either.
I think that’s an attractive chance to take for any manager looking to take a chance there as well. If you lose, you lose. They’re used to that.
But..if you win..
Someone who wants a ton of money?
The whole “haven’t won a title in over a century” really has no effect on the team as it stands now.
That’s the whole point. If they are the ones to bring a championship, they would be a part of the most celebrated championship in sports history and if they are the big bat that does it, a guy like Pujols, will be solidified as one of the top players in history. Regardless of your anti-Cubs biased opinion, that is fact.
i actually believe there is a chance that fielder may end up in baltimore. they have a new good gm, good coach, and a hitter friendly ballpark. Im not saying its going to happen but i believe there is a chance
Where’s Not_Brooks with the counterpoint?
what do u mean? and it would make more sense for him to go to an AL team so he could also DH as he gets older. Prince and Reynolds could swap between first base and DH. That would be a pretty good power threat. and if the orioles can sign prince then that may attract a pitcher to come to baltimore as well. just an idea
There’s another O’s fan on here all the time that goes by “not brooks”. Was just a joke that he/she would have a different point of view since they are not you.
I wish I had a counterpoint, just because it would be more fun that way. But I actually agree with my opposite.
The market for Fielder seems to be almost non-existent at this point, Peter Angelos is desperate enough to open the wallet, Dan Duquette is brash enough to make the deal happen even if it doesn’t make sense, and Buck Showalter apparently likes Prince a lot.
I wouldn’t bet on it, but I could see Prince in Baltimore for something like 6/140. Maybe give him a CC-esque opt out clause in the middle so he can get out of town if the O’s are still losers in three years.
I wasn’t an O’s fan growing up but I always thought of them as one of the premier franchise’s. I think they need a new owner more than anything. I can’t believe what they have done with that franchise.
If Disqus really wanted to improve their product, they would stop effing around with the display and fix the problems on the back end that result in “replies” to nobody.
a bit off the question at large but just how LARGE is Fielder? I can just see him on the green at The Wrig praying for a breeze off the lake. Is he 260? 270? There are all sorts of guesses about Albert’s REAL DOB, but you can look at The Prince and know that those knees and ankles are getting pounded on not to mention Blood Sugar and cardio system.
5’11
275 lbs.
He’s a big boy.
Please no. Ryan Howard and Mo Vaughn say hi, Theo.
I would guess that if the cubs are doing an offer for Pujols it would be for 5/150 it would give him 30M per year for 5 years. That’s a low risk bid considering he’s looking for long term, he’ll probably reject it. Though if he does accept it, in only puts the cubs on the line for 5 seasons max
I wouldn’t give either of these guys more than 5 years. I think Pujols is going to start fading fast and you don’t know how old he really is. Fielder… look at his dad’s stats. He started fading when he got into his early thirties.
I’ve been saying forever that Cecil should be the comp for Prince.
Cecil’s last good, healthy season came at age 32. A six year deal for Prince would take him through his 33-year-old season. Seems to make sense, considering the body type and adding an extra year because Prince is a better player than his dad.
expect that there have been plenty of reports talking about the fact that prince is a much healthier and fitter individual.
What reports are those?
Even if they exist, it doesn’t matter.
When you see a guy who’s 5’11” and weighs at least 275 pounds, you don’t think “Hey, he’s as healthy as a horse! Let’s give him a seven or eight year contract that will pay him $20MM+ per year through his age 35 season!”
No matter if he’s 275 because he is fat, or he is 275 because he is a powerhouse with a little extra fat, it is still 275lbs on his knees/ankels. Your joints dont care if its muscle weight or fat weight it still weighs the same. To go beyond 6 years is foolish. And, I doubt he is extremely healthy at that weight anyway, vegetarian or not.
Wait… Heyman works for the Boras Corporation right?
Fielder to the Cubs was my FA predicton so I kind of hope he goes there, although I did predict Pujols to stay in St. Louis but if it’s all about the money for him, he isn’t staying there it seems
Knowing how the cubs fortune always seems to go they will wait to see if Pujols signs with Miami in the hopes of getting Sanchez ( with Garza being the key component). Pujols will stay in StL – Sanchez will stay put and by then Fielder will be off the market and we will welcome back Carlos Pena.
garza for sanchez is laughable. suddenly people have this idea that gaby sanchez is a 1B that teams, especially serious teams, covet. he’s really not that good, and his around the same age as Fielder, but again greatly worse. If the Cubs are serious about having a real production asset at 1B, they have to sign Fielder, or Pujols. But preferably Fielder.
and that’s not to say that Sanchez isn’t a quality stop gap. But trading your best pitcher for a decent at best 1B is not a good idea, specially when you consider that said team has the resources to sign an MVP caliber free agent, who is of similar age.
never meant garza for sanchez even up. More along the lines of what Miami would be interested in. I’m sure cubs could get Sanchez + for garza. May even be able to get sanchez for wells or Zambrano + alot of $$. I like Fielder – but I can see the logic in waiting until you have a more balanced team before dropping huge $$ when you have alot of needs and an iffy set of prospects. Build up a team of good players and hope a kid or 2 hits big THEN go for the kill with a 9 figure free agent. Also – my gut says Theo will ship garza out on the NL. Maybe to the sox ?
there’s logic in waiting til it’s the last piece to fill and they feel comfortable investing big money, but there’s also a logical case for going after him now. if they lock him up now, then that is one less spot for them to worry about filling. and also, very importantly, he’s available Right Now. it’s not like they can wait two years down the road and say “hey now that we just need to fill 1B let’s go sign Fielder” because he won’t be available then, and who knows who will be. Pujols, no. Fielder, no. Miggy, no. Tex, no. A-Gon, no. None of the marquee 1B will be free agents, and the Cubs have no 1B prospects, so it’s important to consider that.
I assume you mean the Red Sox, and if they feel comfortable giving a Greinke-like return for Garza, then I say to Theo go for it. But the Cubs also desperately need pitching, and there’s no reason to think they can’t hold on to Garza and extend him. The money is there, and the need is there. So personally I really think Garza should stay put, unless some serious pitching prospects would be involved in a deal for him.
I doubt there’s actually a true “front-runner” for Fielder at this point, but the Mariners do make some sense.
There’s the Jack Z./Fielder connection, they desperately need offense, and they could trade Smoak for more pitching if they signed Fielder.
But I would think the M’s would have to at least try to get rid of some of Figgins’s salary before they could go all in on Fielder.
Chone Figgins….ughhhh
Or Smoak could DH.
Smoak can DH and just put Carp in LF.
Mike Carp is as bad a defender in the OF as Franklin Gutierrez is good. Put Carp in the OF daily for a full season and he might be worth 1 WAR, or below league average.
Not to be a annoying Jays fan, but if Fielder was confident in his stuff a 5 year deal would be really good for him, what is he goingto get this time around 16-18 mil/ year. If he has a good five years he can make that even more next time around!!
He’ll be closing in on his mid-30’s if he signs a 5yr contract. If you think teams are wary about his health now, imagine it then. Best for Fielder would be a long term contract now. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work for too many teams at the moment.
Exactly AA won’t commit more than 5 years because its not unfathomable to think Prince will only get larger..
Hmm good point I don’t know why I didnt think of that. I assumed he would turn into a Big Papi/DH.
Bingo! Fielder will sign with the longest contract offered on the table.
Everyone is not worry about his ability in 3-4 years, but beyond that its a huge gamble.
Fans know it, GMs know it, even Fielder himself is worried about it in some degree.
I think it will come down to which GM has the guts to offer 6 year with a 7th year buyout option.
Alex Anthopoulos is my hero for laying down the law and not over committing on a power hitting first baseman with tons of physical baggage and lack of defensive prowess.
your hero ? For not being a complete dumb as$ ?
Jays fans
AA needs to sign Fielder, period. Jays have arguably the best ball player in the league in Bautista. In order to maximize Bautista’s value, you need to put a bona fide hitter behind him (The Prince).
Put Fielder in Jays’ uniform, with the current core on this team, plus one more starter, we will have a contending team for the next 5 years. By then, you will be able to move Fielder and his contract to a team who needs an immediate impact player to get them over the hump.
In the interim, Rogers will have recouped their monies spent on Fielder.
Just my thoughts.
To properly translate Boras’ analogy: “Lots of teams could use Fielder, and no one is interested.”
I am guessing Fielder will sign a 4-5 year contract worth about $20 mil a year. Think guys. If he signs for this amount now, in 4 years, he’ll be the same age Pujols is now. So, then he can worry about the long term contract.
Although there are not many bidders now, once Pujols signs the real bidding war starts. On a normal year, Fielder gets $18 mil at most, thanks to Pujols he can add 2-4 mil to what he would normally get. It will be interesting watching this unfold.
It’s funny but just last week the Cubs were “eyeing Pujols” more than Fielder.
I am guessing the Cubs will be a big player in the signing of Fielder, but they have learned harsh lessons on these long term contracts (Sosa, Soriano).
My guess is the Cubs offer 5 years/90 mil… And that probably won’t land him.
Rebuilding their terrible farm makes sense of the cubs. Waiting out their terrible contract with Zambrano and Soriano makes sense for the cubs.
Signing a first baseman when they’re so bad makes no sense.
Here’s the next century of cubs futility!
Why do u try hards rite so much
I know, I have problems with English too.. well.. not this much.
I also have that problem where instead of replying to the msg i’m referring to, I just reply to the OP – causing my comment to make even less sense because it has no context.
As a Mariners fan, the only real thing that scares me about this seemingly random lack of interest in Fielder is that if the market dies down enough, a bigger team is going to swoop in last second, and every part of me thinks it’s going to be the Rangers if the market continues to be stagnant for his services.
I’m not really 100% Pro-Fielder anyway, but at the right price, he’d be a welcome addition to a team with a lot of talent in the high minors, a good, young core, and a LOT of regression on their side. 2012 is going to be a better year than most people realize, with or without Fielder.
agreed, couldn’t have said it better
Seattle is the last place Fielder will end up
Oh really, Ms. Cleo? Describe your extensive method of research that led you to that conclusion.
Fielder will be a Mariner.
Not likely. This is all smoke. They will do this to let us fans know that they were in on Fielder and that they “tried” but just couldn’t get him in the end. Happens every year with the M’s. Gotta keep the fans excited and not let them know that they were really to cheap to pull the trigger to get it done.
Fielder will be a Mariner.
Hmmn…if Fielder did wind up with the Rangers then Jack could go after MIchael Young…
This is such a crap stance. The Mariners ownership has never been shy about spending money. If they were cheap, we wouldn’t have signed Washburn, Beltre, Sexson, Silva, nor extended Ichiro nor Felix. They wouldn’t have been drafting the guys at the top of the draft who were expected to sign for the most money, and instead would have gone for easier signs.
The Mariners front office isn’t cheap, nor is the ownership. When the pieces surrounding the team haven’t lived up to expectations, there’s no reason to believe that one player will turn the organization around. The organization is in a great, great place right now, far better than it ever was with Bavasi. If Fielder makes sense, they’ll approve the money. If not, they won’t. Simple.