The dilemma of signing Prince Fielder

[Insider Steve]

S here is where it stands as of today with Scott Boras's client. They are most likely going to be asking somewhere between what Boston gave Adrian Gonzalez (7 years at 154m, 2012-16 @21m, and 2017-18 @21.5m), and what the Yankees gave Mark Teixeira (8 years at 180m, 2009-10 @20m, 2011-16 @22.5m)

So if the middle ground is at 8 years at 170m million, that figure out at 21.25m per season. In any type of deal there are risks outside of the money. In the case of Prince Fielder there are weight issue most have problems with. Let's face facts, his father, Cecil Fielder, big-bodied bopper whose aging pattern could be very well the same for Prince. Cecil hit 51 homers at age 26, and 44 at age 27, and then never hit 40 again. He also ceased to be a full-time first baseman after 30, never playing more than 80 games in the field in any of his final four seasons. And he was done for good after 34.

If that played out in Seattle, Prince would be entering his 5th full season under his 8 year deal. So what if the Mariners were allowed to structure the deal? Giving the team the flexibility it desired in the latter stages of the contract to protect itself from injuries, a lack of production, etc. So if the Mariners were forced to cut him, or trade him, they actually could.

Here is my Prince Fielder contract breakdown

Year's 1-4 @ 32.5m per season

Year's 5-8 @ 10m per season

Obviously I'm not factoring any bonuses or escalator raises, but you get the jist...

Thoughts?

[Danny]

I think that is a lot of money. Do you think Prince will make a better transition to the American league than say, Adrian Beltre?

[Brandon]

The price would be right if they paid him that as long as he produced. But that's the key. He needs to produce.

[CrushingYourHead]

Signing Fielder would be a pretty big mistake. We've already got 2 guys (Smoak and Carp) who need to play there. I see Richie Sexson written all over this guy.

[Danny]

signing fielder wouldnt be a mistake. He would increase offensive production and put more people in the seats at safeco. The mistake would be paying too much money for him.

[brydaddy]

I think the M's stick to the plan they have. feilder is an anchor when he eats up that much salary.

[jwmann2]

I just don't see it happening. He's a Cub. He is going to stay in the National League Central where he is healthy and will only be an hour from where has has spent the last several years of his life.
He will be excited about Theo Epstein having the reigns, a guy that knows how to run a ball club. And not to mention the passionate yet zany fans in Chicago could help sway his decision. He does need to step up the cardio though. The Mariners just don't have the money for Fielder, the Cubs do. The Brewers did before they signed Braun to that huge deal towards the end of the season.