Prince of (what?) City

[Frayed Knot]

Probably the most interesting FA story left is where Prince Fielder winds up.
The sheer size and length of Albert's mega-deal seemed to set a pretty big market for the fat, tattooed one, but no one as yet seems interesting on opening the vault for a younger although heftier 1B/DH who had a similarly built father who never had a full season after age 32.

- Seattle was rumored to be a landing spot but they've denied it totally and are so far away right now - particularly with their offense - he would be an odd fit there anyway.
- The Cubs never got into things as Theo seems more intent on get rid of dead weight contracts in favor of prospects right now before taking on more
- The Cards don't look to be interested in going home with the 2nd best girl at the dance after losing the 1st
- and the 'usual suspects' (Yanx, Boston, Philly) are set at 1B/DH plus I've heard that the other NYC team is a little light on funds right now.

But one possible landing spot involves the Washington Natinals.
Sure they got one year left on the deal for Adam LaRoche (at $8mil) who spent much of 2011 on the DL) plus had a surprise breakout season from Michael Morse, but would you really let either one of those get in the way of Prince Fielder? Some rumor got floated a week or so back about them inking Prince then using Morse as a LF (where he'd be awful) or, better yet, dealing him for what they really need which is a leadoff/CFer, possibly for the rumored to be available BJ Upton from Tampa.

That all was nothing more than local speculation - and was even pooh-poohed by Wash Post columnist Tom Boswell who is generally the only sports-writer in DC who's even aware that there is a baseball team in town much less follows the sport closely - but now comes a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Report naming the Natinals as the front-runner for the Princely one ... "word is spreading in the industry that the Washington Nationals have emerged as a favorite to sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder."

The Nats also have a recent history with dealing with Prince's agent Scott Boras (Werth, Strasberg & others) and it may be a clue that Boras most recent piece of bluster/hype involves Washington area icons, releasing a statement that "[Prince is] a combination of Henry Kissenger and Frank Howard. He's got brute strength power. He's a diplomat in the locker room"

Not that any of the above proves anything but, if you're Washington, wouldn't you consider adding Prince to an existing IF of Zimmerman and youngsters Espinosa & Desmond, to go along with young catchers Ramos & Flores, plus a potential OF of Werth, Upton, and Cameron with possibly Bryce Harper at mid-season? And, yes, Davey is said to want Harper as soon as possible (as he did with Gooden way back when) especially seeing as he already has 1/2 season of AA under his belt despite not turning 20 y/o until Next October.
And then there's a staff where guys like CM Wang & John Lannan are your 4th & 5th starters behind Strasberg, Zimmermann & newly acquired Gio Gonzalez. Not a bad pen either.

[Fman99]

Frayed Knot wrote: The Nats also have a recent history with dealing with Prince's agent Scott Boras (Werth, Strasberg & others) and it may be a clue that Boras most recent piece of bluster/hype involves Washington area icons, releasing a statement that "[Prince is] a combination of Henry Kissenger and Frank Howard. He's got brute strength power. He's a diplomat in the locker room"

If that quote was any douchier I'd be uncheesing my cooter with it.

[Edgy MD]

The Nats could certainly upgrade at first, but I like the AL East for a princely future. Baltimore or Toronto. Or maybe the Sox, with their new management team getting a late start, could do something nutty to clear first base for him. Trade Gonzalez or move him to another position or something.

[bmfc1]

I don't want the Nationals to get Fielder as he'd make them a strong contender right away. Tom Boswell doesn't want the Nationals to get him either: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/prince-fielders-price-is-not-right-for-nationals-right-now/2011/12/28/gIQA5wZCNP_story.html

[Gwreck]

I think Texas is the most likely destination. I see them being able to pay him the bucks/years he'll want, knowing that they have the DH spot to fall back on when they need to put him there.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I think he's a horrible long-term contract waiting to happen, unless is suddenly discovers conditioning.

[TransMonk]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think he's a horrible long-term contract waiting to happen, unless is suddenly discovers conditioning.

This.

Fman99 wrote: If that quote was any douchier I'd be uncheesing my cooter with it.

And the 2012 BOC begins

[Fman99]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think he's a horrible long-term contract waiting to happen, unless is suddenly discovers conditioning.

And yet, if you look at his total # of games played, he's missed 13 games in the last six seasons. Total. Say what you will about his build but he stays on the field.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Fman99 wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: I think he's a horrible long-term contract waiting to happen, unless is suddenly discovers conditioning. And yet, if you look at his total # of games played, he's missed 13 games in the last six seasons. Total. Say what you will about his build but he stays on the field.

Which is impressive, to be sure. But you just have to think knees, back or something is going to start giving him trouble on the other side of 30 and in the second half of the a 7-year deal.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe, but the thingcicle about Prince is, while he's got a chunky frame, he's not his dad. Four inches shorter and apparently more diet-minded. Weight starts sticking to everybody, and wear and tear of carrying it around starts catching up with everybody, especially if you've got the ol' genetic predisposition. But maybe he can stave that off a bit longer.



He always struck me as one of the smartest players out there, if not always wise. What would you offer him in this market?

How about five years at $20 million, plus two option years at 22, with one vesting if he stays modestly healthy and another if he stays very healthy?

Seems on the fair side. On the other hand, it's less than Reyes got, so I can't imagine he'd jump at it.

[Frayed Knot]

The biggest thing Prince has going for him now is his age; not many hit the FA market this young so to take best advantage of that it seems to me that he's going to want the longest deal possible rather than try to do this dance again when he's in his early/mid 30s and those age/weight questions move from the back of everyone's mind to the front. Plus, short-term deals aren't exactly Boras's style - although he has shown a fondness for opt-out clauses part-way through, as long as such options are at the player's discretion of course.



P.S. - the BB-Ref stats show Prince as that full 4 inches shorter than his daddy (didn't realize Cecil was that tall) but also 45 pounds heavier than the man who was once described as holding the major league record for having his back pockets further apart than any many who ever played the game.
Now I suspect that 230 weight for papa F. was from early in his career while towards the end that real figure might have had a '3' as its first digit but who knows where Prince winds up when he's 35.

Edited January 3, 2012 by Guest

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

His Dad in his prime was fun to watch. We used to go to a lot of Tiger games in the early 1990s, at least one a homestand. (Having kids put a damper on that.)

Cecil would hit some absolute moon shots on to the Tiger Stadium roof. But he kept getting bigger and bigger.

[Frayed Knot]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: His Dad in his prime was fun to watch. We used to go to a lot of Tiger games in the early 1990s, at least one a homestand. (Having kids put a damper on that.) Cecil would hit some absolute moon shots on to the Tiger Stadium roof. But he kept getting bigger and bigger.

There are stories of the then 11-12 y/o Prince hitting some long ones during Tiger Stadium BP as well.

[Edgy MD]

Frayed Knot wrote: P.S. - the BB-Ref stats show Prince as that full 4 inches shorter than his daddy (didn't realize Cecil was that tall) but also 45 pounds heavier than the man who was once described as holding the major league record for having his back pockets further apart than any many who ever played the game. Now I suspect that 230 weight for papa F. was from early in his career while towards the end that real figure might have had a '3' as its first digit but who knows where Prince winds up when he's 35.

I suspect that figure is from early in his career too. Like, high school-early.

[ashie62]

I wish Prince was a Met.

[MFS62]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: His Dad in his prime was fun to watch. We used to go to a lot of Tiger games in the early 1990s, at least one a homestand. (Having kids put a damper on that.)

Did any of the old time fans there tell tales of Gates Brown?
I don't care what his height and weight were listed at (5'11', 220 lbs), Gates made Prince look absolutely svelte.
And he could f'n stroke.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

The difference being that Gates Brown was a criminal pre-career while Cecil waited until afterward to start breaking bad.

[Frayed Knot]

Cubs seemingly take themselves out of the Prince sweepstakes (assuming they were ever in) by swinging a deal for 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo.
This marks the 2nd time GM Jed Hoyer has dealt for Rizzo in the last 13 months (he was part of the bait going to SD in the Adrian Gonzalez deal) and while he may not start the year in Chicago the 22 y/oRizzo is probably the best 1B prospect in the game right now.

[Edgy MD]

smg58 is on record with the Yankees.

[Frayed Knot]

I'd be shocked if he winds up with the Yanx.
Between Teixeira signed for the next 65 years, Jesus Montero having a bat ready to go but no real position, and the luxury tax being beefed up in this latest CBA, I don't think it's in the cards for them.


On the other hand, MLB.com is reporting that:
"There is a "99 percent" chance that the Nationals will not sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, according to a baseball source.
The news comes a few weeks after ownership met with Fielder and his agent, Scott Boras, in the nation's capital.


The article then goes on the point out that they don't want to sign him at the price he's looking for, meaning anything approaching Pujols years/numbers. Also with Morse & LaRoche on the roster it's not like the Nats are over a barrel here so Boras better find hisself a team that's desperate (???) or thinks they're one player away (Rangers?) or Prince is going to look very silly for turning down the money Milwaukee offered him last summer.

[Edgy MD]

I'm curious where the Giants are in this. They have some diynamite pitching, back-of-the pack offense, Aubrey Huff coming off a stinky year, and they still finished in second place despite scoring fewer than they gave up. They didn't really get in on the Reyes chase, but I don't hear their names bandied about when it comes to Prince Fielder.

[Frayed Knot]

Their best prospect coming into last year -- Brandon Belt -- was also a 1B.
He had a rough first 200 PAs in the majors [.225/.306/.412] but kicked butt in AAA [.309/.448/.527] and is still only 23.
Not sure that's where the Gints want to spend their limited allowance.

[Vic Sage]

Belt plays OF, too, so they better take their limited allowance and buy themselves a bat to support that pitching staff. They can swoop in here and get Prince for way under market value, since there is, apparently, no market for Fatman Jr.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

It's not JUST Belt-- they're almost definitely looking to get Posey some time at first this year, too.

It REALLY would've behooved them to push for Beltran.

[seawolf17]

The Twitters seem to think that he's headed to Detroit for nine years, which is interesting.

[metirish]

at $200 million....yikes....

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wow, for a guy who's played his whole career in Milwaukee, Detroit is going to be quite a culture shock!

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Wow, for a guy who's played his whole career in Milwaukee, Detroit is going to be quite a culture shock!

His dad did OK there.

[Edgy MD]

That gets him out of my league.

Hard to think he won't be a Yankee DH before that contract is up.

[metirish]

"Um, guys, I'm still here at first base"