Team by team analysis of Fielder free agency options

[owbc]

Signing Fielder would fill a big hole for the Cubs. It will not be franchise crippling, it will be a huge signing and he will produce there for years. Of course it will never be completely "worth it", but that is usually the case with free agents.

 

The Cubs could dump $30 million/year down the toilet and still be in better financial shape than the Brewers.

[jerichoholicninja]

Signing Fielder would fill a big hole for the Cubs. It will not be franchise crippling, it will be a huge signing and he will produce there for years. Of course it will never be completely "worth it", but that is usually the case with free agents.

 

The Cubs could dump $30 million/year down the toilet and still be in better financial shape than the Brewers.

I was referring to the Cubs signing Pujols but Fielder wouldn't be any better long term, probably worse.

[apirk]

I know the article said Texas was a longshot but if Moreland doesn't pan out I could see them going after him

[TooLiveBrew]

Even if Moreland is looking good, I think the Rangers could do well to sign Prince & deal Moreland (or just keep him around to DH & play some 1B). A middle of the lineup of Hamilton, Fielder, & Cruz is insanely good.

[RedFlash2]

Actually, if Pujols went to the Cubs, it wouldn't hurt the Brewers that much. They'd still be facing him as often as they do now, but on a more incompetent team with poorer ownership. And if he gets hurt or starts to decline (long shot, I know), it could cripple the Cubs for years to come.

First: I wouldn't call the Cubs an "incompetent team with poorer ownership." They don't always run a smooth organization but they are not "incompetent." When I think incompetent Pittsburgh, Houston, K.C. and Baltimore come to mind. There are things they do very well (such as scouting the Pacific Rim where we are king as we get any Asian top prospect we want), and things we don't do as well, like most org.

 

Second: As for the poorer ownership, time will tell. I haven't been impressed with Ricketts, yet, but he has had the team for less then a year so patience is needed.

 

As for both dream and realistic scenerios about Pujols and Fielder:

 

Dream:

Pujols: Cubs

Fielder: Seattle

 

Realistic:

Pujols: Cardinals

Fielder: Angels (Angels got snubbed by Crawford and Beltre and will be looking for a "splash" next offseason.)

[TooLiveBrew]

There are things they do very well (such as scouting the Pacific Rim where we are king as we get any Asian top prospect we want)

 

Could you elaborate on this? Since I'm not familiar with the Cubs' MiLB system, the only one I really knew about is (now Marlin) Hak-Ju Lee.

[RockCoCougars]

For some reason, I'm really starting to get a hunch that somehow St. Albert will be wearing Yankee pinstripes in 2012. Teixeira could shift to a corner outfield position. It just seems like something that the Yankees would do. If such a scenario unfolded, I would guess that Prince would be pursued by either another AL East team or the Mets as a counter.

[TooLiveBrew]

Teixeira could shift to a corner outfield position.

 

No, I really don't think he could. The Cards will get Pujols re-signed; they really have no other move. This could well go down similarly to the Jeter situation this offseason, except Pujols will still be an elite player when he's negotiating.

[Warning Track Power]

Count me in the camp that believes Fielder ends up with the Angels. Even with the Angels owing $20MM+ per year to Wells over the next few years, Prince is the type of bat that fits perfectly in that lineup. With that rotation and a middle of the lineup that has Wells, Fielder, Morales, Hunter...wow. The AL West could have some seriously offensive battles between the Angels and Rangers.

 

Even though Prince has snubbed the Brewers in re-signing attempts, I don't believe him to want make enemies by signing with the Cubs. Of course if they offer the most, he will go there. But all things being equal, I would expect him to go to the Angels or Orioles before going to a Cubs team where he would easily become the most despised player in baseball for Brewer fans.

[jackalope02ca]

Maybe I'm the only one but I can see him settling for a 1 or 2 year deal back with the Brewers. I don't see the market he is expecting (or should I say Boras is expecting) to materialize. The Brewers on a 1 year deal might make more sense for him in the end. But then again all it takes is one nutty GM to try to make a splash to save his job. I actually think Fielder wants to win. Signing with the Cubs all but ensures he never would.

[nate82]

Maybe I'm the only one but I can see him settling for a 1 or 2 year deal back with the Brewers. I don't see the market he is expecting (or should I say Boras is expecting) to materialize. The Brewers on a 1 year deal might make more sense for him in the end. But then again all it takes is one nutty GM to try to make a splash to save his job. I actually think Fielder wants to win. Signing with the Cubs all but ensures he never would.

There are plenty of teams with cash that can sign Fielder to a ridiculous contract. The Nationals, Orioles, Blue Jays, Angels, Dodgers, and Cubs could all sign Fielder to a deal that he is seeking. That is six teams that could sign Fielder to a monster contract there is no way Fielder will have to settle for a one or two year contract. Only way Fielder will have to settle for a one or two year contract is if he gets seriously injured.

[DannoMac21]

For the amount of money it would take to re-sign Fielder I don't even want him. I'd much rather put that money towards extending Zach Greinke or Shawn Marcum.

I agree with this.

Question: If Fielder does sign with the Cubs after this season, do you boo him?

 

I tear him apart....