Prince Fielder signs with...

[CheezWizHed]

Since the Brewers have spent enough money this offseason that there is no realistic possibility (so even the most ardent optimist has to concede that he is gone) for the Brewers to sign him, so predict where he lands:

 

I'm hopeful for Washington (for the draft pick), but I'm guessing Texas Rangers.

[patrickgpe]

it would be better (draft pick wise) for him to sign with St Louis, where the brewers would get a 1st instead of a high 2nd. I still think he is going to the cubs or rangers.

[RockCoCougars]

I could care less about the draft pick. I just hope that he ends up in the A.L. for significant money. If he ends up getting less per year than Ramirez + KRod I will be irate.

[Nader Raider Tim]

If just for the Draft Pick wouldn't Toronto be the best most reasonable potential destination? They pick 17th or so the Brewers would get that pick unless something has changed.

[chuckiehacks]

I could care less about the draft pick. I just hope that he ends up in the A.L. for significant money. If he ends up getting less per year than Ramirez + KRod I will be irate.

That's not really fair, since KRod is signed for one year, Ramirez for 3 and Prince likely for at least 7.

 

And I'll say Texas, unless they get Darvish, in which case I think it will be Seattle.

[CheezWizHed]

I'm pretty sure the first 15 picks in the draft are protected. That is why I'm cheering for Washington at #16.

[patrickgpe]

If just for the Draft Pick wouldn't Toronto be the best most reasonable potential destination? They pick 17th or so the Brewers would get that pick unless something has changed.

you are correct, toronto would ideal from every perspective.

[Patrick425]

I could care less about the draft pick. I just hope that he ends up in the A.L. for significant money. If he ends up getting less per year than Ramirez + KRod I will be irate.

Aren't you also concerned about the length of contract as well as the amount? K-Rod only has one year at whatever he gets ($12 mil perhaps?). Ramirez is at 3 years. Prince will most likely get at least a 6 year deal and possibly closer to 7 or 8 (even though it sounds like he want's 10 - not sure he'll get that). You can't just compare the contracts by adding K-Rod and Ramirez for one year and comparing it to Prince.

 

[jerichoholicninja]

As long as he doesn't go to the Cubs or Cardinals I don't care and might even cheer for him. My guess is whoever doesn't get Darvish between the Cubs, Blue Jays, and Rangers will sign Prince.

[Raw Biz]

My guess is whoever doesn't get Darvish between the Cubs, Blue Jays, and Rangers will sign Prince.

So two teams will sign him?

[reillymcshane]

I'm gonna go crazy and say Baltimore. More because he's a perfect fit than anything. I think the O's know that, and will pay accordingly. They'll secure their 1B/DH for the next 7-8 years. Fielder will rake at Camden. He's perfect for the stadium.

 

Of course, the O's will probably stink because something always goes wrong with them. But Prince will make his $25 million or whatever he gets.

 

An offense of Roberts (2B if healthy), Hardy (SS), Prince (1B), Jones (CF), Markakis (RF), Reynolds (DH), and Weiters © is a pretty good start. The pitching is another matter.

[RockCoCougars]

I could care less about the draft pick. I just hope that he ends up in the A.L. for significant money. If he ends up getting less per year than Ramirez + KRod I will be irate.

Aren't you also concerned about the length of contract as well as the amount? K-Rod only has one year at whatever he gets ($12 mil perhaps?). Ramirez is at 3 years. Prince will most likely get at least a 6 year deal and possibly closer to 7 or 8 (even though it sounds like he want's 10 - not sure he'll get that). You can't just compare the contracts by adding K-Rod and Ramirez for one year and comparing it to Prince.

I guess that it all comes down to what sort of contract he gets. Obviously, there is a risk in putting all your eggs in one basket, but Prince has been one of the best hitters in the game. If he ends up getting something crazy like 7 years for over $25 million per, I'll live with it. I'm not convinced he's going to get that though. Let's say that he ends up 'settling' for 5/110 or something. I will second guess that one all day long. I'm just not convinced that the Brewers will ever be able to acquire talent via the free agent market without overpaying, hence it's quite likely that moving forward they will either use the 'Prince money' to overpay for stopgaps, or maybe not use it at all.

[brettac1]

I'm gonna go crazy and say Baltimore. More because he's a perfect fit than anything. I think the O's know that, and will pay accordingly. They'll secure their 1B/DH for the next 7-8 years. Fielder will rake at Camden. He's perfect for the stadium.

 

Of course, the O's will probably stink because something always goes wrong with them. But Prince will make his $25 million or whatever he gets.

 

An offense of Roberts (2B if healthy), Hardy (SS), Prince (1B), Jones (CF), Markakis (RF), Reynolds (DH), and Weiters © is a pretty good start. The pitching is another matter.

Yup. They have been my pick all along. If you go with Boras, you're going for the most money you can get, not necessarily to a winning team. Baltimore is a perfect spot for him.

[JohnBriggs12]

As long as he doesn't go to the Cubs or Cardinals I don't care and might even cheer for him. My guess is whoever doesn't get Darvish between the Cubs, Blue Jays, and Rangers will sign Prince.

I think you are right, but I'd narrow it down to the Cubs and Blue Jays. Teams have Fielder on hold pending the resolution of this.

 

The Cub position all along is that they needed to address pitching first. Some concluded it would be at the expense of Fielder, but I'm not buying it. Epstein could end up getting Fielder at a relatively reasonable rate even after he's added pitching. The notion that Boras will hold out to top Pujols is fantasy in my opinion.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Seems more and more likely by the day that he'll sign with the Cubs. It'll be a travesty if he does, but I'll get over it eventually. The situation is what it is. The Cubs will still suck anyway. The Blue Jays seem to be going all in though. They are rumored to have a sky high big on Darvish, so maybe they'll throw big money at Prince too. Honestly, it would be smart on Prince's part to sign with an AL team. It will help prolong his career to be able to move to DH in 5 years or so. The Rangers may swoop in at the last minute like the Angels did with Pujols. That strategy seems to pay off more often than not.

[DHonks]

Good to see others are in agreement with me that it'll be the O's. I've always thought Angelos must be looking to make his first splash since Albert Belle. Prince would like that ballpark, and he could DH after age 30.

 

As for K-Rod...the only frustrating thing is that we likely would have gotten higher draft picks had K-Rod signed with someone than Fielder. I like having K-Rod, but I would have liked two extra first rounders

[paul253]

I think it'll be the Cubs

[DHonks]

Also, wanted to point out that the rules changed and only the first 10 picks are protected, not 15

[Invader3K]

I'm still thinking the Mariners. They have money to spend and might be looking to counteract Pujols going to the Angels.

[RightFieldCoder]

ARam got $36M. KRod will get $10-$15. So if Prince signs for less than $51M somewhere else, I will be with you in being mad we didn't get him.

 

I'm hoping it is to the AL. It will sting that much worse to have to face him for the next couple of years. With everything that has happened in sports since 10/9/11 (the day my dad turned 55), I fully expect Prince to sign with the Cubs for a contract at least 7 years less than $150M that doesn't have a full no trade clause.

[Patrick425]

RockCoCougars[/b]] I'm just not convinced that the Brewers will ever be able to acquire talent via the free agent market without overpaying

Well, I'll definitely agree with you here (although, I might add the word significant in front of talent and drop the "without overpaying" part) and it's one of the main reasons why I think MLB has issues, but that's a debate that has already been had in another thread.

[Roderick]

Honestly, it would be smart on Prince's part to sign with an AL team. It will help prolong his career to be able to move to DH in 5 years or so.

No it would be smart to negotiate a huge option year and some type of no-trade clause and sign a big, long contract with an NL team. And when that team can't take his play at first anymore and wants to get rid of him, he will tell the AL teams he wants his option guaranteed before he agrees to a trade.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Honestly, it would be smart on Prince's part to sign with an AL team. It will help prolong his career to be able to move to DH in 5 years or so.

No it would be smart to negotiate a huge option year and some type of no-trade clause and sign a big, long contract with an NL team. And when that team can't take his play at first anymore and wants to get rid of him, he will tell the AL teams he wants his option guaranteed before he agrees to a trade.

In which case the AL teams won't trade for him, and the team that signs him will be stuck with him playing 1B. What would be smart is if he got a CC type opt out clause, rakes for 3 years, and then cashes in for more. The only NL team that will sign him is likely the Cubs, and they are refusing to give him a long deal. If he signs there it'll be shorter term, and then he'll leave to be a DH afterwards to prolong his career. He should try to sign with an AL team long-term, and then once he has to convert to DH he'll still be making 1B money. This is what'll happen with Pujols, not that he's not overpaid anyway. I just think if Fielder decides to settle for a shorter deal he's doing himself a disservice, because he won't make as much money on the market as only a DH. If anyone out there is offering him 8-10 years, he should take it and run.

[RWeeksFan23]

I've been saying Baltimore all along, and I'm sticking with it

[PrinceEatMeat]

I've been saying Baltimore all along, and I'm sticking with it

Yeah, if they swoop in with an 8-10 year offer at the right money, he'll be an Oriole for sure. Wouldn't put it past them at all. I think he'll sign with a team no one seems to be mentioning as a top contender for his services. Not sure if that'll be the Orioles or not though.