Prince Fielder signs with...

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yeah, Toronto does have that money they were gonna spend on Darvish lying around. They could just throw it all at Fielder.

[jjfanec]

After seeing Yu go to Texas (at least the bid part) I think Prince ends up in Toronto. Toronto has a better team than Seattle and with a new Wild-Card being introduced looks to have a decent shot at the playoffs. He and Bautista could be terrific and they have young guys like Lawrie as well. They have a good rotation and they are smart with draft picks. Although they would lose a pretty high pick for Prince so maybe their love with draft picks takes them out of it. I would really like 2 first rounders

[jerichoholicninja]

If Prince goes to Toronto and Lawrie continues what he started the AL East is a legitimate 4 horse race. Sucks to be a Baltimore fan.

[JohnBriggs12]

With Darvish probably going to Texas it's got to be down to Toronto and Seattle.

Fielder and Boras better hope there are 2 teams left to bid. I for one can't see either Seattle or Toronto getting into a huge bidding war that gets Fielder into the $200 million category or even close to that. Boras is obviously not getting offers he wants and he's holding out hoping the price will get bid up. I just don't see it happening. That's why I don't think the Cubs are out of the picture either. I could easily see a team like the Cubs swooping as the price comes down either in years or total. I'm sure the Cubs still have interest but not at the price tag Boras has on him now.

[Nader Raider Tim]

I could see either Seattle or Toronto offering Fielder a 6 year $150 million deal. I think that if that is where the offers are at I think that Baltimore will end up jumping in and signing Fielder to a 7 year $170 million or if the get ridiculous a 8 year $190 million.

[narwhalattack]

If it is down to Toronto and Seattle, I think Toronto has the edge because they still would have money to spend and have the players to be competitive. Of course if Seattle is desperate enough and decides to give Fielder a gargantuan contract, it may be different. But I doubt they'll contend even with Fielder. Ichiro's not gonna last forever, and soon it'll be down to Ackley and Fielder. And considering how the Angels and the Rangers are, they're not gonna catch up.

 

But then again, Anthopolous is scared out of his wits to offer a contract that lasts for more than 5 years, so it may be pretty even between Seattle and Toronto.

Edit: The Mariners also have Smoak, but it still would be tough to compete against the Angels and the Rangers.

[GAME05]

certainly Fielder won't turn around the Mariner's offense by himself, but they have to start somewhere, right? and unless i'm wrong, GMs on the hot seat tend to take bigger risks than most and stop looking so much at the future.

 

with only two other teams bidding (seemingly), do you think there's a chance that Fielder takes a one-year deal to wait until he's the biggest star of the market, unlike he is this year? maybe Jesus Moreno will be traded or Ortiz will finally be let go by Boston.

[jerichoholicninja]

certainly Fielder won't turn around the Mariner's offense by himself, but they have to start somewhere, right? and unless i'm wrong, GMs on the hot seat tend to take bigger risks than most and stop looking so much at the future.

 

with only two other teams bidding (seemingly), do you think there's a chance that Fielder takes a one-year deal to wait until he's the biggest star of the market, unlike he is this year? maybe Jesus Moreno will be traded or Ortiz will finally be let go by Boston.

In the back of my mind I'm hoping that no one is willing to give him what he wants and Mark goes big and Prince resigns for one year at about $25 million, but that's 99% probably not going to happen.

[JohnBriggs12]

Nobody has come near Boras' asking price for Fielder. All the teams linked to him, Toronto, Baltimore, Seattle, are waiting for Boras to come off his ridiculous price knowing eventually he will be forced to. That's why until the Cubs have a first baseman (Jeff Baker is listed number 1 currently on their depth chart) they should never be dismissed as not only a contender, but the likely landing spot for Prince, and not at a ridiculous price tag either. Epstein is playing this like the savvy guy he is. He's going to get Fielder at his price, not Boras' and for the next 7 years we are going to be subjected to seeing our one time hero in the enemies uniform.

[jjfanec]

. Epstein is playing this like the savvy guy he is. He's going to get Fielder at his price, not Boras' and for the next 7 years we are going to be subjected to seeing our one time hero in the enemies uniform.

I think you are overstating how savvy Epstein is in FA. Carl Crawford and John Lackey's ridiculous deals show you he doesnt just get guys at his price.

[RockCoCougars]

If this thing gets into January- which looks like a near certainty, I think that it's going to get very interesting. How many huge long term deals have been signed after the first of the year? None that I can think of, so I'd guess not many. Bottom line is that no one has stepped up to bid against themselves here, so I'm thinking that 7 year monster deal is becoming more and more a pipe dream by the minute. It follows that Boras is looking more and more like he's going to have a lot of egg on his face here. The Brewers may as well for moving too quickly on Ramirez. All that being said, I'd still say that there is absolutely no way that Prince will accept a one year deal. I could see him doing a three year deal at a higher avg. salary than Pujols to save face though. 3/$80 million perhaps?

[Invader3K]

It's possible that Prince ends up really regretting not signing with the Brewers last year.

[brettac1]

I doubt it. I really don't have any doubts that he'll get a nice fat deal.

[JohnBriggs12]

. Epstein is playing this like the savvy guy he is. He's going to get Fielder at his price, not Boras' and for the next 7 years we are going to be subjected to seeing our one time hero in the enemies uniform.

I think you are overstating how savvy Epstein is in FA. Carl Crawford and John Lackey's ridiculous deals show you he doesnt just get guys at his price.

Different team and different situations. Yes he will pay top dollar if he has to. The market for Fielder is weak.. The Cubs don't have 1B. Fielder doesn't have team. Seems pretty cut and dried to me.

[RockCoCougars]

Doesn't Theo always buy the best toy for Christmas?

[brwrsfan]

More sources today indicating that the Cubs are definitely out on Fielder. We'll see. I don't have the link but it's on the JSonline blog area.

 

If he winds up in a place like say Baltimore, I think he may very well regret not resigning here. But we'll never know I guess. He made his bed, now he'll have to lie in it.

[StearnsFTW]

More sources today indicating that the Cubs are definitely out on Fielder. We'll see. I don't have the link but it's on the JSonline blog area.

 

If he winds up in a place like say Baltimore, I think he may very well regret not resigning here. But we'll never know I guess. He made his bed, now he'll have to lie in it.

Rotoworld:

 

Quote:

David

Kaplan of CSNChicago.com was told by two sources that the Cubs are not

players for free agent first baseman Prince Fielder.

There have been

conflicting reports about the Cubs' interest over the last week, but

Kaplan hears from several baseball sources that the club is on track for

"a complete and total rebuild." If the Cubs are truly off the board as a

possibility, that leaves the Mariners, Nationals, Orioles, Blue Jays

and Rangers as his most likely landing spots. Related: CubsSource:

CSNChicago.com Dec 21 - 2:51 PM

 

 

 

 

 

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[brettac1]

The Cubs are like a 75 win team this year. Theo's not an idiot that's going to drop $150+ million on a guy to make them an 80 win team. Hendry was that guy, this is someone who is competent.

[PrinceEatMeat]

The Cubs are like a 75 win team this year. Theo's not an idiot that's going to drop $150+ million on a guy to make them an 80 win team. Hendry was that guy, this is someone who is competent.

I get this point of view, but he'd be signing him more in terms of thinking ahead for future years than for this year. There really aren't gonna be a ton of marquee free agents out there in the coming years. That's really the only reason people are speculating that the Cubs are in play. I agree with you though. I highly doubt Theo will drop that much money on him right now.

[brettac1]

I don't think Theo really wants to build so much through FA like he did some of the time in Boston. I think he prefers to draft and develop and then trade prospects for established players that the Cubs can sign to deals. He probably won't have as much meddling to deal with in Chicago as he did with some of the Boston ownership group.

[StearnsFTW]

I don't think Theo really wants to build so much through FA like he did some of the time in Boston. I think he prefers to draft and develop and then trade prospects for established players that the Cubs can sign to deals. He probably won't have as much meddling to deal with in Chicago as he did with some of the Boston ownership group.

That's what he should do because that's what he's good at.

 

His free agent pickups have been largely dreadful.

[jjfanec]

Nationals just got Gio Gonzalez. Wonder if they will get back in on Prince. A rotation with Strasburg, Zimmerman, and Gonzalez with bats like Prince and Zimmerman could be very impressive

[GoudaBrew]

Logan Morrison breaking hot stove news now I guess:

 

 

 

LoMoMarlins

Logan Morrison

Just heard from my boy that Prince to Seattle is a done deal...

[PrinceEatMeat]

Logan Morrison breaking hot stove news now I guess:

 

 

 

LoMoMarlins

Logan Morrison

Just heard from my boy that Prince to Seattle is a done deal...

Followed almost immediately by this. It's funny that so may people actually believed him.

Oh $hit, you guys thought I meant the 1B from Milwaukee. My bad. (I love all of you. Happy Holidays!)

[paul253]

Prince to Washington is the ideal result in my opinion. That's about as high a pick you're going to get for him. With KRod accepting arby, getting a second round pick for Fielder would be a terrible outcome.