MLB Free Agents: Detroit Tigers Sign Prince Fielder
By Editorial Staff
In a ridiculous turn of events it’s being reported that the Detroit Tigers have signed free agent first baseman Prince Fielder. Detroit came out of nowhere to ink the slugger, signing Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract.
Entering today most of the Fielder buzz surrounded the Nationals and Rangers. Most analysts considered these clubs the favorites to land Fielder, thought Prince’s market has been murky since day one of the offseason.
Over the past few months a list of potential Fielder suitors had developed. This list was slowly whittled down, and there seemingly remained only a handful of teams in the Fielder sweepstakes as the week began.
Because Fielder remained a free agent as we welcomed a New Year, some began to speculate that the slugger would have to take a reduced deal in terms of years and total value. Others thought there was a chance Prince and agent Scott Boras could take a one-year contract and look to re-enter the free agent market next year.
Both of these seem silly now considering Fielder has found the mega-deal he was seeking. Boras was yet again able to draw in an unexpected club and get his client the big bucks.
The deal becomes the fourth largest in baseball history behind only Alex Rodriguez’s pair of contracts and the agreement Albert Pujols reached with the Angels earlier this offseason. Fielder will make an average of $23.78 million per year and be under Tigers control through age 36.
Detroit recently lost Victor Martinez, likely for the entire 2012 season, to an ACL injury and most figured it would be impossible for the club to fill the gap left by the designated hitter. Now it is being reported that Fielder will take over at first base and All-Star Miguel Cabrera will move elsewhere. It’s unknown where Cabrera will land, but the two most likely options are third base or DH.
After the signing was announced, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the Nationals and a third ‘mystery team’, most likely another Boras special, were in on Fielder until the end.
Because they offered Fielder arbitration, the Brewers will receive the Tigers first round pick (27th overall) as well as a second round compensatory pick.
For more on the Tigers, be sure to check out Motor City Bengals.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.