With several of the top free agents coming off the market last week, it’s easy to forget that one very large name and player remains. The buzz surrounding Prince Fielder has been fairly nonexistent so far this offseason, but that figures to change now that Albert Pujols and other top free agents have signed. Click through to check out all the latest Prince Fielder rumors.
According to Scott Boras, Fielder’s agent, the slugger has several offers on the table. Even so, a true market has yet to develop for Fielder as many are concerned about signing the large-bodied first baseman to a long-term deal. This worry has reportedly caused clubs to only extend five-year contract offers while Fielder and Boras are looking more for seven or eight-year deals.
Of the few teams that have shown interest in Fielder, there doesn’t seem to be any clear cut favorite.
The Mariners have been considered the frontrunners for Fielder at different times this offseason, but general manager Jack Zduriencik says that term is “misleading” when it comes to the Hot Stove. Things can change in an instant, but at this time there hasn’t been much Fielder speculation involving the Mariners.
After missing out on Pujols, the Marlins were another team that figured to enter the Fielder bidding. They have denied these reports several times to the media, but they aren’t convincing anyone according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. Capozzi says that most reporters believe that the Marlins will eventually enter the Fielder sweepstakes.
The Texas Rangers have also denied multiple times that they have any interest in Fielder. While this may have been true, who knows what’s going through their minds now that their division rivals the Angels have made two huge splashes. Just as they did last winter after missing out on Cliff Lee, the Rangers could look to add a bat instead of the pitching they initially were seeking this offseason.
A friend of Fielder told Ken Davidoff of Newsday that the slugger is “very interested” in the Cubs. Unfortunately for Wrigley faithful, the Cubs are reporting that they don’t have the cash it will take to sign Fielder.
The other team that has been thrown into Fielder talks is Prince’s former club, the Milwaukee Brewers. While they’ve admitted that they may have to move on from Fielder this winter, Jon Heyman of MLB Network says the Brewers are “far from out of it on Fielder”.
Call to the Pen’s readers feel that the Fielder sweepstakes will come down to a two-man race between the Cubs and Mariners.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.