The Prince Fielder sweepstakes have started taking shape. Another corner infield slugger has come off the market in Aramis Ramirez, and Fielder is hands down the best remaining bat available. Still, until serious potential suitors come forward, Tim Dierkes of MLBTR.com speculates that Scott Boras, Fielder’s agent, is going to let the “Prince Fielder market simmer this month”. Since last week, several teams have come out and made statements regarding Fielder, while rumors continue to swirl around the first baseman. Here’s the latest in Prince Fielder rumors.
Late last week, the number of teams interested in Fielder was hazy at best. While Boras said he had several intriguing offers on the table for his client, no teams were willing to show their cards regarding Fielder.
But yesterday the Milwaukee Brewers decided to do just that. Entering the offseason, many expected that Fielder’s time in Milwaukee had come to an end, as the Brewers didn’t seem to have the room in their budget for the Prince. But, during last week’s Winter Meetings, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that the Brewers were far from out of it when it came to Fielder.
Milwaukee has now gone from far from out of it to out of it in a few days. Even after Ryan Braun’s unexpected failed drug test, the Brewers have confirmed that they are out on Fielder. Milwaukee did sign Aramis Ramirez to a three-year deal yesterday, and Brewers general manager Doug Melvin expects Boras to understand that they are out of the Fielder sweepstakes.
Heyman was back at it yesterday, noting that the Cubs are “definitely in the mix” for Fielder. We heard similar sentiment last week, and it was also stated that Fielder himself is very interested in the Cubs. While Chicago has said that they don’t have the cash to sign Fielder, they are a team that does not seem willing to drop off the slugger’s radar.
Along with the Cubs, Heyman says the Mariners, Blue Jays and Rangers are all “showing interest and thinking hard about” Fielder.
The other big news to come out recently regarding Fielder involved the Rangers. Texas may follow a course similar to last offseason when they targeted an impact bat after missing out on a top starter. George A. King of the New York Post hears from a National League executive that the Rangers have interest in signing Fielder and then flipping current first baseman Mitch Moreland for pitching. The Rangers may also be more motivated to make a big splash because of the Angels recent additions of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson.
Texas has denied over and over again that they will be in on Fielder this winter but, after last offseason, you never know what Jon Daniels and the Rangers may do.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.