What would be more shocking than the Dodgers – a team who barely has an owner, who has more drama than daytime TV, a team who is at a stand still while things play out in court – making a huge splash in the free agent market? The Dodgers could do so with Prince Fielder. And the move could make a lot of sense.
The Dodgers currently have James Loney at first. Loney is a decent enough hitter, but far from a Prince Fielder type. He’s 27, makes far less than Fielder, and still manages a .432 slugging percentage. But he’s not a star. He’s not the cornerstone of any offense, let alone the Dodgers’ offense. Matt Kemp is the cornerstone, but with Fielder in Dodger blue, Kemp could be part of a dynamic duo similar to Fielder and Braun in Milwaukee. So what’s the downside?
Fielder will make 4-5 times what Loney makes, he will be looking for a long-term deal, and the Dodgers will have to figure a way to make the move while Frank McCourt drags the team through bankruptcy court. It’s a difficult scenario to conceive. The Dodgers who have spent more than they made under McCourt’s watch reaching out and breaking the bank on the last huge free agent on the market sounds far-fetched, but it’s Los Angeles. They will quickly return to the Dodgers we all know and hate (or love for some of you). They will draw the fans and make the money they need to afford this deal. So money aside, how would Fielder fit in LA?
In 2011, Milwaukee’s park factor for home runs was 1.062, not much more than league average. However, Dodger stadium’s park factor was 0.919. That’s a difference of 14.3%. Does that mean Fielder will hit 14% less home runs in Los Angeles? Not necessarily, but it may make things a little more difficult. No matter the ball park he finds himself in though, Fielder will hit. But let’s make some assumptions.
If Fielder does hit 14.3% less home runs by playing half his games at Dodger Stadium, he will still have hit 33 home runs with the Dodgers (based on his 2011 figures). That’s 21 more home runs than Loney hit last season. Fielder’s OBP shouldn’t be affected and his slugging percentage will likely remain much higher than Loney’s. In 2011, Loney’s line was .288/.339/.416. Fielder’s line was .299/.415/.566.
Now, picture Fielder, Kemp, and Andre Ethier all together in Los Angeles. There you have the dream line-up that can bring the Dodgers back from the depths of irrelevance. The signing of Fielder can, in one fell swoop, bump the Dodgers into the postseason. It may be a tough sell to Major League Baseball, the bankruptcy court in Delaware, and the city of Los Angeles, but it’s a move that can totally change the direction of one of America’s most storied franchises.
*As a Padres fan, I hate the Dodgers with a passion. So writing about them was incredibly difficult. However, when I remove the fan in me, the idea of Prince Fielder in LA makes total sense.