Yesterday, much of the Prince Fielder buzz involved the Washington Nationals. Many around the game believe the Nationals could present Fielder with his largest contract offer and may be the team that ultimately lands the slugger. Today’s Prince Fielder rumors relate to another Baltimore-Washington area club, the Orioles.
While the Orioles have been tied to Fielder for most of the offseason, the team’s interest in the hefty first baseman has been unknown. The O’s could certainly use a bat like Fielder’s, but would Baltimore really be willing to pay what it takes to bring in the 27-year-old?
Orioles general manager Dan Duquette has hinted all throughout the offseason that, while the Birds would monitor Fielder’s situation, they likely wouldn’t become involved with the first baseman unless his market bottomed out.
These sentiments continue to be expressed, as Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that “there’s no way the Orioles will go eight-plus years at $20-plus million for Fielder”. Kubatko says Baltimore will stick with its internal options rather than pursue Fielder at that cost.
Kubatko also notes that Duquette and the Orioles are “leery of being used as leverage” as the winter continues.
Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun also reported that, when Scott Boras and Fielder “did their ownership tour this month”, they did not meet with Orioles owner Peter Angelos even though they were in the Baltimore area.
These reports seem to point at something that many have expected all along; the Orioles will not be serious bidders in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.