Prince Fielder Rumors: Orioles, Dodgers and the Usual Suspects
News regarding Prince Fielder’s pending free agent contract was fairly slow this weekend, but things are heating up now that the beginning of the work week is upon us. While most are still expecting the Fielder sweepstakes to come down to the Nationals and Rangers, several other teams have gotten in on the rumor madness today. Jen Royle is reporting that the Orioles are trying to make room for Fielder while Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears the Dodgers will be in play for Prince.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com kick started the vague Fielder rumor mill this morning, tweeting that, while multiple teams remain in on Prince, the field “appears” to have “been narrowed to something close” to a final four.
Moving on.
A Fielder signing does not appear imminent, though the Nationals are continuing to work according to MLB Network’s Jim Bowden. Nothing is expected to happen soon on the Rangers front either as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported Texas’s management is in the Dominican Republic for the week.
Yesterday Nick Carfado of the Boston Globe reported that one American League East executive expects the chase for Fielder to come down to the Rangers and Nationals. The same exec also believes the Brewers and Cubs will take a shot at Prince if he settles for a one-year deal in order to hit the open market again in 2013.
It’s probably worth noting that there’s no chance of that last part actually happening.
Just this afternoon Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Nationals are one of the confirmed finalists for Fielder. Nightengale hears from sources close to Fielder that the Rangers and at least one other club remain in the mix for Prince.
Now onto teams considered to be on the outside looking in when it comes to Fielder; the Dodgers and the Orioles.
At a BBWAA dinner held last week, Joel Sherman was surprised to hear that a number of baseball executives believe the Dodgers “will ultimately be in play” for Fielder this winter.
Meanwhile, Jen Royle tweeted this morning that the Orioles are trying to squeeze money out of owner Peter Angelos in order to make a run at Fielder. Royle adds that manager Buck Showalter met with Angelos late last week and asked for the additional funds.
As an Orioles fan, I’ve got to add to this. No matter the validity of these statements, Peter Angelos is bound to lose this one. Either he’s going to spend a lot of money on a risky investment or he’s going to get ripped (even more) by Orioles fans for being a penny-pinching old curmudgeon.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.