The Detroit Tigers officially announced Thursday the signing of Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract at a press conference that featured Fielder, GM Dave Dombrowski, owner Mike Ilitch, manager Jim Leyland and Fielder’s son.
Here’s what The Detroit Sports Site staff thought about Fielder’s addition to the Tigers’ roster:
1. What was your initial reaction to the move?
Benjamin Singer: I went through the four stages of complete and utter joy. First, I was in denial. Second, I was ecstatic. Third, I was panicked. Finally I settled on being ecstatic again.
Max DeMara: I had just logged on to check my email after being out in the early afternoon. On the front of my home page, the news “Prince Fielder to Detroit Tigers” hit me upside the head. At first, it was a total shock, but after a few minutes, a bit of excitement washed over me. Since I was a kid, I’ve always been obsessed with the big trade and sizable free agency move in sports wherever they may happen. To see one of this magnitude hit in our home city of Detroit so unexpectedly was surreal and amazing at the same time.
Andrew Tomlinson: Initially, I was not super happy with the move. The years and the money can make it a team-killing deal. My initial thoughts were: “What happens to Victor Martinez and what happens if Prince doesn’t work out and is terrible?.” This isn’t like a Gary Sheffield move, where in just two years, he will disappear if he is bad. As I took a step back, though, this deal is a huge boon for a team I want so desperately to win a World Series. Fielder seems like a decent guy who has real lefty power, he could be twice what we hoped V-Mart would be to this team.
Michael MacVay: My initial reaction was elation and sheer shock. As a fan, I immediately let my mind loose trying to put together our new batting order and how this would change fielding positions. The shock was due to the type of signing. This kind of money is the stuff for the Yankees, Red Sox and a few others. Detroit doesn’t make huge splashes like this — even though the Tigers’ payroll was near the top last season. I can only imagine that Illitch has decided to go all in as he is getting on in years.
Chris Burke: This was right up there with when I found out Detroit had traded for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis a few years back. It’s a huge boost for the roster and an absolutely thrilling addition for the fans.
2. What should the lineup look like this year? In other words, what positions should Fielder and Cabrera play, and where should they bat in the order?
Singer: This season is a no-brainer. Miggy spends most of his time at DH and probably gets some games at 1B and 3B, especially in interleague games and the upcoming World Series. Prince plays 1B and goes to DH when he needs a “rest.” I think we will finally see Miguel bat third, as he is actually the better all-around hitter. The left-handed bat of Prince will bat fourth … my goodness, I can’t wait.
DeMara: Initially, I think the Tigers have to try Cabrera at third and keep Fielder at first. There is plenty of time to explore if moving Cabrera will work out and make sense in the long run, and if need be, a change could always be made where both players split the at-bats by using the DH spot. I’d put Fielder behind Cabrera in the order, basically guaranteeing that the big fella — Cabrera — will see something good to hit. Actually, pitching around either player will be tough, given their equally devastating OPS numbers. If teams are foolish enough to try it, the bottom half of the order will have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs with few outs.
Tomlinson: I actually think, and hear me out, the Tigers could put Miggy at second base. Yes, it would a very large hole on the right side of the infield, but he won’t be terrible at third — then again for every amazing play for Inge, there is an error. If Cabrera can simply make the easy and somewhat-difficult plays at third, then there is no reason why the defense won’t be decent, if not above average. Fielder is obviously a first baseman, but I wouldn’t be shocked if there isn’t a scenario where he does a decent amount of DHing. With Miggy and Fielder at first and third though, think about this during interleague play and in the World Series (if they get there) — you don’t have to make any big changes to get your two best hitters in the lineup.
MacVay:The lineup should be Cabrera and Fielder switching time back and forth at 1B and DH, with Cabrera spending most days taking ground balls at third base during practice. I imagine that Cabrera will see more third base as the season goes on, but he should not be Detroits’s predominant third basemen just yet. Between first, DH, and third , Miggy will get enough starts to get in his 161 games like last year.
Burke: I don’t understand the rush to put Cabrera at third, unless Detroit has decided having a lineup with, say, Dirks in left, Cabrera at third and Young DH’ing is better than one with Young in left, Inge at third and Cabrera as the DH. That makes some sense, I suppose, given how bad Inge has been at the plate. My preference is that Cabrera bats third and Fielder fourth, with one or the other at DH.
3. Did the Tigers pay too much for Fielder? Should fans be worried about how this deal will look in five or six years?
Singer: The Tigers outbid everyone. If you are playing “moneyball,” then they overpaid. If you are trying to win a World Series before you die, then this is fine. Repeat after me: I am not writing the check and there is no salary cap. If you are concerned that ticket prices will go up or a Hot-n-Ready pizza will now cost $20, then my condolences — but it will be up to you how to manage your own money, just as Ilitch is deciding how to manage his (God bless America!).
DeMara: I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: In sports, everybody can be viewed as “overpaid” for their production, especially if you look closely enough. Certainly, this contract is hefty, but considering the Tigers had $23 million dollars tied up in the shell of Magglio Ordonez and the ineffective Carlos Guillen last season, quibbling about the price of adding one of the best young hitters in the game for the next decade shouldn’t worry fans at this point. The worse deal is the one Los Angeles gave to Albert Pujols, who is a full five years older than Fielder and showing some noticeable signs of rust. The Angels are the team that must win in a hurry to justify their spending. Now, the window is open wide for the Tigers, and they should contend seriously for the next handful of seasons. What happens in year eight or nine? Since tomorrow is guaranteed to nobody, let’s exercise some patience and wait until we get there to worry about that.
Tomlinson: In six years, Fielder will be 34. For some perspective, here are other players currently in the league close to his age: Kevin Youkilis, 33, David Ortiz, 36, Alex Rodriguez, 36, Albert Puljols, 32. Most of those guys, any Tigers fan would be happy to have. Sure, Fielder’s numbers will begin to slow, but if he plays at the same level as the one these guys are at now, what is to be worried about? Sure, the deal is huge, but $20 million a year is roughly what Detroit paid Magglio and Guillen last year. Fielder will be more productive than the two of them combined for a majority of his contract — count on it.
MacVay: The Tigers absolutely paid too much for Fielder, but that is nothing new in professional sports. In a truly economical, free-market sense, Fielder was paid exactly what he was worth, but I think that all contracts are pushed up to artificially high levels by agents. But what are owners and teams gonna do? They could collude and decide to all hold out from doing that. This however will never happen. Only time will tell what this deal will mean to the bottom line of the Tigers. If they remain a top club with post season play every year, then the deal will be fine and not hinder the club. If they falter or Fielder gets injured, then things will really get difficult.
Burke: The thing that worries me the most is that there’s no “out” clause here — all nine years are included in the contract, so Detroit can’t decline an option if Fielder bombs after five or six years. But this is a sensational hitter entering the prime of his career. Like others have said, if the Tigers win a World Series once or (be still my heart) twice in this time frame, it’ll be worth it.
4. What are your expectations for the season now?
Singer: This is totally contradictory to my first three responses, but I’m a little nervous about the 2012 season. Every player not named Austin Jackson or Brandon Inge seemingly had a career year in 2011. Can the Tigers really get an encore performance from everyone? The good news is the AL Central still looks pretty weak. Even without Victor Martinez, I expected the Tigers to be the division favorite. This addition just makes me that much more confident.
DeMara: I had expected the Tigers to win the Central Division even without Fielder. I still considered Detroit a top five team in the American League without Victor Martinez, and adding Fielder doesn’t hurt that at all. As Tiger fans saw in 2008, adding a top-flight hitter hardly guarantees anything. Much of what happens in the playoffs depends on pitching. If the Tigers’ pitchers have a similar year to last year (fueled in part by adding a decent fifth starter), the sky could be the limit, especially with their bullpen. I’d expect the Tigers to make the ALCS again, and challenge for the World Series.
Tomlinson: World Series or bust. The Tigers have the best lineup in the AL and their front three in the rotation is the best in the AL as well. Verlander, Fister and Scherzer can pitch — let’s not forget that. In fact, the Tigers were an AL favorite before Fielder because of their pitching. Now, add an offense which can put up six-to-eight runs per night, Detroit will be hard to beat. Also, let’s not forget, their outfield defense still has an opportunity to get better since the team doesn’t have a DH. Add a defender like Juan Pierre in left field and suddenly every ball in the outfield is in play. The Tigers can be scary, they just need to execute now.
MacVay: My expectations are to have a club just as good, if not a little better than last year. The VMart-Fielder swap is a plus, but it’s not like Victor was any slouch. To really get an improvement, the role players from last year — Kelly, Raburn, Boesch, and the bullpen arms — will need to take their games to the next level. While my expectation is postseason, anything less than the World Series will be a let down for the fan base after this signing.
Burke: Repeating as the AL Central champs is really the bare minimum that will be acceptable now. That makes for some tough expectations for this team, so hopefully it can deal with them. When you look around the American League, the Tigers are just as talented in the lineup and in their pitching staff as any other team. They should have a chance to go to the World Series.
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