Prince Fielder Anyone?

by Ceasaleo on Oct 7, 2010 11:58 PM EDT

I'm not a real diehard follower of all things baseball (that's my disclaimer lol), but I have stayed a loyal O's fan throughout the losing. But it seems like he would be a perfect fit on our team and in the middle of the lineup. Putting him in the middle makes Luke Scott, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Matt Wieters that more dangerous.

The questions are: what do you give up for him? And are we willing to pay to extend him?...

To me I would think Snyder, Tillman, and some minor league pitcher(s), would be enough to take him off Milwaukee's hands. They know they aren't going to pay him after this year, and I'm pretty sure every other MLB team knows the same. So his value won't be too high, you won't have to give up boatloads of talent for him. Snyder doesn't seem like he's ready for the big time yet, and if we land the 26 year old Fielder, then most likely he'll be stuck behind him for years, so that makes him expendable in this deal. I think with the emergence of Matusz, Arrieta, and Bergensen, the continued development of Guthrie, and having Britton on his way, would make Tillman expendable and he's still regarded as a top pitching prospect. I don't know any other arms n the minors that might be added, but those two would be the cornerstones of any deal for Fielder if I'm MacPhail. Making this move allows us to resign Wiggy to play 3rd until Bell is ready. Let's Luke stay in his DH role. And slides everyone into their right spot in the lineup.

The other issue is would the team be willing to extend him for probably around 5 years/$115-120 mil. He's already turned down a 5 yr/$100 mil offer, so it's going to take some cash to sign him long term. I don't think the $15+ mil, he's owed this year would be an issue.

It's time to show this fan base that the team is trying to win some games. Enough waiting for next year, with the finish the team showed this season. The fans can see the improvement, the young pitchers turned a corner late in the season ans began to put together consistent performances every night. It's time to spend a lil money, and I say go after Prince.

What do you guys think?... I look forward to reading some responses from "real" baseball folks.

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Comments

Why give up anything?

It’s pretty damn obvious he’s going to test free agency. So, instead of giving up Tillman and other prospects plus $120 million, why not wait one more year and then just offer the money? The O’s aren’t going to the playoffs next year, no matter how much you sugar-coat things.

Tillman is only 22 and I’d rather see these guys play a full year under a real major league manager before giving up on them. Pitching is the key to winning the AL East, giving up our young guys before they have had a chance to prove themselves is premature.

Also, There is a potentially good free agent market for 1B FA in 2012, Fielder, A. Gonzales, and Pujols to name a couple. Why not see how next season plays out with real management and spend the money when it needs to be spent. Not trade away promising, young players when free agency is the first thing on a players mind.

"I know the save rule, believe me. But it doesn't carry much weight with me. I like the win rule a little bit better." - Buck Showalter

by HIO'sFan on Oct 8, 2010 2:32 AM EDT reply actions

I agree...

I would rather have Adrian Gonzales in 2012 than Spawn of Cecil next year, anyways.

I know that he’s only 26, but Prince Fielder is a large man and won’t age well. He’ll be 28 when he’s 1 month into his new contract and his slightly less rotund father was out of baseball completely at 34. I would rather someone else throw a ridiculous amount of money at him and roll the dice. We payed Joey Belle a lot of money to not play baseball a decade ago, and we still haven’t gotten over how much that set us back.

We don’t have enough depth in our organization to trade what talent we do have in the minors for a bat in 2011, and I don’t think the Brewers will just give him away in the off-season, knowing that they still have the trade deadline if no one wants to give them something good this winter. I think it would cost us at least Britton, plus Bell or Tillman. They probably wouldn’t want Snyder… if we think so little of him that we are willing to trade a top pitching prospect to get a first baseman, why would the Brewers value him?

"Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder 'why, why, why?' Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand.."

by tflach2 on Oct 8, 2010 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Albert Belle didn't really hurt the team financially

His contract was 80% guaranteed by insurance, so he cost us less than $4M per for the seasons he didn’t play.

"Walk not down that road, I cannot tell you where it goes. Ask me no more questions - some things you're not meant to know." - The Sword

by duck on Oct 8, 2010 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough...

I thought we took a bigger hit than that… still I hit just as many homeruns in 2002 as Albert Belle, and I didn’t cost the team $4M.

I just get the same kinda feeling about Prince Fielder. I think we might have seen the best he has to offer, and I think whoever gives him 5 years is going to regret it. I could be wrong, but I would rather someone else’s dime be on the line.

"Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder 'why, why, why?' Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand.."

by tflach2 on Oct 8, 2010 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I like the idea of Fielder in an Orioles lineup

I’m just not convinced he would sign an extension. His size (weight) doesn’t scare me because he is a vegetarian and serious about his conditioning. He can actually run pretty well for a big man. His dad was a large fellow as well. He would certainly provide the power we need. I’m not opposed to making a trade like this. Snyder was a good hitter when he was a catching prospect, but as a 1B, I don’t think he provides what the Orioles need (power). I’m also not convinced that Tillman won’t be passed by Britton next spring.
I don’t want to wait another year for Fielder and AGon to be free agents (Pujols is never going to happen). The Orioles need a power hitting first baseman THIS off season. I think the team is ready to compete next year if they can get one. They also need a ML SS and someone to play 3B.

by fuddnelson on Oct 8, 2010 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

There are a couple of flaws in your argument

The first being that Snyder Tillman and an unnamed minor league pitcher (Bascom? Johnson?) would be enough to get Prince Fielder from Milwaukee because his price will be reduced due to his impending free agency. For one thing, the Brewers can hold onto the big man and get two top 50 draft picks, which would probably come in pretty close to the value of Snyder and the other minor leaguer, so the starting point needs to be significantly above that mark. And for a second thing there will always be some team that needs a big time first baseman for a year to put them over the top. Think of the benefit Fielder would be to, say, the Giants this year. Or the Rays. Or the Red Sox. There will be competition.

Second is the assumption first that his price will be reduced because he can only be a one-year rental, and second that he’ll be in the Orioles lineup “for years”. Fielder is going to free agency. That’s all there is to it. And, as HIO’sFan mentioned, if we’re going to have to pay top dollar to extend him anyway, why give up Tillman and then some just for 2011?

In 2011 the Orioles, even with Prince Fielder, would only stand to be (at best) a .500 team. Why sell the farm for a shot at .500?

"There's going to be a general lack of toast in the neighbourhood this morning. Many many bewildered breakfast faces."

by Andrew_G on Oct 8, 2010 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

Brandon Synder has next to zilcho trade value

His track record consists of a lot mediocrity and one excellent half of season at AA. He’s living off of his 1st round pick pedigree.

I've been playing baseball since I was six years old, so that's 40 years I've been on a baseball field and around a baseball field, and so our opinions are formulated through facts, not fiction, not their little chat room jargon.

by birdman on Oct 8, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

cliff lee

"When you use those words, `mystique’ and `aura,’ those are dancers in a night club. Those are not things we concern ourselves on the ball field." - Curt Schilling on if the Yankees mystique and aura would affect the Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series.

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 9, 2010 8:40 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs