Detroit signs fielder

No pressure or anything. The Tigers were absolutely in the sweet spot of the win curve where improving the roster could have the most impact. Adding Fielder pushes them from a solid team that would be in the mix to win a bad division up to being able to plan on playing in October and potentially challenging for a World Series title.

After Martinez went down, there was probably no team in baseball that needed Fielder more than Detroit. The difference in expected playoff odds for an 85 win team and a 90 win team, even in a division with no obvious challenger to the throne, is enormous. When you have two superstars in their primes, you want to maximize your chances of capturing a ring, and no available player gets the Tigers closer to a championship than Fielder does.

With all that said, the long term costs of putting Fielder on this roster were extremely high. At this price, the Tigers are paying for something in the realm of 35 wins over the next nine years.

The Tigers have basically borrowed from their future to pay for the present, and this deal is going to harm their ability to contend down the line. If Fielder ages well, he may not begin to be a real liability for three or four years. And, if they win a World Series during that time, it will be easy to live with the cost to the future of the franchise while throwing a parade.

Last one Last one Last one. Similar sponsored items. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Item specifics. Cecil Fielder. Toronto Blue Jays. Back to home page Return to top. Fielder, 27, has averaged 38 home runs over six full seasons and twice hit 46 or more. In his six seasons, he sat out eight times, so played in He's missed one game in the past three seasons. In spite of that, Fielder entered free agency riding not just his power and production numbers, and not just his reputation as a skilled leader and emotional competitor, but as a breakdown risk.

At 5-foot, Fielder is listed at pounds, but appears to be heavier. Talk among scouts and general managers suggested Fielder's market would be influenced by fears Fielder would — during the course of his next contract — add too much weight, that his legs would give out and his production would plummet. The marketplace appeared to ignore that potential frailty, however. The Rangers had the need and a reputation for coming in late and strong on free agents.

The Marlins, considering their all-in run at Pujols, were at least a curiosity. Like Pujols, Fielder came to free agency without the usual benefits of a player of his stature.

And Fielder, at 27, could not be expected to submit to a fulltime designated-hitter role. Still, as one of the more dynamic players in the game, Fielder's resume is long and attractive. He helped restore the Brewers as a competitive franchise, both in the NL Central and in their own community. He helped fill Miller Park. The Brewers drew 2. By , they were drawing 3. He visited Texas, and the Washington Nationals also got involved in the discussions.

The Tigers won their division by 15 games before losing in the AL championship series to Texas. Ilitch and Mr. His father, Cecil, became a big league star when he returned to the majors from Japan and hit 51 home runs with Detroit in Cecil played with the Tigers into the season, and young Prince made a name for himself by hitting prodigious home runs in batting practice at Tiger Stadium.

With Cabrera and Fielder, Detroit will begin this season with two players under age 30 with at least career homers. At the start of the season, the Milwaukee Braves featured year-old Eddie Mathews homers and year-old Hank Aaron