Prince Fielder signs with Tigers

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Sounds like a 9 year deal for him.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Sounds like a 9 year deal for him.

9 years worth 214 million. I dont know if signing a big build guy like him is a smart thing to do. I hear he's a hard worker but this seems like a big gamble.

[hellborn]

What are they going to do about the logjam at 1B/DH when VMart returns? I can't imagine Victor will be able to catch very much or Miggy will be able to be passable at 3B.
I'd guess that they'll try to trade Martinez when he's healthy.

Miggy bats 3rd, Fielder 4th?

[Captain Cold Nose]

What are they going to do about the logjam at 1B/DH when VMart returns? I can't imagine Victor will be able to catch very much or Miggy will be able to be passable at 3B.
I'd guess that they'll try to trade Martinez when he's healthy.

Miggy bats 3rd, Fielder 4th?

In an ideal world, someone could fill in as a fourth outfielder. The deal does not make it any more of an ideal world than it was before Martinez was injured.

I do like the deal overall. They needed a big bat.

[lhslancers]

9 years worth 214 million. I dont know if signing a big build guy like him is a smart thing to do. I hear he's a hard worker but this seems like a big gamble.

Sounds like a lot but he has slow man skills so he could be very good a long ways into the contract if he can stay healthy.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

He's actually surprised me too this point so maybe he can give em a good 6 or 7 years.

On a side note I think the Whitesox need to just do whatever they can to rebuild over the next 3 or 4 years.

[philliesfiend55]

The Tigers didn't make any significant moves at The Winter Meetings a month and a half ago ago because they supposedly didn't have the money to add to their payroll. Apparently they had some hidden CASH reserves. They broke their (figurative) Piggy Bank to make the Fielder signing happen.

[EddieBrinkman'sGlove]

I wonder what the Tigers would do in 2013 playing at a national league park or even if they made it to the World Series? Where would you put Martinez and Cabrera?

[nccavediver]

Cabrera will win the gold glove at 3b this year and continue at 3b in 2013. Martinez is of course back to DH/emergency catcher.

In a perfect world!

[doctor_gogol]

I sense a dynasty in progress. The Tigers are that good now!

[THE OX]

As a Brewer fan, I hate to see Prince leave, but I think you Tiger fans have reason to be delighted!

He plays every day and hustles. For a younger player, he shows a great deal of maturity, like keeping his cool after being hit by a pitch. He cut back his strikeouts and his stats speak for themselves. His fielding is better than you'd think for a big man such as he.

I wish him good luck in Detroit, and am happy that my Brewers in the NL Central won't have to face him except occasionally in Interleague play!

[Captain Cold Nose]

As a Brewer fan, I hate to see Prince leave, but I think you Tiger fans have reason to be delighted!

He plays every day and hustles. For a younger player, he shows a great deal of maturity, like keeping his cool after being hit by a pitch. He cut back his strikeouts and his stats speak for themselves. His fielding is better than you'd think for a big man such as he.

I wish him good luck in Detroit, and am happy that my Brewers in the NL Central won't have to face him except occasionally in Interleague play!

The Tigers finally have revenge over Jim Slaton all those years ago.

[moldyoldie]

Martinez shouldn't even be top-of-mind at this point; he'll be recovering from two knee operations this season, one of which is iffy microfracture surgery, and will not be heard from till 2013 at the earliest.

My biggest apprehension, as it is with many fans, is seeing Cabrera regularly manning 3B after so many seasons of solid, if not semi-spectacular play from Brandon Inge. I just hope fans will cut Cabrera some slack. My gut tells me we'll be seeing a lot of Inge at the hot corner, depending on who's pitching for both teams, as part of a roundhouse arrangement at DH, 1B, 3B, and LF. I feel confident that Manager Leyland will not allow a "defensive incompatibility" to fester indefinitely.

[nccavediver]

Cabrera will play 3b just fine. If Inge was ever semi-spectacular, he isn't any more....and then there's that thing about him not being able to hit! My gut tells me Inge might make the utility role spot but that will be about it --I would rather see a younger Tiger cub make the big time instead of Inge's roster spot, but that's just me.

Look at it this way (and sorry for the double negative) -- This year Leyland has no excuse not to keep his best hitters rested as they can always get the 'day off' and DH.

I am excited to see this Tiger team not just this year but over the next 3-4 years!!!

[Damus/777]

Cabrera will play 3B for as long as Delmon Young refuses to DH - or gets traded.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Has Young actually refused to DH?

[Damus/777]

It's still two months away from traveling north to play the Red Sox in April. As of today, Delmon has only stated he wants no part of being the primary DH.

Refusing to be the primary DH is different than occasionally DH'ing. As an organizational leader, Dombrowski has been known to grant player requests like this one. Many times, Dave will even trade players to player-preferential listed franchises.

[nccavediver]

Jeez Delmon, "suck it up", be the DH and win a WS. Don't be the guy who gets traded to the sub-par team to play sub-par defense. You will make your money slugging the ball. Go practice your hitting and be ready to fill in for Dirks in left every once in a while. Don't lose your spot on a possible special team because you want to see if you can further embarrass yourself in the outfield.