Fielder

[Mr Clean]

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120114&content_id=26349882&vkey=news_was&c_id=was

I guess there's more than a 1% chance...

A huge roller coaster ride that started on Dec. 22. I hope it ends soon.

[Mattionals]

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120114&content_id=26349882&vkey=news_was&c_id=was

I guess there's more than a 1% chance...

Good gosh, I actually think Ladson didn't write junk this time.  Agree with everything.  Nats are a better fit than the Marlins thanks to the no trade clause.  Rangers need to sign Darvish and give up on Fielder!  Nats need to win this one!

[hammondsnats]

PA why are you the only one who keeps bringing up Fielder and O's haha.  He's not going there.

It should be Nats vs. Rangers. 

[Evolution33]

PA why are you the only one who keeps bringing up Fielder and O's haha.  He's not going there.

It should be Nats vs. Rangers. 

If the MLB radio reports are true of the Rangers offer it looks like Fielder is choosing between seven years and a no trade from the Nats and a 8 year with a mutual opt out after 3 years from the Rangers. Of course those are just the years the money is important as well.

[spidernat]

PA why are you the only one who keeps bringing up Fielder and O's haha.  He's not going there.

It should be Nats vs. Rangers. 

You pulling a SF with the reverse jinx? 

[hammondsnats]

You pulling a SF with the reverse jinx? 

reverse jinx?  i just don't know why he or whoever brought up fielder and the o's.  they haven't been linked in weeks.

i don't think the marlins are in play, i think it's nats and rangers.  hopefully he signs with nats.

[¡Vamos Ramos!]

I'm thinking Fielder signs here on Thursday. Call it a hunch.

[PatsNats28]

If the MLB radio reports are true of the Rangers offer it looks like Fielder is choosing between seven years and a no trade from the Nats and a 8 year with a mutual opt out after 3 years from the Rangers. Of course those are just the years the money is important as well.

Objectively, our offer sounds much better than theirs (in terms of the contract).

[Tyler Durden]

If I'm reading the tea leaves right, if Fielder doesn't sign in Texas while he's on his visit there, then the trip was just one last effort to squeeze a few more (millions of) dollars out of Lerner.  We should get some resolution to this soon, one way or another.

I hope the Nats hold firm on not giving Fielder too long of a deal.  A seven year deal already makes me nervous about the last two or three.  If  he takes the deal Texas is offering - basically a three year deal, then fine - he may have just not wanted to come here.

[MarquisDeSade]

He's signing with the Rangers.  Back to back WS appearances with a FO that's not filled with miser clowns is greater than any pot of potential shekels Marky Mark and company could offer.  Prince will make a lot more money, going to the Rangers is the best chance for him to win something werthwhile.

[The Chief]

All of our stars are captives - drafted or traded for.  Unless you count Dunn, we've never signed anything that approaches a big FA.  It would be nice if Fielder broke that streak.

Nevermind - Werth

[MarquisDeSade]

All of our stars are captives - drafted or traded for.  Unless you count Dunn, we've never signed anything that approaches a big FA.  It would be nice if Fielder broke that streak.

You got the $126m man last year, what more do you want?

[The Chief]

You got the $126m man last year, what more do you want?

I guess I blocked it out of my mind

[¡Vamos Ramos!]

He's signing with the Rangers.  Back to back WS appearances with a FO that's not filled with miser clowns is greater than any pot of potential shekels Marky Mark and company could offer.  Prince will make a lot more money, going to the Rangers is the best chance for him to win something werthwhile.

We won something "Werth"while last offseason though...

[That Kid]

All of our stars are captives - drafted or traded for.  Unless you count Dunn, we've never signed anything that approaches a big FA.  It would be nice if Fielder broke that streak.

Nevermind - Werth

The Nats have been around since 2004, and I believe that until about a couple of years ago didn't have a whole lot of money to spend( correct me if I'm wrong).

So not much of a lengthy history to begin with.

[Nathan]

I guess I blocked it out of my mind

We're the captives in that case

[MarquisDeSade]

If I'm Prince Fielder, and I've already made ~$35m dollars in my career, and I've got the choice between the following:

Rangers for a guaranteed three year deal that has the following:
- back-to-back WS appearances
- mega fan support
- a real FO that's not cheap and is investing in the club
- is loaded with talent
- hasn't used the "payroll relief" option at the trade deadline
- did not start Matt Stares in multiple games in 2011

Nationals
- "payroll relief"
- strikeout brigade
- clueless FO
- cheap owners
- no fan support
- the joy of being booed at home by invited visiting fans

If I'm him, I'm taking the Rangers deal and opting out at 30 for another payday.  At some point the money doesn't matter.

[UMDNats]

If I'm Prince Fielder, and I've already made ~$35m dollars in my career, and I've got the choice between the following:

Rangers for a guaranteed three year deal that has the following:
- back-to-back WS appearances
- mega fan support
- a real FO that's not cheap and is investing in the club
- is loaded with talent
- hasn't used the "payroll relief" option at the trade deadline
- did not start Matt Stares in multiple games in 2011

Nationals
- "payroll relief"
- strikeout brigade
- clueless FO
- cheap owners
- no fan support
- the joy of being booed at home by invited visiting fans

If I'm him, I'm taking the Rangers deal and opting out at 30 for another payday.  At some point the money doesn't matter.

But don't you want to play with Strasburg and Harper!

(Until they leave for the Yankees)

[MarquisDeSade]

We won something "Werth"while last offseason though...

A guy on the wrong side of 30 that stared at strike three waaaaaaaaaaay too many times last season that was a bust of a FA signing?  Werth will go down as one of the worst FA signings ever.

That said, I'd do whatever it takes to get Fielder.  Werth I've never cared for and will never be anything more than "ok".  Fielder has the potential to be a real sparkplug for this offense starved team.

[MarquisDeSade]

But don't you want to play with Strasburg and Harper!

(Until they leave for the Yankees)

You're only getting a year or two of playing with both.  If I'm Fielder, I'm going Texas for less money and years for a shot at winning it all.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

FWIW, the 4 highest first base AAVs in baseball range from $22MM to $25MM (Howard, Albert, Tex, and Adrian).   The shortest in terms of total dollars and years was Howard's contract at 5 / $125MM.  The others I believe were all 7 years deals. 

I don't quite get mutual opt outs.  I think the way they work is the team may buy out the player's opt out with a predetermined bonus or the player forgoes a retention bonus if he opts out (and the team pays the bonus if it wants to drop him).   

[PowerBoater69]

The Nats have been around since 2004, and I believe that until about a couple of years ago didn't have a whole lot of money to spend( correct me if I'm wrong).

They've been here since 2005, the Lerner family took over in mid-2006, they've been leading the league in profits via low payroll and league revenue sharing since 2007.  Based on the conservative Forbes estimates they have netted over $120 million in pure profits.  Greedy bastards.

[BrandonK]

You're only getting a year or two of playing with both.  If I'm Fielder, I'm going Texas for less money and years for a shot at winning it all.

Um, both will be playing this year?

[MarquisDeSade]

Um, both will be playing this year?

In their prime like Josh Hamilton and company?

[Kevrock]

If I'm Prince Fielder, and I've already made ~$35m dollars in my career, and I've got the choice between the following:

How many athletes think this way?

Oh gee, I have multiple millions of dollars, I should be set for life. Maybe I can make the most sensible decision and not worry about money.

Like 1% of them. That's why Cliff Lee going to Philadelphia to create 4_aces_are_you_kid_ding_me_? was such a shocker.