Fielder

[PC]

Players like Fielder make everyone else in the lineup better in addition to what they add individually because they make opposing pitchers more uneasy.  Players like LaRoche give you nothing like that.

I'd say the difference in wins between Fielder and LaRoche is more on the order of 8 or 10.

[The Chief]

Fielder is twice the hitter LaRoche is

[Kevrock]

Players like Fielder make everyone else in the lineup better in addition to what they add individually because they make opposing pitchers more uneasy.  Players like LaRoche give you nothing like that.

I'd say the difference in wins between Fielder and LaRoche is more on the order of 8 or 10.

If we get Fielder our lineup is vicious. Werth would be protected again, we could see a huge jump with him if he's in a situation like he was in Philly.

[Tyler Durden]

If we get Fielder our lineup is vicious. Werth would be protected again, we could see a huge jump with him if he's in a situation like he was in Philly.

Fielder...huge...

Nah.  I can't.

[MarquisDeSade]

Werth would be protected again, we could see a huge jump with him if he's in a situation like he was in Philly.

The strikeouts were there before and they'll be there again.  No amount of protection is going to change that.

[Slateman]

Yea, unless Werth gets to hit at Citizens Bank 81 games, we're never going to see those numbers from Werth

[Kevrock]

Except His park adjusted OPS was insane in 2010.

lol mds

[Evolution33]

Boswell's latest says some interesting things about the Fielder market. Makes it sound like Rizzo isn't the only GM denying interest in Fielder and that the real hold-up might be Rangers waiting on Yu and Nats on Cespedes. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/prince-fielders-price-is-not-right-for-nationals-right-now/2011/12/28/gIQA5wZCNP_story.html

[Mr Clean]

Boswell's latest says some interesting things about the Fielder market. Makes it sound like Rizzo isn't the only GM denying interest in Fielder and that the real hold-up might be Rangers waiting on Yu and Nats on Cespedes. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/prince-fielders-price-is-not-right-for-nationals-right-now/2011/12/28/gIQA5wZCNP_story.html

It seems something happens every time Boswell writes one of these columns. I will be waiting.

[HalfSmokes]

Boswell's latest says some interesting things about the Fielder market. Makes it sound like Rizzo isn't the only GM denying interest in Fielder and that the real hold-up might be Rangers waiting on Yu and Nats on Cespedes. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/prince-fielders-price-is-not-right-for-nationals-right-now/2011/12/28/gIQA5wZCNP_story.html

I'd rather bet 175 on fielder than 50 on Cepedes

[GburgNatsFan]

Something usually happens. Often not what he predicts, though (Gio)

It seems something happens every time Boswell writes one of these columns. I will be waiting.

[PANatsFan]

MLBTR

[PANatsFan]

Something usually happens. Often not what he predicts, though (Gio)

He's rather LANC/SSS today

[imref]

Boswell's latest says some interesting things about the Fielder market. Makes it sound like Rizzo isn't the only GM denying interest in Fielder and that the real hold-up might be Rangers waiting on Yu and Nats on Cespedes. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/prince-fielders-price-is-not-right-for-nationals-right-now/2011/12/28/gIQA5wZCNP_story.html

interesting article, but you don't pass on Fielder because you need a place to stick Rendon, Werth or Zimmerman or any of the other hypotheticals.  If Rendon mashes in the minors, he's fall-back option "A" if Zimm is hurt again, or trade bait for another need (CF still).

[cmdterps44]

interesting article, but you don't pass on Fielder because you need a place to stick Rendon, Werth or Zimmerman or any of the other hypotheticals.  If Rendon mashes in the minors, he's fall-back option "A" if Zimm is hurt again, or trade bait for another need (CF still).

Or he can be taught how to play 2b and we can move Espinosa. I hope they don't rule out that option because Ian Desmond is playing short...

[Tyler Durden]

"The Nats’ biggest problem with putting Fielder at the center of their universe is much more fundamental than “who’s on first” over the next couple of years. Fielder could eliminate flexibility at multiple positions for the rest of the decade. What if sixth-overall draft pick Anthony Rendon, who broke Lance Bergman’s (no relation to Berkman) records at Rice, tears up the minors? Where do you put him? What if Ryan Zimmerman signs an extension but, someday, needs to move to first base for whatever reason? What about Werth in his dotage?"

Yeah, let's blow off the first year of the contention window and pass on as sure a thing at the first base position to get production out of this oft-anemic offense because a prospect with two serious ankle injuries in his past might turn out all right.  Or let's let Werth's likely deterioation over time be the thing to keep Fielder's health, instant star power, and lineup improvement (i.e. everything Werth was supposed to bring) out of here.  And on a team that's rumored to be rebuffing Zim on contract extension talks, let's pretend like the team's already wrapped him up and keep first base clear for when Zim's contribution window is closing by telling Fielder to forget it.  I mean, who needs a Phillies-type run with the flashy hardware that came with it when you might have to go on a limb and risk breaking the $90 million threshold so soon after opening a new ballpark? PLEASE!

Are we going to go for it or be a bunch of "what if?" wusses for a never-was franchise?  Boswell's got his glory years of O's baseball to reflect on, with Camden Yards models and bronze sculptures of Cal to cozy up to on long winter nights, but local baseball is basically a never-was proposition.  We've got a fit staring us in the face for the same price that the Lerners were supposedly willing to pay Teixeira to injest his production and star power at first base for years (or risk clogging it up, if you're Boswell).  Speaking of timelines, how long can we expect Davey to helm the big transformation and postseason runs that we're poised for?  Passing on Fielder at the Tex-like asking price is being content with a team always a piece or two short that makes the postseason or comes close.  Enough with the 'what-if' gutlessness and running out the excuses not to get deals done.  Even Miami's bringing their wallets out as their new place opens, so let's do the same a mere FIVE seasons after our new ballpark opened, hmmm?

Excellent points!

At what point would you say a Fielder contract becomes too unwieldy?  8 years?  10 years?  Or is there no limit?

[Vega]

Prince is only twenty-seven. I'd go ten years with no qualms at all.

[DPMOmaha]

Prince is only twenty-seven. I'd go ten years with no qualms at all.

the way his dad's career ended will work against him.

[Vega]

the way his dad's career ended will work against him.

That will work to our advantage. Rizzo is Boras' nag, so I expect us to offer Prince a ludicrous deal that no other team will come close to because of Cecil; just as a favor to Boras. Thus, we will get him in a 'bidding against no one' situation, a la Werth.

[mimontero88]

It seems like Mike Rizzo has decided Fielder doesn't add a whole lot to the team.  If he really believes Bryce Harper is the Nats' future cleanup hitter (a strong possibility) than he already has the big left-handed bat we need for the middle of the order almost major-league ready.  And Adam LaRoche is obviously better defensively than Fielder.  I think the Nats would jump in if the market fell far enough for Fielder but as it stands now Rizzo doesn't seem to feel that our need there is big enough to overpay for Fielder.

[imref]

Prince is only twenty-seven. I'd go ten years with no qualms at all.

anything more than 6 is crazy.  5/$110 would make sense.

[mimontero88]

anything more than 6 is crazy.  5/$110 would make sense.

That doesn't give you a chance of landing Prince.  He will likely get a deal with a very high annual salary with less years than he originally wanted.

[Vega]

Jayson Werth and Rafael Soriano shouldn't have gotten the deals they did, but Boras made it happen. All it takes is one dumb team, and we've been that team before. I fully anticipate ten years for Prince from some team, and I would not be surprised if it ends up being us.

[Smithian]

No thanks on Fielder. Further we go the more I want to pass on him and then get rid of LaRoche at the earliest available date and just drop Morse to that spot.

[Nathan]

I'd be ok with playing LaRoche at 1B, Morse in LF until Harper comes up (June?), dealing LaRoche and moving Morse to 1B IF there was a way to get a top notch CF.  I also wouldn't mind prince for ludicrous money and shorter years.  I'd be afraid at 10 years, for any player.