Fielder

[Baseball is Life]

You all are being awfully negative considering we already have a guy who is supposed to be a decent power hitting lefty coming up in the minors.  If I could just remember his name...

Seriously though, Fielder would add a lot to the Nats but not getting him isn't the end of the world.  In the long run it may very well be a choice between Fielder or both Morse and Zim (I'll take Morse and Zim).

Yep, that's why I don't want him. I think we need to spend that money on a CF instead.

[Vega]

I think a lot depends on the TV money. If it increases as much as we've heard that it could, we could possibly maintain one of the higher payrolls in the MLB, especially if we start winning consistantly.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Or on a new mall.

Yep, that's why I don't want him. I think we need to spend that money on a CF instead.

[Tyler Durden]

You all are being awfully negative considering we already have a guy who is supposed to be a decent power hitting lefty coming up in the minors.  If I could just remember his name...

Seriously though, Fielder would add a lot to the Nats but not getting him isn't the end of the world.  In the long run it may very well be a choice between Fielder or both Morse and Zim (I'll take Morse and Zim).  If the Nats sign Fielder, I'm trusting the front office to have worked out how they can keep Zim too.  I can imagine Zim would be open to a team-friendly extension that is backloaded to avoid paying too much while Fielder is under contract so this still isn't out of the question by any means.

Yeah, I agree.  The Nats will still win 85+ games even without Prince and have a ton of options going forward.  LaRoche is also a decent player and I think he'll play a lot better this upcoming season. 

If they are able to work out a 6 year deal with an opt-out after 3 years for Prince, that may be the best for all involved.

[mimontero88]

Yeah, I agree.  The Nats will still win 85+ games even without Prince and have a ton of options going forward.  LaRoche is also a decent player and I think he'll play a lot better this upcoming season. 

If they are able to work out a 6 year deal with an opt-out after 3 years for Prince, that may be the best for all involved.

Excellent point on the opt-out.  If they could work that out Prince suddenly looks very affordable.

[MarquisDeSade]

And what happens if Harper is a bust or is only mediocre?

[MarquisDeSade]

I think a lot depends on the TV money.

Doesn't look like that's going to be made official for a while.

[Tyler Durden]

And what happens if Harper is a bust or is only mediocre?

We all stop being fans and quit going to games? 

[MarquisDeSade]

We all stop being fans and quit going to games? 

As long as they still play the Marlins, Cubs, Brewers, and Dodgers I'll still be there...

[Tyler Durden]

Ah ok.  That's good to know.

I guess if Harper is a bust then the same thing would happen if any big time prospect is a bust.  You move on and try to improve in other ways.

[PowerBoater69]

And what happens if Harper is a bust or is only mediocre?

It would be a tremendous disappointment but not nearly as damaging as the Werth signing.

[Baseball is Life]

Ah ok.  That's good to know.

I guess if Harper is a bust then the same thing would happen if any big time prospect is a bust.  You move on and try to improve in other ways.

Say what? I'm not used to grown up reactions on this board. Wouldn't you want to blame somebody?

[mimontero88]

And what happens if Harper is a bust or is only mediocre?

And what happens if Zimmerman is hurt again this year?  Ditto for Strasburg?  And what if Zimmermann's season last year was a flash in the pan and he reverts to average falling apart at the end of his starts?  What if Gio Gonzalez's walk rates grow past their already dangerous levels?  What if Michael Morse regresses to merely an average hitter?  What if Danny Espinosa, Ian Desmond, and Wilson Ramos all take a step back?  There are a million what ifs.  You plan on the knowledge you have of the probability that events will occur.  And the probability is that Harper will be one hell of a major leaguer.

[HalfSmokes]

And what happens if Harper is a bust or is only mediocre?

then we join the long list of teams with great prospects who end up sucking and move on

[MarquisDeSade]

then we join the long list of teams with great prospects who end up sucking and move on

That was more to those saying to pass on Prince because of the lottery ticket.

[The Chief]

Say what? I'm not used to grown up reactions on this board. Wouldn't you want to blame somebody?

maybe if you posted less it wouldn't skew the average downward so much

[Kevrock]

maybe if you posted less it wouldn't skew the average downward so much

 

[Lintyfresh85]

The next time I see Espinosa and Ramos mentioned as potential reasons not to sign someone... I'm going to flip.

They both have five years of team control left. They do not need an extension at this time. 'Saving money' to extend them is a concept that makes no sense... Might as well start saving money for a Destin Hood extension while you're at it.

[Tyler Durden]

That was more to those saying to pass on Prince because of the lottery ticket.

Everyone is a lottery ticket.  Prince might roll his ankle running the bases and because he weighs so damn much, it does some serious damage and he can't play the field any more.  Then what?  Or having to go so many years carrying so much weight ages his ligaments and tendons faster than normal and he can't stay on the field because he's always dealing with nagging injuries.

I'd sign him too if I could get him to come here on acceptable terms.  But it's not like it wouldn't come without risk.

[mimontero88]

The next time I see Espinosa and Ramos mentioned as potential reasons not to sign someone... I'm going to flip.

They both have five years of team control left. They do not need an extension at this time. 'Saving money' to extend them is a concept that makes no sense... Might as well start saving money for a Destin Hood extension while you're at it.

And in those five years of team control, any likely contract we have with Prince would overlap any likely extension we have with Zimmerman and Werth will still be on the books for another year.  Just saying =|

[PatsNats28]

maybe if you posted less it wouldn't skew the average downward so much

Keep it down with the personal insults, fellas.

 

[MarquisDeSade]

Everyone is a lottery ticket.  Prince might roll his ankle running the bases and because he weighs so damn much, it does some serious damage and he can't play the field any more.  Then what?  Or having to go so many years carrying so much weight ages his ligaments and tendons faster than normal and he can't stay on the field because he's always dealing with nagging injuries.

I look forward to him going yard every time he plays the Nats.

[PANatsFan]

Anyone suggesting harper could be a bust is stupid. Decent major leaguer is the floor.

[MarquisDeSade]

Anyone suggesting harper could be a bust is stupid. Decent major leaguer is the floor.

He could get hurt.

[zimm_da_kid]

When my cousin got a concussion she lost 15 pounds.  Maybe we can hit fielder in the head with a bat really hard and hope he loses weight.  Now that sounds like a lottery ticket