Fielder

[Vega]

I predict that Harper busts, Clip blows his arm out, Morse's surgically repaired knee leaves his body, Stras' arm gets gnawed off by wombats, Zim gets mortally wounded while filming a Geico commercial, Werth finishes devolving in to a caveman, Mike Cameron falls and can't get up, Gio loses the ability to do anything other than intentionally walk batters, a volcano destroys the stadium, and Matt Stairs comes back.

[mimontero88]

I predict that Harper busts, Clip blows his arm out, Morse's surgically repaired knee leaves his body, Stras' arm gets gnawed off by wombats, Zim gets mortally wounded while filming a Geico commercial, Werth finishes devolving in to a caveman, Mike Cameron falls and can't get up, Gio loses the ability to do anything other than intentionally walk batters, a volcano destroys the stadium, and Matt Stairs comes back.

+1

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

And the nations capital is moved to Queens

I predict that Harper busts, Clip blows his arm out, Morse's surgically repaired knee leaves his body, Stras' arm gets gnawed off by wombats, Zim gets mortally wounded while filming a Geico commercial, Werth finishes devolving in to a caveman, Mike Cameron falls and can't get up, Gio loses the ability to do anything other than intentionally walk batters, a volcano destroys the stadium, and Matt Stairs comes back.

[Terpfan76]

I predict that Harper busts, Clip blows his arm out, Morse's surgically repaired knee leaves his body, Stras' arm gets gnawed off by wombats, Zim gets mortally wounded while filming a Geico commercial, Werth finishes devolving in to a caveman, Mike Cameron falls and can't get up, Gio loses the ability to do anything other than intentionally walk batters, a volcano destroys the stadium, and Matt Stairs comes back.

You forgot about the Mummy buttseks!

[mimontero88]

I predict that Harper busts, Clip blows his arm out, Morse's surgically repaired knee leaves his body, Stras' arm gets gnawed off by wombats, Zim gets mortally wounded while filming a Geico commercial, Werth finishes devolving in to a caveman, Mike Cameron falls and can't get up, Gio loses the ability to do anything other than intentionally walk batters, a volcano destroys the stadium, and Matt Stairs comes back.

and Carrot Top announces a comeback tour.

[Terpfan76]

Sign Prince.

[kirubel94]

I predict that Harper busts, Clip blows his arm out, Morse's surgically repaired knee leaves his body, Stras' arm gets gnawed off by wombats, Zim gets mortally wounded while filming a Geico commercial, Werth finishes devolving in to a caveman, Mike Cameron falls and can't get up, Gio loses the ability to do anything other than intentionally walk batters, a volcano destroys the stadium, and Matt Stairs comes back.

Expect it?

[CALSGR8]

http://www.csnwashington.com/01/02/12/Zuckerman-Addressing-the-Fielder-rumors/mobile_landing.html?blockID=623550&feedID=6458

[PANatsFan]

http://www.csnwashington.com/01/02/12/Zuckerman-Addressing-the-Fielder-rumors/mobile_landing.html?blockID=623550&feedID=6458

LaRoche is not guaranteed to anything but go deer hunting this year. Trade him in spring training for whatever scraps you can get and sign Fielder. I would have started Marrero over LaRoche if I were GM and he were healthy. LaRoche was already crying into his beer with Laddy Burger.

[PebbleBall]

The Zuckerman piece lays out at least 3 different reasons the Werth deal makes them unlikely to land Prince.  That is the very definition of an albatross if they can't work around that.

[PebbleBall]

Are the Nationals willing to devote $65 million a year to only three players for at least four years?

Guess how many MLB clubs currently do that? Three. The Yankees are committing anywhere from $68 million to $72 million in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. The Phillies will pay $65 million to Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Ryan Howard in 2013 (but only 2013). And the Angels are on the hook for $65 million in 2016 (but only 2016) to Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver.

So prior to the Angels joining the club this offseason, the only two teams with similar commitments - the Yankees and Phillies - also happen to be the only two teams in baseball to participate in the past 3 playoffs.  And this is supposed to be an argument against it?  The Lerners have the wealth and the Nationals have the resources.  So why wouldn't they if the only two examples are big successes?

[Ray D]

So prior to the Angels joining the club this offseason, the only two teams with similar commitments - the Yankees and Phillies - also happen to be the only two teams in baseball to participate in the past 3 playoffs.  And this is supposed to be an argument against it?

The Yankees and Phillies sell out every home game.  If we transform into a playoff team will we sell out every game?  If we were to, then the move would make fiscal sense.  But I don't know that we would, and I'm sure that's part of the economic equation.

[Tyler Durden]

So prior to the Angels joining the club this offseason, the only two teams with similar commitments - the Yankees and Phillies - also happen to be the only two teams in baseball to participate in the past 3 playoffs.  And this is supposed to be an argument against it?  The Lerners have the wealth and the Nationals have the resources.  So why wouldn't they if the only two examples are big successes?

They wouldn't do it because they don't want to spend that much.

[blue911]

The Yankees and Phillies sell out every home game.  If we transform into a playoff team will we sell out every game?  If we were to, then the move would make fiscal sense.  But I don't know that we would, and I'm sure that's part of the economic equation.

The Nats could increase attendance by a million patrons, and not sell out a single game. A million more people = $53M +/-. 

[PowerBoater69]

The Yankees and Phillies sell out every home game.  If we transform into a playoff team will we sell out every game?  If we were to, then the move would make fiscal sense.  But I don't know that we would, and I'm sure that's part of the economic equation.

The Caps sell out every game with insanely high ticket prices in a town where a very small percentage of people grew up playing hockey.  Certainly the Nats could do the same, although they're ticket pricing is such that they will rarely sell all of their premium seats, the model seems to be to always have a few top dollar tickets available.

[PebbleBall]

The Yankees and Phillies sell out every home game.  If we transform into a playoff team will we sell out every game?  If we were to, then the move would make fiscal sense.  But I don't know that we would, and I'm sure that's part of the economic equation.

It doesn't have to be such absolutes.  Even if the Nats signed Fielder and extended Zimmerman there'd still be a massive payroll gap between them and the Yankees.  Zuckerman's argument is a good one for a veteran team stretching it's limits or reaching its financial ceiling.  It's safe to say the Nationals aren't in that category, and we haven't even established what those limits are. 

[The Chief]

I wish Fielder would just hurry up and sign somewhere so we'd have something to talk about.

[Ray D]

The Nats could increase attendance by a million patrons, and not sell out a single game. A million more people = $53M +/-. 

Ok then what I take from that is, if this deal increase attendance by half a million then it is justified.  Would the deal increase attendance by half a million?  (That would be a little over 6 thousand/game increase.)

[Ray D]

I wish Fielder would just hurry up and sign somewhere so we'd have something to talk about.

You mean so we wouldn't have anything left to talk about, don't you?

[blue911]

Ok then what I take from that is, if this deal increase attendance by half a million then it is justified.  Would the deal increase attendance by half a million?  (That would be a little over 6 thousand/game increase.)

Would Prince being on the team increase the Nationals chances of realizing those untapped monies, is the correct question.

[The Chief]

You mean so we wouldn't have anything left to talk about, don't you?

Well, one could argue that we've already reached that point anyway.

[PebbleBall]

Would Prince being on the team increase the Nationals chances of realizing those untapped monies, is the correct question.

Yes.  And count me as having the minority opinion that signing Prince would be a good sign for a Zimmerman extension.

[Tyler Durden]

Well, one could argue that we've already reached that point anyway.

Who couldn't stand to hear that Werth is an albatross one more time?  Or that the Lerners are cheap? 

Or on the other hand - complaining about complaining?  Or complaining about complaining about complaining. 

[Evolution33]

Who couldn't stand to hear that Werth is an albatross one more time?  Or that the Lerners are cheap? 

Or on the other hand - complaining about complaining?  Or complaining about complaining about complaining. 

Can we please stop using the cliches of players as an albatross. They aren't out there wondering around stadiums as good luck and then being shot with a crossbow by a GM that is then forced to wear them around their necks as the entire team dies of dehydration.

[Rasta]

The Yankees payroll was over 200M last year.  The Phillies were at 173.  The Red Sox were at 168.  Having 3 players at 20-25M contracts is very doable without going near those levels.  The question becomes are the Lerners willing to go to the 105-140M range.  There were 9 teams in that range.