Fielder

[natsfan4evr]

This is very similar to what happened with Matt Holiday.

Unfortunately for Boras' sake, the teams that are usually willing to shell out the cash (Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies) have no need for Fielder's services. The Dodgers are undergoing a transformation, so they too are unlikely to be in the running for Fielder. It would be quite funny if the tables are turned and we take Prince from the Mariners, even though they had a better offer on the table.

[PebbleBall]

Of all scenarios, I think the one that would lead to the biggest board implosion would be if he signed somewhere else for say 5/112

[Ray D]

I think we can get around the leadoff situation by thinking outside the box and bag the idea of having to have a speedy guy at the top.

I don't care a whit about a speedy guy at the top, or a guy who steals alot of bases, or takes alot of pitches.  What I care about is a guy who gets on base.  Who's that going to be?

[The Chief]

Of all scenarios, I think the one that would lead to the biggest board implosion would be if he signed somewhere else for say 5/112

Well as long as we made a fair market offer....

[zoom]

If the Rangers fail to sign Yu and in turn sign Fielder, what could we package for Gentry and  Moreland?  Moreland is redundant for them if they sign Prince. 

My thinking is if we trade for both Moreland and Gentry,  we then flip either  Moreland or Laroche to the Rays for pitching.   

We have a CF in Gentry and have Morse at first next year once Harper is ready (this year or next).

[PebbleBall]

Well as long as we made a fair market offer....

You jest, but the odds that this statement is involved the endgame are somewhere around 95%.

[HalfSmokes]

I don't know who the mythical leadoff hitter is.  I know it doesn't have to be a center fielder.  It can be an corner outfielder, maybe one that is overpaid right now.  Torii Hunter, maybe?  He's old and had a down year last year.  Maybe we can squeeze one more decent year out of him.  He's a free agent after the year.

Fukudome would be a good signing.

I'd like to sign Fielder but I'm not in the Fielder or bust camp.

I don't understand why it can't be werth- he has the OBP and a little speed

[natsfan4evr]

I'd be upset if Prince went to the Nats with his best offer on the table and they refused to match it.

[comish4lif]

I'd be upset if Prince went to the Nats with his best offer on the table and they refused to match it.

Does it even depend on the offer?
--------------- If the Nats fail to match an 8 year deal for $188M, would you be upset?

[Tyler Durden]

If the Rangers fail to sign Yu and in turn sign Fielder, what could we package for Gentry and  Moreland?  Moreland is redundant for them if they sign Prince. 

My thinking is if we trade for both Moreland and Gentry,  we then flip either  Moreland or Laroche to the Rays for pitching.   

We have a CF in Gentry and have Morse at first next year once Harper is ready (this year or next).

They have Gentry and Julio Borbon and Leonys Martin.  We should be able to get one of them - either Gentry or Borbon, I would think.

[HalfSmokes]

They have Gentry and Julio Borbon and Leonys Martin.  We should be able to get one of them - either Gentry or Borbon, I would think.

What do they need that we have? I would think if yu falls through their main focus will be pitching

[natsfan4evr]

Does it even depend on the offer?
--------------- If the Nats fail to match an 8 year deal for $188M, would you be upset?

Yes, because that is cheap. Anything under 25 million annually I consider "cheap" for Fielder.
I would prefer 6 years instead of 8, but at that price you have to take a gamble on the extra 2 years.

[Tyler Durden]

What do they need that we have? I would think if yu falls through their main focus will be pitching

No idea.  HRod?  Flores?

[HalfSmokes]

My thinking is they would go hard after Cain or Greinke and want to keep all their chips until they have that starter

[Ray D]

I don't understand why it can't be werth- he has the OBP and a little speed

I agree that Werth is the best candidate for leadoff, if - and this is a big if - if we have a strong hitter at number two.  Werth supporters have claimed all along that all he needs is protection in the lineup as he had in Philly. We might as well try to create protection for him and test this theory  (and if it fails, get rid of him).  So who do you bat second? 

[DPMOmaha]

Yes, because that is cheap. Anything under 25 million annually I consider "cheap" for Fielder.
I would prefer 6 years instead of 8, but at that price you have to take a gamble on the extra 2 years.

No you don't.  If I'm Rizzo, I put my 6/138 + incentives offer on the table and say, if you've got a better deal out there, you better take it because this is as far as we go.  I'm in the "we don't need him but he'd sure be dang nice to have" camp.  I'm not willing to mortgage the future 8 to 10 years out just to get 5 years great years out of Prince.  That's just me.  I know they did that a bit with Werth, and I probably wouldn't have done it there either, but I wouldn't repeat that mistake with Prince, IMO.

[HalfSmokes]

I agree that Werth is the best candidate for leadoff, if - and this is a big if - if we have a strong hitter at number two.  Werth supporters have claimed all along that all he needs is protection in the lineup as he had in Philly. We might as well try to create protection for him and test this theory  (and if it fails, get rid of him).  So who do you bat second? 

to me 1 matters far more than 2- i'd hate to see werth dropped to 2 and desmond leading off because we need a strong 2

[Lintyfresh85]

In the end, Werth always ruins everything.

[Ray D]

  If I'm Rizzo, I put my 6/138 + incentives offer on the table

With an opt-out (player option) after three years?

[DPMOmaha]

With an opt-out (player option) after three years?

I'd have no problem with that if that's what he wanted.  Might even the best possible scenario for all parties.

[Slateman]

6/126 should get it done

[GNatsNoMore]

6/126 should get it done

I agree, especially if we wait until the Rangers are officially out of it, assuming Darvish signs.  I think the Lerners are correct if they think that playing a waiting game likely increases their bargaining leverage.  Give him Prince the opt out after 3 years if he wants it, as several have suggested, so he can get a bigger payday later if he wants and we have more flexibility to still re-sign all of our core players if the Lerners choose to.  Definitely a win-win scenario. 

[Kevrock]

Yes, because that is cheap. Anything under 25 million annually I consider "cheap" for Fielder.
I would prefer 6 years instead of 8, but at that price you have to take a gamble on the extra 2 years.

Years 5 and 6 are the gamble on Fielder. Years 7 and 8 are insanity.

Otherwise, what DPM said.

[Minty Fresh]

Years 5 and 6 are the gamble on Fielder. Years 7 and 8 are insanity.

Otherwise, what DPM said.

All years are a gamble on Fielder. 

Sign him.

[Lintyfresh85]

I dont' think he's a 'must' for the Nats.  We'd probably be just as good with LaRoche at 1B and a true leadoff hitter as we would be with Desmond hitting leadoff and Fielder at 1B.  If his options are 8 or 9 years in DC versus 3 years with the Dodgers or Brewers, I hope he doesn't pick us.

I don't know who the mythical leadoff hitter is.  I know it doesn't have to be a center fielder.  It can be an corner outfielder, maybe one that is overpaid right now.  Torii Hunter, maybe?  He's old and had a down year last year.  Maybe we can squeeze one more decent year out of him.  He's a free agent after the year.

Fukudome would be a good signing.

I'd like to sign Fielder but I'm not in the Fielder or bust camp.

So you're suggesting you're fine with not getting Fielder as long as we get a leadoff hitter... but in the next breath you're admitting that you don't know of any leadoff hitter available.

So... doesn't that mean Fielder or bust?

Cause, I'd much rather have a lineup with Desmond leading off and Prince hitting fourth than I would a lineup with Desmond leading off and Morse hitting fourth.