Ok guys. Stop, collaborate and listen.
Is he worth as much as any of those guys? Maybe Votto. Definitely not Adrian Gonzalez or Miguel Cabrera.
Is he worth more than Josh Hamilton or any of the other outstanding 2013 prospects that would actually be a fit with this team? That's my concern. Fielder is only on the Nats radar because there were so few prime free agents to even look at this year. The Nats only really wanted one free agent this off-season, and they lost him. Fielder was never considered a fit, and is only in the discussion now because no other team has been willing to give Boras what he wants.
Sure, if they can get him to cave to a shorter term deal, they should jump, but otherwise don't sweat it. Next year's class is mind-boggingly deep with pitchers and outfielders. It will be interesting because I don't think there are enough deep-pocketed teams to even absorb all the big contracts next year's class will be looking for. The Nats aren't going to the World Series this year anyway, but next year could be special. A full 2013 season of Strasburg and Harper plus another year of development for JZimm, Ramos, Espinosa, Marrero, Flores... perhaps a call-up for Rendon...
Next year they could be not just good, but deep, and well-positioned to move Morse to first and add a free agent outfielder like Hamilton, Bourn, Ethier, or Victorino; and why not dream -- maybe even another front line starter if things don't work out with Wang.