Greg M. Cooper- USA TODAY Sports
Anyone with a television set would know how Prince Fielder is working out for the Detroit Tigers. That being said, it doesn’t mean that the Tigers should just assume no deal can be made for him. No doubt, any deal would have to probably be coupled with some salary eating, but it is better than just losing over 200 million on a player who is struggling as is and is only going to deteriorate over time with his weight being a big issue.
The Tigers certainly put themselves in this position, but they need to be proactive in getting their way out of it as early as possible. The Los Angeles Angels decided to keep doubling down that Albert Pujols would turn it around and are now locked in with no way out; if the Tigers are smart, they will try everything possible to not let themselves get in that position if they haven’t already placed themselves there.
Fielder still has some value, especially for a team like the New York Yankees where a lefty can lightly touch a ball and see it fly over the fence. Just because the Tigers would have to give a little doesn’t mean it is not worth ensuring they don’t have an albatross on their roster for several years to come.
Trade him for a bag of balls; trade him for some relief help — just get that contract out of the way. It was an experiment that already smells of disaster and while there is still time for him to turn it around, the Tigers only have pretty much this offseason to move him before teams won’t touch him with a 10-foot pole.
It’s harsh, but the alternative is losing guys like Max Scherzer and maybe even Miguel Cabrera due to no available money. It’s time to get rid of the albatross before it drags the entire Tigers boat down with it.
