While driving home last night from a basketball game in Stephenville (or was it the Mavericks' game in Dallas the night before?), I heard a discussion about whether the Tigers overpaid for Prince Fielder in dollars or length of contract.
One of the announcers kind of threw a theory and names he heard once against the wall to justify his case. His premise was that the most difficult commodity to obtain in baseball now is an "elite slugger" in the "post-steroid era."
That announcer apparently never has heard of ace pitchers. He might not even have heard of Ryan Braun, a player in Fielder's same lineup for the last few years, who metaphorically was busted with an MVP award in one hand and a syringe in the other. The announcer's best argument was that teams no longer can find a "John Jaha to hit 50 home runs."
Dude quite obviously knows more baseball than I, who wasn't even award of Jaha's 50-home run season.
Another guy -- sorry I don't have names, the voices all blend together -- agreed with the point of the Detroit Free Press' Drew Sharp, whose contention has been that the Tigers overpaid to replicate Miguel Cabrera.
Nine years and $214 million?
Point 1. GM has made a comeback. President Obama told us that. But will auto workers pay higher ticket prices to watch Cabrera, Fielder and in time presumably Victor Martinez fight to see which one could be the DH that day and not have to wear a glove?
Point 2. In the last 4 or 5 of those years, Fielder will be past his prime even as a hitter. He'd have to play at Ruthian levels during the first 4 or 5 years, during which he'd have to justify about 4150 million of that contract.
Point 3. The world's largest vegetarian already is pushing 300 pounds. Unless he lays off Cap'n Crunch for the next 9 years, it might not be long before they'd have to wheel him out to the plate. I'd endorse a rule change that would allow him to sit at his position in an easy chair on the days Justin Verlander pitches.
Of course, the Tigers overpaid. The winners in this scenario are Fielder and agent Scott Boras, who will make close to eight figures from this contract. In years to come, agents with "elite slugger" or even lowly "elite aces" will be patient, waiting for just the right opportunity -- such as the Martinez injury -- to get their clients a few dozen million extra bucks.
Even with the injury, it's difficult to believe that other teams were offering anything close to 9 years or $214 million.
Hats off to Boras and Fielder for cashing in. For the Tigers, though, their poor judgment seems likely to bring bad karma.
