Prince Fielder: What is he worth?

[moneyman255]

How much would you pay Prince Fielder if you were a GM?

Age: 27
Birthdate: May 9th, 1984

Stats:

05: 59 AB, .288 AVG, .306 OBP, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 0.1 WAR
06: 569 AB, .271 AVG, .347 OBP, .483 SLG, .830 OPS, 28 HR, 81 RBI, 1.3 WAR
07: 573 AB, .288 AVG, .395 OBP, .618 SLG, 1.013 OPS, 50 HR, 119 RBI: 5.1
08: 588 AB, .276 AVG, .372 OBP, .507 SLG, .879 OPS, 34 HR, 102 RBI: 1.7
09: 591 AB, .299 AVG, .412 OBP, .602 SLG, 1.014 OPS, 46 HR, 141 RBI: 6.4
10: 578 AB, .261 AVG, .401 OBP, .471 SLG, .872 OPS, 32 HR, 83 RBI: 3.4
11: 233 AB, .302 AVG, .412 OBP, .614 SLG, 1.024 OPS, 19 HR, 58 RBI: 3.1

He has missed 13 games in 6 seasons, which comes out to be about 2 games a season.

His walk rate has increased each season since 2008.

08: 84
09: 110
10: 114

Defense (UZR)

06: -11.6
07: -8.0
08: -9.0
09: 1.8
10: -7.8
11: 3.1 (so far)

How much would you be willing to pay for Prince Fielder? What teams will go after him, and would you rather pay big bucks for Prince, or would you rather give the money to Pujols? (who is 31 btw)

Discuss.

[PP]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P0C8-SaYxY[/ame]

[spiker]

If it's a Pujols vs Fielder decision, I think I'd go with Fielder. Pujols is probably going to get the largest contract ever so Fielder is a value signing by comparison.

What is he worth?

According to baseball reference, here's some top salaries in 2011 for 1B:

Pujols (current) - $16.0mil
Texiera - $22.5mil
Howard - $20.0mil

If Pujols gets $30.0mil a season, I bet Fielder ends up at or around $22.5 - 25.0mil.

[Mogriffjr]

Fielder maybe looking for Tex money.

He's been committed to getting into shape, he lost a lot of weight as well.

His walk rate has improved and he's striking out less, but that's the natural process of becoming a feared hitter.

I think he will be worth it despite his defense being really poor.

[spiker]

Fielder maybe looking for Tex money.

Yeah, no doubt. Let's not forget that he's a Boras client, too.

[Guest]

I know the Orioles have been linked to Fielder for a couple years as a trade target, and it will be no different when he will be a free agent.

If I am the Orioles, I would give him a seven or eight year offer between $20 and $22 million. That is a good contract for a player like Fielder, who will be 35 when it is over and could be a DH halfway through the deal depending on his weight situation.

[Slateman]

Defense (UZR)

06: -11.6
07: -8.0
08: -9.0
09: 1.8
10: -7.8
11: 3.1 (so far)

How much would you be willing to pay for Prince Fielder? What teams will go after him, and would you rather pay big bucks for Prince, or would you rather give the money to Pujols? (who is 31 btw)
Fielder is, at best, a mediocre defender. He will actually cost you runs. Pujols on the other hand is the opposite. His defense at first is good enough to save a few runs.

Pujols is playing a position that he can play for a long time. Doesn't require a whole lot of mobility. On top of that, whatever team picks him up can trade him to the Sox or Yanks in a few years and he can DH.

Pujols is, obviously, the better player. I would rather give money to Pujols.
Discuss.

Fielder maybe looking for Tex money.

He's been committed to getting into shape, he lost a lot of weight as well.

His walk rate has improved and he's striking out less, but that's the natural process of becoming a feared hitter.

I think he will be worth it despite his defense being really poor.

My problem with Fielder is that he comes off as lazy. Very Albert Haynesworth like. Works when he wants, but also gets lazy and unmotivated. I think if you give him a huge contract, he reverts back.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I know the Orioles have been linked to Fielder for a couple years as a trade target, and it will be no different when he will be a free agent.

If I am the Orioles, I would give him a seven or eight year offer between $20 and $22 million. That is a good contract for a player like Fielder, who will be 35 when it is over and could be a DH halfway through the deal depending on his weight situation.

The poor Orioles went after all of the top guys this past offseason, and ended up signing Derek Lee & Vlad, and trading for JJ Hardy & Mark Reynolds. Nobody wants to play there.

Are the O's drawing at the gate? Those fans should be coming out, it's not like they didn't try to spend money. And they have some good young players, too.

[Warner2BruceTD]

My problem with Fielder is that he comes off as lazy. Very Albert Haynesworth like. Works when he wants, but also gets lazy and unmotivated. I think if you give him a huge contract, he reverts back.

Is this a legitimate knock of Fielder? I never saw him as lazy. I see a lot of him being an NL Central fan.

[killgod]

My problem with Fielder is that he comes off as lazy. Very Albert Haynesworth like. Works when he wants, but also gets lazy and unmotivated. I think if you give him a huge contract, he reverts back.

It's his contract year, lets not forget this.

This is why he's on my fantasy lineup now, and not a fucking fat chance in hell I'm touching him next year.

[Warner2BruceTD]

It's his contract year, lets not forget this.

This is why he's on my fantasy lineup now, and not a fucking fat chance in hell I'm touching him next year.

What would you like for him?

[killgod]

What would you like for him?

Eh? I'm not trading him, he's going to help me win this championship. Then he'll be put back in the draft, no?

[Warner2BruceTD]

Eh? I'm not trading him, he's going to help me win this championship. Then he'll be put back in the draft, no?

If you dont keep him, yes, he'll be back in the draft.

[killgod]

If you dont keep him, yes, he'll be back in the draft.

So since I'd wager none of the 1st round picks will be dropped, me putting him back in gives me first overall pick.

If nothing else catches my fancy I can always take him again.

Unless I'm missing something?

[NAHSTE]

The poor Orioles went after all of the top guys this past offseason, and ended up signing Derek Lee & Vlad, and trading for JJ Hardy & Mark Reynolds. Nobody wants to play there.

Are the O's drawing at the gate? Those fans should be coming out, it's not like they didn't try to spend money. And they have some good young players, too.

Barely, if at all. That is a great baseball town but they haven't drawn well since Angelos started alienating the fan base in the late 90s.

The laughable offseason that brought them aging overpriced vets like Albert Belle (who may or may not still be drawing checks from Baltimore, can't remember), Javy Lopez and Sammy Sosa was the last straw I think. Once those contracts went bust the fanbase became really disenchanted with the ownership.

And now they're just swimming up hill and the fans have no hope. It doesn't help that Tampa has become a great franchise and Toronto has maintained respectability. It really is a bleak outlook for one of baseball's proudest franchises. Sad.