Official Prince Fielder Thread ( Rumors, News, ETC )

[brett05]

The whole Cubs can't afford :insert player here: argument is bunk.

Just as bunk as "The whole Cubs can afford :insert player here: argument"

No one knows the books. We can only judge on what they actually do which so far isn't much.

But even if the get Fielder it doesn't mean they can afford it. I buy breakfast and lunch, doesn't mean I should be, but it doesn't mean that I don't. And just because I do doesn't mean I have money to do it with.

Same philosophy for sports teams, Cubs included.

 

[X]

also pull yourself back from being a cub fan, as a business owner who has suffered the small % of the fan base, and would continue to lose more and more...........wouldnt you place yourself in these big name rumors to make sure you cover yourself from a PR aspect. I never thought pujols for a second was coming here, and I feel the same about fielder still......but the casual fan could get sucked back in by all the rumors, buying the fact that there is this hope for this team, that ownership WANTS to win at all costs. The idea of something great is always better than the final product......that is how real business works.

I see your point -- I guess what it comes down to is that I agree the Cubs won't go 8-10/$250M+...but I don't think Fielder will get that. While I was cautiously optimistic originally in Fielder, the fact that it seems to be down to the Cubs, Rangers and Blue Jays (and all 3 teams bid on Darvish) gives us reason for some optimism (if you indeed believe getting Fielder is good for this team).

My (several) posts about Boston's sports writers goes back to the Theo deal, tho. I have no idea how any journalist w/ journalistic integrity could honestly write pieces about how the haul for Theo should be Matt Garza or Starlin Castro. Just dumb.

 

[X]

The Cubs are the early front-runners to sign Prince Fielder, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. But in the words of one executive, agent Scott Boras can usually “pull a rabbit out of his hat” for his top free agent clients, so other teams are very much in the mix for the 27-year-old free agent. Here’s the latest:

It looks like the Cubs and Mariners are Fielder’s most serious suitors, Rosenthal reports.
The Cubs don’t want to give Fielder a ten-year deal and would be more comfortable with a six or seven-year term.
The Rangers and Marlins won’t bid on Fielder, according to Rosenthal’s sources. The Orioles may only be a viable suitor for Fielder if he lacks other options.
Boras wants an opt-out clause for Fielder, Rosenthal reports.

Cubs Early Favorites To Sign Prince Fielder: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

So the Rangers are now out? Makes ya wonder about their bid for Darvish. I don't see the Mariners outbidding us, or Prince wanting to go there. I think he'd have interest in Baltimore, but they won't be able to afford him.

 

[Rice Cube]

From a gamesmanship standpoint, I think that the Cubs being the front-runners and nobody else seeming to make a play for Prince Fielder makes this a sort of Mexican standoff between the Cubs, Fielder, and Scott Boras. At this point the Cubs know that the Rangers aren't desperate, the Blue Jays probably can't pay for both Darvish and Fielder, and Chicago itself isn't desperate or in any hurry either. That means they can pretty much dictate the terms of the contract; they wait for Boras to figure out that no, Fielder is not getting Pujols money, overall or annual average, and the longer Fielder waits, the less he is likely to get and I doubt there's any way he holds out for a season getting paid nothing instead of taking the money.

In my opinion, right now the Cubs are holding two guns, one pointing to Boras and the other at Fielder, and asking both if they feel lucky.

I suppose I should also note that none of them are actually Mexican, it's just a term

And depending on their mood or resources, nothing will flat out preclude the Cubs from trying to get both Fielder and Yu Darvish (the Toronto bid isn't officially official, so there's always a chance)

 

[Rice Cube]

If Boras wants that opt-out clause, it actually helps the Cubs because they might be able to keep the dollar amount reasonable in the useful life of Fielder's contract and if Fielder opts out, then someone else can assume the burden.

 

[Rice Cube]

Modified Procedure For Type A Free Agents: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Just a reminder that signing Fielder will forfeit the Cubs' second-round pick, but they'll pick up one pick for Ramirez going to the Brewers and another if Pena can find work elsewhere. I imagine Fielder has to sign first before Pena is signed by some other team.

 

[AddisonStation]

Maybe someone has already posted this but I didn't see it. TIFWIW but I still thought it was interested.

How will Prince Fielder Age?

 

[daddies3angels]

Sveum again said team hasn't talked to Prince. Again Prince makes perfect sense for short and long term but Ricketts wont allow it. Hope you guys enjoy a bad baseball team. Cubs are an AAAA team.

 

[Rice Cube]

Sveum again said team hasn't talked to Prince. Again Prince makes perfect sense for short and long term but Ricketts wont allow it. Hope you guys enjoy a bad baseball team. Cubs are an AAAA team.

Where'd you hear this part?

 

[daddies3angels]

Where'd you hear this part?

What has he done that shows he allow team to spend money to get better? I'm going iff Ricketts history as owner

 

[Rice Cube]

What has he done that shows he allow team to spend money to get better? I'm going iff Ricketts history as owner

So you're making an assumption when not even the media knows what is going on because the Cubs aren't as leaky as they used to be.

 

[FirstTimer]

d3a is God awful.



Going off Rickett's history as an owner and calling him cheap?

:rolling:

 

[Rice Cube]

d3a is God awful.



Going off Rickett's history as an owner and calling him cheap?

:rolling:

Eh, he could very well be right. You can look at the media silence as either the media being incompetent or the Cubs deciding they are doing nothing. I'd prefer to watch a team with Fielder and Yu Darvish on it, but at the same time I'm also okay with the front office guys blowing up the team and starting from scratch. I just don't think the plan is apparent yet so rushing to judgment doesn't do anyone any good.

 

[daddies3angels]

So you're making an assumption when not even the media knows what is going on because the Cubs aren't as leaky as they used to be.

That is true. I just have gut feeling Cubs biggest move was DeJesus which is drepressing. It just makes perfect sense for Fielder to be Cub. For Sveum to say no contact has been made tells me Ricketts wont spend the money. A 27 y/o power first baseman is exactly what team needs now and he would work for future. Team needs building blocks. Cant think of anyone better then him. Fielder, Castro, Jackson, Garza nice start

 

[X]

imo, Ricketts hasn't had enough time to show us what kind of owner he's going to be.

 

[Rice Cube]

That is true. I just have gut feeling Cubs biggest move was DeJesus which is drepressing. It just makes perfect sense for Fielder to be Cub. For Sveum to say no contact has been made tells me Ricketts wont spend the money. A 27 y/o power first baseman is exactly what team needs now and he would work for future. Team needs building blocks. Cant think of anyone better then him. Fielder, Castro, Jackson, Garza nice start

Sveum only says what the club will allow him to say, methinks.

So now it's a matter of believing whether Sveum is lying through his teeth or whether the Cubs just don't want to pony up the cash. Considering Fielder's body type and one-dimensional skillset, I can't really blame a smart front office whose team is nowhere close to contention for not wanting to punch a hole in their budget just to sell a few extra tickets.

 

[daddies3angels]

d3a is God awful.



Going off Rickett's history as an owner and calling him cheap?

:rolling:

Only thing to go off of is his history. When BIG MARKET team defers money on a 1 year deal tells me owner is cheap!! Dempster let Cubs borrow 3 mil to pay Nady!! Payroll been cut every offseason since Ricketts own team. Just some facts for you

 

[daddies3angels]

Sveum only says what the club will allow him to say, methinks.

So now it's a matter of believing whether Sveum is lying through his teeth or whether the Cubs just don't want to pony up the cash. Considering Fielder's body type and one-dimensional skillset, I can't really blame a smart front office whose team is nowhere close to contention for not wanting to punch a hole in their budget just to sell a few extra tickets.

Fielder more then 1 dimesional. His OBP, SLG, RBI, HR, AVG among best in last 5 years. Just hitting his prime. I'm not saying this guy makes Cubs conteder overnight but does get them great building block.

 

[daddies3angels]

imo, Ricketts hasn't had enough time to show us what kind of owner he's going to be.

Going through his 3rd offseason now. How many you guys give him?

 

[FirstTimer]

Eh, he could very well be right. You can look at the media silence as either the media being incompetent or the Cubs deciding they are doing nothing. I'd prefer to watch a team with Fielder and Yu Darvish on it, but at the same time I'm also okay with the front office guys blowing up the team and starting from scratch. I just don't think the plan is apparent yet so rushing to judgment doesn't do anyone any good.

I'm not saying I think the Cubs will land Fielder but I've been following Theo for years in Boston. Sveum saying they haven't contacted Fielder means jack. Theo and Co is the most tight lipped FO I've ever been around. Hell, before the Crawfrd signing most of the information "leaking out" was that Boston wasn't interested...Then boom...he signs.

Only thing to go off of is his history. When BIG MARKET team devers money on a 1 year deal tells me owner is cheap!!

I can use exclmation points too!!

Your line of thought is Special person. Someone who is "cheap" doesn't buy an ML franchise like the Cubs...especially with the ridiculous contracts they had on the books when he bought the team.. The same "cheap" owner doesn't start talking about half a billion dollars worth of renovations to the field and surrounding areas. The same "cheap" owner doesn't make the Theo move and make him one of, if not the highest paid GM/President in league history.

Dempster let Cubs borrow 3 mil to pay Nady!! Payroll been cut every offseason since Ricketts own team. Just some facts for you

Payroll should be cut you artard.

The contracts the Cubs had and have on the books are god awful. Before Ricketts bought the team the Cubs were tinkering with "dumping" salary like Soriano, etc in order to make moves for better players. The Cubs just can't add payroll for the hell of it. Rickett's needs to clean out bad payroll and rebuild with good payroll. I don't understand how baseball Special person people like yourself think Ricketts would just come in and spending would skyrocket. It doesn't work that way. Rickett's has been damn smart with his money and will continue to do so. Especially with a guy like Theo at the helm.

Why should Ricketts have increased spending with Hendry as GM? If you were Ricketts would you have trusted Jim Hendry to spend money? Would you?!

Jesus Christ.

But yeah, let's ***** about a declining payroll or 3 million going from Dempster to Nady when the owner wants to spend a quarter of a billion dollars upgrading Wrigley.

SRS?