Should Jays target Prince Fielder?

[StringerBell]

Hey I just came across an artcicle on Bleacherreport naming the Blue Jays as one of the few teams that CAN sign Fielder this off season. IMO AA throw should ask Rogers to show him the loot in order sing Fielder to a big contract.

It's good timing for the team to finally spend some monery- especially if its for one of the best left handed power hitters in his prime.


C- Arencibia
1B - Lind
2B - Hill
3B- Lawrie
SS- Escobar
LF - Thames
CF - Davis/Snider
RF- Bautista
DH -Fielder


I think that lineup can go toe to toe with any other in the AL East

[James_Raptors]

Hey I just came across an artcicle on Bleacherreport naming the Blue Jays as one of the few teams that CAN sign Fielder this off season. IMO AA throw should ask Rogers to show him the loot in order sing Fielder to a big contract.

It's good timing for the team to finally spend some monery- especially if its for one of the best left handed power hitters in his prime.


C- Arencibia
1B - Lind
2B - Hill
3B- Lawrie
SS- Escobar
LF - Thames
CF - Davis/Snider
RF- Bautista
DH -Fielder


I think that lineup can go toe to toe with any other in the AL East

That batting order blows!
In all seriousness though, of course I'd love to see him on the team. But on the other hand, I don't know what the big picture is for our team when it comes to how many dollars Rogers would be willing to dish out on team payroll. We keep hearing rumors, but, for example, if signing Fielder straps us for cash and we'd be left filling in the blanks with role players and marginal major leaguers, then there's no way I would consider it. The obvious answer is he is an outstanding talent and it would depend on our cash flow situation long term.

[jrsmith]

If a miracle happens and ownership is actually serious about spending + contending they probably should.

Don't hold your breath. Expect the we are still 1-2 years away from contention and dont want to jeopardize the great future we have set ourselves up for garbage instead.

[James_Raptors]

I get what you're saying, but this " a few years away from contention" crap gets old after awhile.
I understand, this time it feels different and in the back of my mind I keep telling myself to continue to be patient, stock our farm system, bring in more cheap assets with potential (I feel like I'm on the Raptors board as I type this), and so on. I have mixed feelings I guess I could say. I respect what AA has done in terms of stocking our minor leagues and getting some value on a few trades but he's also made some errors (he is no teflon god).

Honestly, suffering through the late 70's and early 80's made you really appreciate when our home grown players started making us into contenders. On one side, you love growing with your team and players and on the side, you salivate over the teams who can just plug in holes with money and overspend for overpriced , amazing, talent , if they have to. It's really one of those catch 22 situations but I'm getting tired of always being on the losing end or middle of the pack end of things.

[xAIRNESSx]

We should and we might, but his asking price is going to be ridiculous, so I doubt we actually end up getting him.

[tecumseh18]

I always remember that sick feeling when Jays played the Red Sox a few years ago, Manny at the plate with a runner on and Ortiz in the on-deck circle. What a freakin' nightmare. To have Bau and Fielder together .... oh man.

But probably not. AA had a strategy from Day 1 - spend millions on signing draft picks and foreign prospects - to build up the farm system. And he's doing it and continuing to do it. Good for him, and Rogers.

Now, the timeline for success may have shrunk. As AA mentioned in an interview a few weeks ago, we clearly have something special in Bautista and it would be stupid/tragic to waste his prime years. He's also talked about preferring to acquiring studs through trade rather than BJ and Burnett type signings. So I can't see throwing nine figure contracts at guys like Pujols or Fielder.

As Schad as mentioned many times, the plan has to be to exchange prospects for gold. We're gonna keep investing many millions/yr in producing more prospects. But ~$30 mill/yr to one guy? Not gonna happen.

[Dr Positivity]

Will be too expensive if the Yankees are involved (spoiler: They will be)

[StringerBell]

Will be too expensive if the Yankees are involved (spoiler: They will be)

I don't think they will be though. All this talk about $30/yr is ridiculous, he's not getting that type of money. I'm thinking he's in the 6/140 range.

[StringerBell]

I always remember that sick feeling when Jays played the Red Sox a few years ago, Manny at the plate with a runner on and Ortiz in the on-deck circle. What a freakin' nightmare. To have Bau and Fielder together .... oh man.

But probably not. AA had a strategy from Day 1 - spend millions on signing draft picks and foreign prospects - to build up the farm system. And he's doing it and continuing to do it. Good for him, and Rogers.

Now, the timeline for success may have shrunk. As AA mentioned in an interview a few weeks ago, we clearly have something special in Bautista and it would be stupid/tragic to waste his prime years. He's also talked about preferring to acquiring studs through trade rather than BJ and Burnett type signings. So I can't see throwing nine figure contracts at guys like Pujols or Fielder.

As Schad as mentioned many times, the plan has to be to exchange prospects for gold. We're gonna keep investing many millions/yr in producing more prospects. But ~$30 mill/yr to one guy? Not gonna happen.

AA has done a great job so far acquiring assets and picks but lets be honest, the farm system doesn't have any blue chippers after Lawrie. And if Snider doesn't pan out it could be another 3-4 years til they strike gold and aquire that stud. Beeston has said they'll eventually have a payroll over $120 mil so why not spend some of it now on a player who is in their prime?
IMO the team is a power bat and legit ace away from being contenders. If Rogers has the money this is a good time to spend it.

[BigLeagueChew]

I'd rather them sign Pujols but would be happy with Fielder.

$115 mil over 5 years + signing bonus and bonuses for playoffs and world series.

[Homer Jay]

You always pay such a huge premium in FA, especially if the Yanks get involved (which they will on Fielder).

I would rather AA explore adding a stud player from a team that can't afford the player. I'd rather have Andrew McCutchen than Fielder, he fills a lot more of this rosters needs, and Pittsburgh is always dumping their talent when they get too expensive.

[Strav]

2012 is the contention year. The Jays are perfectly set up for it. That and Bautista turns 31. No more waiting.

[kwamebargnani]

I don't like the idea of throwing tons of cash at a DH.

[hyper316]

I don't like the idea of throwing tons of cash at a DH.

just pretend fielder on 1B and lind at DH.

[guvernator]

I don't like the idea of throwing tons of cash at a DH.

just pretend fielder on 1B and lind at DH.

that is just bad use of assets. Lind is a better defender with 1 offseason of work at 1B than fielder has ever been. Signing fielder or pujols for that matter depends on how much faith AA has in Lind's bat. If lind is for real than AA needs to go and address 2B (potential FA targets : Reyes and Hardy) and CF (potential FA targets : none, Potential Trade Targets: Rasmus, Mccutchen, Kemp, Upton). Hell, sell the farm and get kemp and kershaw in one deal.

[Raps in 4]

He's going to be the most overpaid player in baseball after this offseason. He'd definitely make us a better team, but I'm not sure the price is right. It's ridiculous how high salaries for baseball players are right now. We need a salary cap. Fat athletes also make me think "sub-part work ethic".

[Randle McMurphy]

The Jays should target every elite player in free agency. Wasting another year of Bautista should not be an option.

[Michael Bradley]

At some point the Jays are going to have to try for an elite FA. Not every prospect is going to pan out. Not every trade is going to result in a Jose Bautista falling on our laps. Eventually they are going to have to go after a Cliff Lee or Prince Fielder type, especially if they ever intend on competing with the Yankees and Red Sox. They can certainly afford to do it. They are going to underpay Bautista for the next few years and have signed their other core pieces to reasonable contracts for the next few years (Romero, Escobar, Lind, etc). Not to mention Wells if completely off the books. It is a no brainer.

I'd prefer Pujols personally, in the event that he tests free agency and is willing to leave St. Louis, but if Fielder is more realistic and the Jays are willing to spend that money, then go for it. Not every contract is going to be a bargain. As long as the player acquired has a good chance of putting up a few elite seasons over the course of the contract (which Fielder does), then I don't see the issue.

We should have been doing this when we had Halladay and Delgado together. Don't waste Bautista's prime too.

[rarefind]

Jays need to sign a legit high caliber player, and Fielder would destroy pitching at the Rogers Center. But the question should be is 25m dollars per season too much coin for a guy who'd be DH'ing here? Tad bit scary but again, rather sign him and worry about it after. Pujols will probably re-up with St. Louis, but he is the better fit but at the same time wouldn't have a position defensively on this team unless it is back to DH'ing Lind.

[Mak]

No Fielder or José Reyes please. For different reasons.