CBS: Jays in lead for Prince Fielder?

[Rhettmatic]

I hesitate to post this because I'm not sure how good the source is -- looks like CBS picked up a story from their local Cleveland radio station -- so please, take this with a grain of salt.

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2011/12/0 ... -to-three/

With the Major League Baseball 2011 Winter Meetings about 36 hours away from starting, a big name has reportedly narrowed his choices of where he will play in 2012 and beyond down to three.

First baseman and possible DH if he lands in the AL Prince Fielder has narrowed down his teams to three according to reports, with the three teams being the Toronto Blue Jays, the Texas Rangers, and his old team, the Milwaukee Brewers.

Reports say that as of right now, the team that resides in the lead for his services – the Jays.

[Macho]

I just came.

[TR50]

These bastards are trying to toy with us....

[baulderdash77]

They really talk about the Jays a lot in that article. I'm going to hold the optimism down until Ken Rosenthal starts to talk about it.

[Al_Oliver]

so cbs cleveland has managed to break AA's cone of silence? impressive

[Trilogy]

I want to believe.

[raptorforlife88]

I want to believe.

That about sums up my feelings on this.

[silverhill27]

7 years / 155 million, make it happen Rogers

25
25
25 (player option)
20
20
20
20

Front-load that contract make it enticing for him to opt out in a few years.

[Relentless88]

I don't believe this. I do want to though.

[Kapono]

I don't believe this. I do want to though.

This.

[hyper316]

I want to believe.

That about sums up my feelings on this.

+1. +$20 mill/year for Fielder is fair market value. The problem is the length of contract. But if Fielder is smart, he should go to AL since there is a DH spot for him to extend his professional career.

[Al_Oliver]

agreed. easier to get an AL team to bite on more years

[Raptors Realtor]

That would be phenominal!!!

[hyper316]

If this happens, split Lind/Encarnacion between 1B/LF, whoever fits best

SS Escobar (R)
CF Rasmus (L)
RF Bautista (R)
DH Fielder (L)
3B Lawrie (R)
1B/LF Lind (L)
1B/LF Encarnacion (R)
C Arencibia (R)
2B ??

Use Thames and Snider as pieces to get Bailey for closer

[darth_federer]

Overpaying him would be a terrible move. Apparently Boras wants 200 million. Giving a overweight guy a 10 year deal with crazy money would be awful.

[Weems]

7 years / 155 million, make it happen Rogers

25
25
25 (player option)
20
20
20
20

Front-load that contract make it enticing for him to opt out in a few years.

I actually like the front loading and the opt out idea, only maybe extend the opt out to year 4. I'm not sure. Seems beneficial to both parties (less so to Fielder and he's a Boras client?). If he opts out, we get Fielder in his prime and we pay less overall money. His prime years are the more expensive years anyway. $25m is very worth it and it doesn't dent our puny payroll.

[torontoaces04]

I just came.

Did this.

I don't believe this. I do want to though.

Then realism set in. These are my thoughts exactly. Rogers is like an unreliable friend...you'd be super happy if they made it to your birthday party, but you don't expect to see them.

[torontoaces04]

They really talk about the Jays a lot in that article. I'm going to hold the optimism down until Ken Rosenthal starts to talk about it.

I don't think he will though, until it either happens, or doesn't.

Rosenthal has quickly, along with Shi Davidi (though Davidi's game has slipped significantly since joining RSN) become the go to source for reliable Jays coverage. Rosenthal is obviously pretty well connected in the Jays organization. He wouldn't want to a) jeopardize his standing amongst his sources b) jeopardize any shot (if rumours are true) the Jays have at signing Prince.

One of AA's best qualities thus far has been his Ninja-like stealth . Rosenthal knows this, and respects this.

[MGD24]

Please please please!

[torontoaces04]

Not sure if this has been posted on the board yet. It's a FOX Sports article from December 1st by Jon Paul Morosi:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Prince-Fielder-Blue-jays-could-make-statement-113011

Now, at long last, the revival is afoot. In Alex Anthopoulos, the Blue Jays have one of the game’s best general managers. In Jose Bautista, they have a superstar. In Ricky Romero, they have an ace. In Brett Lawrie, they have a stud prospect who just happens to be Canadian.

But its roster, as presently constituted, is missing something. The Jays need a game-changer, to go from "This team could make the playoffs" to "This team should make the playoffs." It is one thing for baseball people to look at the Toronto roster and admire what Anthopoulos has done. It is another entirely for Torontonians to pack Rogers Centre with the belief that their guys ought to finish ahead of the Yankees and Red Sox.

That’s why the Blue Jays should sign Prince Fielder.

Where there's smoke, there's fire?!?