Poor Prince Fielder. Looks like he’s going to have to go to the unemployment office soon. Maybe look for a job at a Barnes and Noble or something. Because apparently no one wants to sign him. Here’s Bill Ladson of MLB.com:
There is a “99 percent” chance that the Nationals will not sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, according to a baseball source ... The source indicated that Fielder’s price must come down in order for the team to think about acquiring his services. The Nats are not willing to give Fielder anything close to the 10-year, $240 million contract the Angels gave first baseman Albert Pujols.
That first sentence is sexy, but the second sentence suggests that this is all posturing. It means that there is far greater than a 1% chance that Fielder will sign with the Nats. It merely requires some more negotiating. For that “99 percent” stuff to have any teeth it would have to be an “under any circumstances” kind of thing.
He’ll sign someplace. Maybe even with the Nats. All we’re seeing is an expensive guy facing a tough market. Expect a lot more of this kind of public negotiation as time goes on.
