PRINCE FIELDER

Frank McCourt has a little time left as owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mysteriously, Prince Fielder has not made up his mind yet where he wants to play.

Los Angeles Dodger fans have been waiting for Frank McCourt to ride into the sunset (Which by the way is the Pacific Ocean), and take his divorce, bankruptcy and destructive way with him. He has placed a limit on the payroll, and my question is: if you are selling the team, would you not place as much value as you could to drive up the price? As an owner, don’t you look to make the team as valuable as possible? LA is no small market, there is a lot of exposure, a lot of tradition in the Dodgers and it behooves any owner to increase his stock in his team.

One way to make the Dodgers competitive would be to bring in a big-ticket free agent. Who better than Prince Fielder? The stock of the Dodgers would increase immediately and the team’s competitiveness would go up as well.

With Prince Fielder, the situation has become somewhat murky. The player is a top of the line type, on par with Albert Pujols and Ron Howard. His talent is there, but is he worth what he is asking, and just what is it he is asking for?

The Dodgers are in financial straights, none of the top contenders need Fielder, or are all tapped out right now, the Mets, a big market team have played themselves out of contention for free agent players of impact for a few years, so who could afford a large contract on a long term basis?

Two teams come to mind and they compete in the same market place for the most part. The Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals would be a good fit. Both seem to have the money, but I doubt that either one wants to invest more than 4-5 years, even in a 27 year old player with Fielder’s credentials.

Jayson Werth signed a $126 million 7-years contract, and in his first year went out and tore up the league with a .232 average! Would the Nationals b e willing to try that again with anybody?

The Rangers have the money, they have a great TV deal, they have a few pennants and almost won the World Series, but interestingly, have not made an offer. Is it that his agent has a white elephant on his hands?

So why doesn’t the Dodger owner sign Fielder to a 6-year $160 Million deal? It would bring his value way up, the team is competitive and attractive to buyers and fans alike, and Cecil Fielder could play for the most money, and if he sustains himself with his natural talents, renew that contract for even more.

That's all I wrote, folks!