Prince Fielder may become Big Apple of Yankees' eye if CC Sabathia decides to
sign elsewhere
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2011/10/14/2011-10-14_fielder_is_fit_for_fat_city.html
The Yankees need an aging, slow-footed, full-time DH like they need higher
ticket prices. But it was pretty funny to hear David Ortiz wax poetic about
the team he killed for so many years because, well, honestly - did you ever
think you'd hear a player talk about the Bronx as a place to get away from
all the drama?
The late George Steinbrenner would be horrified. Indeed, if The Boss was
still running the Yankees, creating back-page drama at every turn, he'd
probably jump at the chance sign Ortiz as a way of sticking it to the Red Sox.
These days the Yankees don't think much in terms of theatrics.
They do love signing stars to help justify those absurd ticket prices,
though. Heck, if the big cheeses were willing to overrule Brian Cashman on
Rafael Soriano last winter just to show the ticket-buying public they were
spending money, then you never know what an offseason is going to bring.
In this case, it's possible that you-never-know could translate to Prince
Fielder, one of the three big-ticket free agents this winter, along with
Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes.
And wouldn't that be a Boss-like move?
For now it doesn't seem likely. Cashman seems focused on acquiring more
pitching. But let's face it, C.J. Wilson isn't wowing anybody this
postseason, and he is easily the most attractive pitcher on the free-agent
market.
Assuming there will be a handful of bidders for Wilson, is it worth signing a
soon-to-be 31-year-old pitcher to the type of long-term deal that teams so
often regret?
Or would the Yankees be better off paying huge money for Fielder, whose
lefthanded swing just might produce 50 home runs a year with the help of
Yankee Stadium, and using Jesus Montero to trade for pitching?
I know, I know, I advocated for keeping Montero in my look-ahead column a few
days ago, and I do think the Yankees should find out what he can do for them.
But the point is, you can't rule out the possibility that Fielder could wind
up a Yankee, slotting in between Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez as a
full-time DH.
It might take something extreme such as losing CC Sabathia to his opt-out
clause. And while that doesn't seem likely either, it's possible the Yankees,
fearing the effect of all his innings pitched, as well the effect of age on
his XXL body, will draw a hard line on extending Sabathia's deal much beyond
the remaining four years and $92 million.
In that case, would Sabathia leave if some other team made a crazy offer?
Would the Yankees allow it to happen?
Hey, everybody thought that signing Cliff Lee was a lock last year.
But even if Sabathia does re-sign, it's very possible the Yankees don't get
Wilson, for one reason or another. In that case, depending who might be
available in a trade, Cashman could feel compelled to deal Montero, the
22-year-old catcher whose value is on the rise again after his impressive
September.
Would that lead the Yankees to Fielder? The potential of the lineup would be
tantalizing and, who knows? Maybe Fielder would actually hit in October as
well as his father Cecil did with the Bombers in 1996.
On the other hand, Cashman probably wouldn't want to lock himself into still
another long-term deal. And though Fielder could play first base at times to
spell Mark Teixeira, the Yankees may fear the need to be more flexible with
the DH spot, especially with Rodriguez signed for another six years.
But it's surely an intriguing possibility, especially if Fielder has few
other potential landing spots at his asking price of $25 million a year.
I f Pujols re-signs with the Cardinals, which still seems like the best bet,
then you'd have to like Fielder's chances of landing with the Cubs, as new GM
Theo Epstein makes a big splash.
But Pujols will be asking for even more than Fielder, and if the Cardinals
won't meet his price, the Cubs may elect to sign him away from their biggest
rival. And then, considering the Red Sox, Phillies, and Tigers have star
first basemen, how many teams will decide they can afford Fielder?
The Yankees themselves don't seem headed for a dramatic winter, but things
have a way of changing with them. After all, even in this post-Boss era, star
power still sells in the Bronx. Just at higher prices.