Is Prince Fielder worth $214 million?
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Prince Fielder will be getting paid quite handsomely for his services to the Detroit Tigers over the next nine years. The two parties reportedly have agreed to $214-million contract, subject to a physical.
That’s quite a deal -- one that Times blogger Steve Dilbeck is glad the Dodgers didn’t make:
I don’t trust that body (5-11, 280) to stay healthy and at the same productive level over the course of nine years, or even close. And do you really want to be shelling out $214 million to Fielder when you’re paying $160 million to Matt Kemp? And a big payday still looms for Clayton Kershaw?
It’s only the fourth $200 million-plus contract in baseball history and the second this off-season, following the Angels’ $240-million, 10-year deal with Albert Pujols.
Fielder could be well worth the price for the Tigers, who might be without injured designated hitter Victor Martinez for the entire 2012 season. Fielder hit .299 with 38 home runs and 120 RBIs last season and has averaged 40 home runs and 113 RBIs over the last five.
What do you think? Did the Tigers overpay for Fielder? Vote in the poll, then leave a comment explaining why you voted the way you did.
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-- Chuck Schilken
