(MLB) Prince, Tigers reach nine-year deal

[MistaNova]

Powerful free-agent first baseman agrees to $214 million contract



DETROIT -- The Tigers spent a week reacting to Victor Martinez's season-ending left knee injury. Their eventual reaction was big enough to be worthy of a Prince.

After supposedly looking for a short-term solution to the void in the middle of their order, the Tigers went big, physically and financially, with All-Star slugger Prince Fielder. On Tuesday, the two sides agreed to terms on a nine-year contract worth $214 million.

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports and Jon Heyman of MLB Network and CBSSports.com first reported the talks and ensuing agreement. A source confirmed the terms to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.

The Tigers have not commented on the reports. The team has a policy of not commenting on reported deals until the players involved have passed physicals.

The move caught the rest of baseball by surprise, not so much regarding the Tigers' interest but by the lengths they pursued Fielder to get a deal done. What was expected to be a short-term replacement became a cornerstone acquisition, reuniting Fielder with the team he followed as a child.

With a nine-year deal, Fielder would be under contract with Detroit through 2020. Even then, however, he'll be 36 years old, which made a long-term deal for the 27-year-old an intriguing one. That intrigue just wasn't expected to include the Tigers.

Until Martinez tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in a training mishap a week and a half ago, the Tigers were set at designated hitter. Martinez hit .330 with 103 RBIs last year to help lead Detroit to its first division title in 24 years and protect Miguel Cabrera in the lineup on the first baseman's way to his first American League batting crown.

Read The Rest Here: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120124&content_id=26452690&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[TheRemedy360Ressurection]

At least it wasn't the Rangers. It seems like during all these big negotiations it's always the team that hasn't been getting much press that ends up signing the guy, kinda like the Angels with Pujols.

[Chamillitary Click]

At least it wasn't the Rangers.

[rayallen0]

 

[TheRemedy360Ressurection]

^ If you can afford it why not? No worse than your A-Rod deal.

[J$crILLa]

following his daddy who he dont get along with......

shoulda stayed wit Milwaukee!!!!!!! lol

[TheRemedy360Ressurection]

^ Doubt that had anything to do with it, he just took the best deal Scott Borris could find him.

[rayallen0]