OT: Prince Fielder dealt to Texas for Ian Kinsler
November 20th, 2013 at 8:50 PM ^
With guys like Peralta asking for $15M per year I think Infante was priced out of Detroit. The talk was Perez was going to be the 2nd basemen. This fixes 2 issues with 1 stone... I like it.
November 20th, 2013 at 8:48 PM ^
Anyone who's against this trade hasn't been watching the Tigers for the past two post-seasons, during which Fielder was positively dreadful. And not just hitting-wise. His whole attitude sucked. Not to mention his base-running and mediocre fielding. Guys with his weight issues, and his attitude issues, rarely get better with age. He peaked a while ago. Detroit was stuck with the ultimate contractual albatross -- until the Rangers inexplicable bailed them out. Thank god. Detroit just improved markedly, in both short-term and long-term ways.
And now the team has (in addition to a fine second-baseman) a ton of extra cash to spend on players who actually perform.
November 20th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^
Woo! As neat as it was to have another Fielder in Detroit, he was not worth even close to what they were paying him. And considering how awful he has been in the playoffs, I think this is a good move.
November 20th, 2013 at 8:49 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 8:56 PM ^
Castellanos might very well move back to 3B. But what's the backup plan if they go that route, and find him hitting .166 on Memorial Day 2014?
November 20th, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:12 PM ^
No way would they put Iglesias anywhere but SS. The guy has been repeatedly compared to Omar Vizquel, who coincidentally just joined the Tigers coaching staff (which I am just as excited about as this Fielder move). He probably has at least as much range as anyone in the league. I like the idea of Peralta at 3rd if he can make the switch successfully. Unfortunately they'd have to sign him before they could find out...
November 20th, 2013 at 10:03 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:12 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 8:56 PM ^
Contract details
Rangers will pay Kinsler $13M in '13, $16M in 2014 and 2015, $14M in 2016 and $11M in 2017. Option for 2018 is $10M with a $5M buyout.
Considering Infante will probably seek $12-$13M per year, its a bit of extra cost for 2 years fora 2nd basemen....but we gain a leadoff hitter and can move Ajax down to 7th. Or Ajax goes to 2nd and moves Hunter down to 5th (Martinez takes Fielders spot at #4)
November 20th, 2013 at 8:54 PM ^
It will be interesting to see how Prince does in Texas without a star to pair him with. Nelson Cruz is a good hitter at times, but he isn't Miggy or the roided-up Braun. I'm not sure Prince is reliable as your top hitter, he doesn't seem to be able to carry a lineup. I think it's a good move for Detroit, especially when you consider the $8M you save this year alone.
November 20th, 2013 at 8:56 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:00 PM ^
Still waiting for the final details/ throw ins. Looks like the Tigers solved many issues with this move as did Texas. Dombrowski is looking smarter each year.
November 20th, 2013 at 9:02 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^
Come on, let's not start throwing around accusations like that. His home run totals in Milwaukee were 50, 34, 46, 32, and 38. That's an average of 40 per year. His first year in Detroit, he hit 30 and this year he hit 25 (average of 27.5). It's just as likely, if not more so, that he went from a hitter's park to a pitcher's park, and an easier league to a tougher league. His numbers are similar to what happened to Pujols. I'd say Pujols is much more likely to have used roids given his physique as compared to Prince's, his giant head and bacne problems. Prince was going through a messy divorce this year, which can really mess with your head. Pujols has missed a bunch of games lately, also a telltale sign of roids, meanwhile, Prince has missed 1 game in the past 5 years. Prince was my first round draft pick in my fantasy league, and he dissappointed me with his performance, but I've never once thought of him as a steroid user.
November 20th, 2013 at 11:27 PM ^
Better weather, no crazy winds blowing in. You're right, plent of other reasons besides 'roids for the drop in power numbers.
November 21st, 2013 at 12:40 AM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 7:48 AM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 2:40 PM ^
because I'm a disgruntled Angels fan.
November 20th, 2013 at 11:08 PM ^
you mean fatten up by hitting the buffet? then yes he used roids.
November 21st, 2013 at 3:03 AM ^
Tossin around unfounded Roidagations? Who the F are you...Jack Clark?
Imbecile.
November 20th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:05 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:13 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 10:02 PM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 12:45 AM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:41 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 10:11 PM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 7:51 AM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 12:01 PM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 12:47 PM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^
Yeah, it's important to distinguish between fleecings and acquisitions that just didn't work out. Not gonna win them all.
November 20th, 2013 at 9:31 PM ^
Wow....I don't know whether my jaw dropped farther when they signed Prince, or now.
This is pretty clearly about finding the money to keep Max Scherzer. That the infield defense will improve and there's now room for Castellanos are side benefits. Probably not really about second base as Kinsler isn't a huge upgrade over Infante.
Also, as fans I think we're contractually obligated to offer lineup suggestions to the manager, so a good nominal lineup I think would be:
- A-Jax
- Torii
- Miggy
- Martinez
- Kinsler
- Dirks
- Avila
- Castellanos
- Iggy
There might be temptation to want to bat Castellanos higher but I think that's a good starting point for him as a rookie. You could argue for Kinsler at leadoff but they're very close in terms of OBP, Jackson has more speed, and if Jackson's going to strike out like he's been doing lately I'd rather it not be when guys are ostensibly on base (like they should be for the 5th hitter.)
November 20th, 2013 at 10:10 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 11:19 PM ^
Somehow I doubt Andy Dirks is the one thing standing between us and a championship.
November 21st, 2013 at 5:02 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:22 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:32 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:34 PM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:39 PM ^
Unfortunately, when these power hitters change their diet... Their product changes too, historically. Our old hitting coach use to say, " when he's fat... Keep'em fat."
November 21st, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
I thought Fielder was a vegetarian?
November 21st, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
However, I highly doubt if Fielder stuck to the veg thing. If so, he's been pounding the ToFu.
November 21st, 2013 at 12:30 AM ^
Q: Who bats after Prince Fielder?
A: The other team.
Bazinga
November 21st, 2013 at 1:33 AM ^
November 20th, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^
Not clear that Miggy will move back to 1st. Kinsler has never been considered a strong defensive second baseman--and with his injury history and age (declining steals--only 15 last year)--he may end up at first base. In fact, the Rangers serious discussed moving him there last year. While certainly not a gazelle over at 3rd, Miggy isn't really a better first baseman, defensively. Leaving Miggy at 3rd gives the Tigers more flexibility--VMart can play there some. Also, there are almost always decent hitting, fielding challenged first basemen hanging around to supplement a roster. If they move Miggy to 1st, the Tigers might consider bringing Peralta back at 3rd.
I think its a good move. It frees up money--presumably for Scherzer--and Fielder has played hard but not well enough to justify his contract. I expect he will do better in Arlington. Good luck to him.
November 20th, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^
November 21st, 2013 at 12:01 AM ^
Castellanos is not a natural 3rd baseman.
He didn't play 3B until he was drafted, and that's because he obviously wasn't gonna stay at SS where he played in HS.
He projects poorly defensively at 3B.
November 20th, 2013 at 11:07 PM ^
Another problem with Kinsler to 1st: He's never played there in the majors. He's played a total of 2 innings at 3B in his MLB career, and the rest of the time he's been in the field, he's been at 2B.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kinslia01.shtml
Also the bigger reason the Rangers talked about Kinsler going to 1st is that they think they've got Profar ready to go.