Prince Fielder took a page out of the Albert Pujols guide to comfortable living by signing a nine-year, $214 million deal with the Detroit Tigers today. Fielder, who has spent seven years in the league with the Milwaukee Brewers, will greatly ease Tigers fans' pain of losing catcher Victor Martinez to a season-ending ACL tear and will play power partner to Miguel Cabrera in the middle of Detroit's lineup. After a bit of a down year in 2010, Fielder pounded out 38 homers, 120 RBIs, and hit .299 in 2011.
The Tigers seemingly stole Fielder away from the Washington Nationals, who have been the rumored front-runners this entire offseason. According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski wasn't interested in any sort of long-term deal for the NL Central power hitter a week ago. Basically, if Martinez hadn't torn his ACL, Fielder might be in red and white right now. You snooze, you lose, Washington!
[via Eye on Baseball]
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