2012 MLB Free Agents: Why Prince Fielder Is Better for Cubs Than Albert Pujols

The Cubs clearly need some help. Neither their arms or bats were anywhere near good enough to contend in 2011. The National League Central promises to be a strong division again, and the Cubs need a complete overhaul if they are going to compete for a division title. 

The two biggest names on the free-agent market are Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. Given that both have played for division rivals of the Cubs, it would make sense that Chicago would be interested in bringing one in.

Under normal circumstances, I would go with Pujols. With all due respect to Fielder, he's not the overall hitter or player that Pujols is. 

But that's not the only thing this boils down to. Fielder is also significantly younger than Pujols, which is important for the Cubs.

This is a team that needs to get a corps group of players and keep them around for a long time. That's what Theo Epstein did in Boston. Yes, they brought players in through the years, but the group of players that won the World Series in 2004 was almost the same as in 2007.

That may not sound like much, but in today's sport's world keeping a group of players together for that kind of time is not insignificant. 

Pujols will go down as the better player, but that's largely because of what he's accomplished to this point. None of that matters at all right now. 

Fielder will be the better player from this point on. When we're looking at the length that these contracts will have to be, the younger player is the better play. 

With Fielder, you won't need to worry about his numbers falling off—at least not before Pujols' do. 

For a team that's looking to win a World Series in 2012 or 2013, Pujols is the better play. But the Cubs just aren't that team. Chicago will be winning its championships down the line. 

The instant impact of Pujols would be lost on them. In the mean time, it's not like Fielder would give them nothing. He's an established star player.

But when this team has a strong foundation built, Fielder will still be in the prime of his career. As good as Pujols is, that just doesn't apply to him.

The key to the Cubs' success is patience. 

So, if they are going to pursue one of the top two bats on the market, Fielder is the one to go after.