MLB Free Agents 2012: Prince Fielder Would Would Launch Nationals into Playoffs

Prince Fielder's list of suitors appears to have dwindled down to the Washington Nationals, with everyone else bringing up the rear. Ignoring the money and years (because we don't know what it will take to sign him), this would be a great short-term move for the Nationals to make. 

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the team has the money and desire to strike a deal with Fielder. 

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When Boras told me last week that to get Prince, “owners will move players off their teams that already occupy positions,” I thought right away of the Nationals and [Adam] LaRoche. Heck, Boras could map out a five- or even 10-year plan for the Nats based solely on his clients—and Lerner and his general manager, Mike Rizzo, repeatedly have shown that they are willing to listen.

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The Nationals currently have several holes in their lineup—first base, second base, shortstop, center field, right field—that they have to upgrade one way or another if they want to be serious contenders. 

Fielder would obviously fit in the lineup quite nicely and he can get by defensively. His power would play well in the Nationals ballpark, or anywhere, for that matter. He will not see a drop off in production. 

And signing him would push the Nationals into contention for a wild-card spot in the National League. They already have a solid nucleus at the major league level, with Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Wilson Ramos. 

If you add Fielder to that, you have a pretty good National League lineup. When you factor in that Bryce Harper could see time in the majors this year, they could be better than expected. 

The rotation is going to be terrific with a full season from Strasburg and Zimmerman at the top.

Gio Gonzalez could regress some—due to his high walk rate (4.05/9 IP in 2011)—but moving to the National League should offset any substantial drop in his performance that he might have had if he stayed in the American League. 

Philadelphia is still the class of the National League East, but they are likely to come back to the pack because their offense is a mess. Atlanta has great potential, but with questions about Tommy Hanson's rotator cuff and Jason Heyward's swing, they could struggle like they did at the end of 2011. 

Other National League contenders, like Milwaukee, San Francisco and Arizona, all have serious flaws that they will have to overcome. 

Acquiring Fielder would put them right in the thick of the wild-card race for 2012, and it is not hard to envision a scenario where they make the postseason for the first time since 1981, when they were the Montreal Expos. 

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