Prince Fielder to Tigers: Why Detroit Will Regret Lucrative Contract

When the Detroit Tigers reportedly agreed to a nine-year, $214 million deal with first baseman Prince Fielder on Tuesday, they not only overpaid, they hurt themselves down the line.

It's not that Fielder isn't worth nearly $24 million a year — that's part of the business and you're going to pay that much for a top slugger these days —what makes this deal so damaging is its length.

Fielder still has a few great years left in him, but I worry about how he'll hold up down the line. He's 27 years old now, but he's also 5'11", 275 pounds, and that can take a toll on a player.

If Fielder played at the level he is right now for the next nine years in Detroit, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But it's hard for me to imagine him playing great ball up until age 36. That means when he starts declining, he not only hurts the team in that aspect, they won't have a lot of money to improve the team during his decline.

We've seen this all too often, giant deals that go horribly wrong. It's not the money anymore, it's the amount of years these players are getting.

The San Francisco Giants, for example, agreed on a two-year, $40.5 million deal with ace Tim Lincecum on Tuesday, as well. That is smart spending, locking him up for another two years while still ensuring there's a future if Lincecum declines. You could argue that the Giants have learned from inking Barry Zito to a seven-year, $126 million deal in 2006 (they are paying him $19 million in 2012).

I understand why teams do this. For one, they're desperate for a star to improve their squad and sell tickets. It also sets them up for a short-term run at the World Series, and a World Series can make up for years of mediocrity afterwards.

But the truth is, which I hope MLB teams understand at some point, is that one superstar, or even a few superstars, doesn't make a team. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have shown us this throughout the years.

If the Tigers want to win a World Series, they have a shot in the short term. If they want to remain competitive for the next decade, they've just dug themselves a grave.