Prince Fielder to Tigers: Does He Want to Outdo His Father's Tiger Legacy?

In a move that has sent shock waves through major league baseball, Prince Fielder has just signed a nine-year, $214 million deal that will put him in the Old English "D" for years to come.

Now comes the real question: what is his reasoning for coming to Detroit?

Is it about the money?  Is it about winning that elusive world championship ring? Or, more interestingly, it is about outdoing his father, who spent seven years in a Tigers uniform?

Most know the relationship between Prince and his father is a rocky road, filled with allegations, assumptions and uncertainties.

Cecil Fielder even stated publicly (via MLB Radio on SiriusXM, later quoted in the Detroit Free Press) that he was "shocked" about his son's signing with the Tigers. 

"That just shocked me," Fielder said. "I just landed in New York … and I got that call—that's crazy! He's going to come full circle. You know, he's been there in Detroit most of his young life, so I think he'll be comfortable in that place."

Both father and son have had limited, if any, communication over the past 5 years.  Some have said that Prince did not wish to play in the same markets that his father had played.

Things have taken a dramatic change.

Maybe Prince Fielder decided to come to Detroit to see if he can one-up his father.  During his early years in Detroit, Cecil Fielder put up monster numbers.  In his first three seasons, Fielder hit 130 home runs and knocked in 389 RBI.  However, he was never able to help get his team to a division championship, let alone a World Series championship. 

And maybe that is why Prince is coming to Motown.  Maybe he knows that he can help bring something his father never could.  While Prince will undoubtedly make up for the loss of Victor Martinez, he will also provide the most feared 1-2 punch in all of baseball with Miguel Cabrera, hands down. 

Who knows what will happen this season?  Which player will get more starts at first base?  Which one will DH more?  Will the Tigers move Cabrera to third base? 

The Tigers will figure that one out on their own.  For the time being, Detroit fans can rejoice in the fact that the Tigers have a team that is truly poised to hoist their first World Series championship since 1984.