2012 MLB: Detroit Tigers Pay Prince Fielder a King's Ransom, Is It Worth It?

With the signing of Prince Fielder the Detroit Tigers have secured the last big free agent of the 2011-12 MLB offseason.  Fielder inked a reported nine year, $214 million deal to play first base for the suddenly fierce Tigers. 

Fielder’s signing comes on the heels of fellow first basemen and coveted free agent Albert Pujols’ 10 year, $240 million mega-deal with the Los Angeles Angels.  Both Pujols and Fielder will be expected to continue the brilliance they have demonstrated at the plate—a rare combination of raw power, tremendous plate coverage, a skilled eye, and the uncanny ability to come up with the big hit.

Nobody doubts or denies the talents of Fielder and Pujols, but the question remains, will these two players still be the fearsome monsters at the plate they are today when they enter the second half of these long contracts?   More importantly, is it worth it as an organization?

My inclination is that both the Tigers and Angels will regret having the burden of paying $20-plus million per season to these two aging superstars when the second half to final third of their respective contracts plays out. 

In fact, both Pujols and Fielder will make more money in the last years of their respective contracts then they will in their first years. 

Pujols will earn $12 million in the first year, 16 $million in the second year, $23 million in the third year and he will receive an additional $1 million a year raise until the contract expires.

Fielder will earn $23 million a year the first two years and $24 million a year for the last seven years of his contract. 

Insanity.

As witnessed with Alex Rodriguez in New York, once a player reaches the mid-thirties their productivity begins to dramatically decline. 

A-Rod is still a very solid player, in fact he may be an all-star again in 2012, but most hot-stove fanatics will tell you he is not the feared clean-up hitter he was just two or three years ago. 

The examples are bountiful from across the sports spectrum, no matter the genetics, the training, or the diet—the majority of athletes in their mid to late thirties simply start to lose a step.

Be it speed, strength, or hand-eye coordination production tapers as athletes reach the mid-thirties. 

So why do owners and general managers continue to shell out big bucks and ultra-long contracts to secure the top tier athletes? 

Simple.  The win now factor.

More than ever, owners and general managers are willing to literally sell their franchises out down the road in exchange for a crack at the elusive championship right now. 

Does a ring now outweigh the potential for several down seasons because so much of the clubs assets are tied up in one guy that isn’t nearly as productive as his pay warrants? 

With the rare exception of the New York Yankees most clubs cannot afford to simply stack their roster with $20 million dollar men.  Even in the case of the Yankees, who routinely outspend every team in the bigs, it hasn’t translated to automatic World Series victories. 

In fact, over the past 11 seasons the Yankees have had the highest payroll in the league yet have only won the title once in that time span. 

Since most teams don’t have pockets as deep as the Yankees, the risk of a huge payroll often outweighs the reward. 

Several factors can derail the ambitions of big spending franchises.

One, it’s simply hard to reach the mountain top.  Thirty other teams are working very hard to achieve that same goal and winning it all is never a guarantee no matter how much talent is assembled in one place.  See the Miami Heat.

Two, many times teams that pull multiple free agent talents together have a hard time finding synergy on the field/court.  Team chemistry can be the factor that determines how far a team makes it—especially when adversity strikes.

Three, as players age they become more injury prone which means teams shelling out big bucks for big name players may find them collecting that cash in the training room rather than on the field.   No matter how talented your roster is if your studs aren’t in uniform they can’t help you win.

Lastly, they both in the American Leagueonly one of them can even get to a world series.  Plus they are competing against the Yankees and the two time defending AL champion Rangers.    

Fans in Detroit and Los Angeles will be hoping that the signings of Fielder and Pujols respectively will translate to multiple runs at the title before father time catches up with both men and each team is stuck wondering was it worth it?