6 Reasons Prince Fielder Will Make Detroit Perennial Contenders

The Detroit Tigers sent shock waves through the baseball world when they signed former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder.

Initially Detroit had shown interest in signing Fielder to a short-term deal, but they were never expected to offer nine years and $214 million to the first baseman.

But this isn't the first time the Tigers have been willing to splash the cash in order to win immediately.

Back in 2000, the team offered the newly acquired Juan Gonzalez eight years and $140 million.  It was a blessing in disguise when he turned the offer down.

But the strategy was a success with Miguel Cabrera. After trading for Cabrera in 2008, the Tigers signed him to an eight-year, $152.3 million contract. He has become of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.

Sure one could argue that the Detroit Tigers overpaid for Prince Fielder,  but that has to happen for a team like the Tigers to have the opportunity to sign a player like Fielder.

The team can't offer the same kind sustained success that the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox can, so they make up for it with more money.

It would be easy to simply look at the contract and say that the team has sacrificed their long-term success for short-term gain.  But while part of that may be true, there's no reason to believe the Tigers can't be competitive in the future. In fact, some might argue they could be serious contenders every year.

Here are five reasons why Prince Fielder could turn the Detroit Tigers into perennial contenders.

Competition in the "Comedy" Central

The American League Central isn't exactly the most competitive of divisions.

Along with the National League West, the American League Central is arguably the most winnable division in baseball.

Kansas City could have a really good team beginning next year, but their window is more than likely three to four years.  Without a significant investment of capital, the Royals will have to be like every other small-market team and watch their best players sign huge contracts with major-market teams like the Yankees or the Red Sox.

The A.L. Central has been a division up for grabs more so than any other division in the past couple of years.

No team since the Cleveland Indians of the mid-to-late '90s have been a threat to win the division year in, year out.

With a signing like Fielder, the Tigers can make themselves the bullies in a division that has been lacking one for years.

It's a Statement of Intent

With this signing, the Tigers sent a message across the baseball world that they will do whatever it takes to win.

While they have obviously had success recently, the Tigers have gone up and down in the standings. One year they go .500, then the next year they win the division.

By signing Prince Fielder, Detroit has sent a message to the rest of the American League that the they are tired of the inconsistency..

It only takes one marquee signing to open the door for others players to take notice. And while Cabrera might have opened that door, Fielder kicked it down.

Now that players see the Tigers as a serious option, Detroit can be a serious player in the free-agent market for years to come.

Can Provide Trade Value Down the Road

Fielder's contract is nothing to balk at: Nine years worth $214 million,

But the deal also comes with a trade provision: Fielder can be traded to 10 clubs before 2017, but after that, he can veto any trade.

Should they want to pursue the trade option before 2017, it could be difficult for the Tigers to make a deal because Fielder will still have at least four years left at $24 million.

People probably said the same things about Alex Rodriguez when he signed for the Rangers, but he was traded just three years into his 10-year, $252 million deal.

Fielder wouldn't present the same kind of options for the Tigers that Rodriguez did for the Rangers in 2004, but he would still be a solid choice for any team looking for a power-hitting first baseman.

Forms Potent Combo with Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder should give Detroit one of the most dangerous one-two combinations in baseball.

The Tigers now have two hitters who are almost guaranteed to provide 30-plus home runs and drive in 100-plus runs.

Much of the potential production of these two will ride on the hitters behind them.

Delmon Young looks to be the best option to bat fifth in the batting order. Although he struggled a bit in 2011, Young was just one year removed from a season where he hit .298 with 21 home runs and 112 runs batted in.

If he can regain his 2010 form, Young could be the recipient of a lot of RBI opportunities should pitchers simply walk either Fielder or Cabrera.

Few pitchers won't cringe a little bit when they see they are scheduled to go against this Detroit lineup.

Fielder's Contract Isn't Back-Loaded

It was a "team-first" move when Albert Pujols allowed the Los Angeles Angels to pay him less up front so they could sign pitcher C.J. Wilson, but that just means the team will be making up for that money down the road, to the tune of $30 million per year by the end of Pujols' deal.

Pujols' salary jumps from $16 million in 2013 to $23 million in 2014. From there it goes up a million dollars a year until 2021.

Prince Fielder, on the other hand, will make $23 million in each of his first two years with the Tigers, followed by $24 million a year for the remainder.

While it doesn't seem like a huge difference, those millions can allow the Tigers to go out and sign an extra free agent or two, whereas the Angels could really be handcuffed by paying $27-30 million to a first baseman in his late 30s-early 40s.

This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the earlier slide about Fielder's trade value.

The Tigers may have committed long term to Fielder, but they at least didn't choose to pay him a low salary now, only to massively overpay for him down the road.

Fielder Is a Proven Commodity

The argument that Detroit has sacrificed the long term assumes that the future was assured.

It wasn't as if Fielder's numbers got an enormous bump in a contract year like Andruw Jones or Adrian Beltre.

With the signing of Prince Fielder, the Tigers have locked up a first baseman who in his career has averaged .282 with 37 home runs and 106 runs batted in.

Quite simply: A player like Fielder may not be available again for a long time.

While his stats are sure to drop off a little bit by the time his contract reaches the back end, Prince will still be able to provide dependable offense.

You can never count on whatever you have in the minor league system to give the kind of consistency that a proven commodity like Fielder can.

If you wanted Detroit to build through the farm system, it would have been a much bigger gamble to sign a player with only a few years of experience to a slightly cheaper long-term deal.

Ask Cleveland Indians fans if they would rather have their team pay Travis Hafner $13 million or Prince Fielder $23 million.

What do you think they will say?