Prince Fielder Free Agency: 20 Reasons He Deserves a Huge Deal

Now that MLB free agency has begun, fans will be glued to rumors pieces as they attempt to get an inside scoop on where their favorite players may be headed next.  One of the players who is sure to get a lot of attention this time of year is Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, who could be due a long and lucrative deal from the Brewers or many other teams.

While Fielder is a phenomenal power hitter, just how much money he deserves remains a topic of discussion.  Sure, he's talented, but does his 5'11", 285-pound frame have the durability to last much longer at the pace he's going currently?

Well, folks, in this writer's humble opinion, the answer is definitely yes.  Prince Fielder's status as a lefty power bat adds to his value and will only help him get the huge contract he deserves.

To further add to that belief, here are 20 reasons, in chronological order no less, as to why Fielder deserves a big contract.

1. Genetics

Prince Fielder is the son of former All-Star first baseman Cecil Fielder, who hit 319 home runs in 13 MLB seasons.  The fact that the younger Fielder is on pace to surpass his father's numbers in the next couple of years is proof positive that he is the real deal.

In fact, if you think about it, there is proof of his talent at an even younger age than his already-young 27 years...

2. We Already Got an Idea of His Talent When He Was a Kid

A lot of us were first introduced to Prince when he and his father appeared together in a McDonald's commercial in 1992.  In said commercial, the son strikes out his famous father in a backyard game.

Sure, it was probably staged for dramatic purposes, but just watch Prince's form when pitching.  Even though he ended up changing positions, you can just see the natural athleticism that flows through him.

3. The Tiger Stadium Home Run

As a child, Prince Fielder supposedly hit a home run into the upper deck at the old Tiger Stadium, though he maintains it was just over the fence.  Still, the fact that he was able to do that during batting practice as a child is just amazing.

Keep in mind, the right field fence at that stadium was 325-feet deep.  That may not seem like much, but for a kid to hit a ball that far?  Simply incredible.

4. His Off-the-Charts High School Numbers

See that handsome devil there?  That's Prince Fielder when he was in high school, and he was a star then too.

In his senior season (2002) at Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida, Fielder hit a whopping .524 with 10 homers, 41 RBI and 47 runs scored.  Sure enough, Florida Today named him All-Space Coast Player of the Year.

Seeing as how he is putting up the professional equivalent of those types of numbers today, the man deserves to be handsomely rewarded.

5. His Brief Stint in 2005

Prince Fielder first got called up to the majors in 2005 to serve as a DH during interleague play, and then was called back up again that August to serve as a pinch-hitter.  Sure enough, he made the most of that time as he hit .288 with two homers and 10 RBI with an OBP of .306.

It was just a 39-game stint, but it gave fans nationwide an idea of what the young first baseman could do.  And speaking of his time in the minors...

6. His Epic Minor League Career

I feel that a great way to judge someone's overall value is to see how their minor league stats compare to their production on the major league level and in Fielder's case, his career in the farm system just screams "big contract waiting to happen."

After being drafted by Milwaukee with the seventh overall pick in 2002, the man spent four seasons in the team's farm system and was just ridiculously good.  In that time, he batted .297 with 91 home runs and a whopping 327 RBI, not to mention an astounding OBP of .398.

Throw in the fact that he has put up numbers far better than these ones in the majors, and Fielder deserves a big contract.

7. His Rookie Season

As a rookie in 2006, Fielder was simply off the charts.  He led all rookie hitters with 28 homers and batted a respectable .271.

He finished seventh in NL Rookie of the Year voting, losing to Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez.  Still, the fact that he put up such good numbers as a rookie should count for something when it comes to negotiating a new contract for him, regardless of team.

8. His MVP-Caliber 2007

Fielder broke out of his shell in a way that could be called making a statement in 2007.  He hit .288 and led his team with 50 home runs and 119 RBI, having become the youngest player to ever reach that mark at just 23 years old.  At the same time, he also set the record for most home runs in one season by a Milwaukee Brewer, passing the mark of 46 set by Richie Sexson and Gorman Thomas.  Oh, and he also led the NL in home runs.

Fielder impressed so many that season that he finished third in MVP voting behind Jimmy Rollins and Matt Holliday.

He also appeared in his first All-Star Game, which brings us to another reason...

9. The 2007 All-Star Game

In the 2007 All-Star Game, Prince Fielder got the surprise of his life.  He earned the start at first base over the previous two MVPs of the National League.  I'm talking about future Hall of Famers Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.

Fielder's game was uneventful as he went 0-for-1 with a walk, but the fact that he won over enough fans that they took a chance on him instead of two already-established stars is astounding.  Though it was a meaningless game, it should matter at least a little bit when it comes time to negotiate a new contract.

10. 2008 Inside-the-Park Home Run

On June 19, 2008, Fielder did the unthinkable.  He hit an inside-the-park home run at home against the Toronto Blue Jays.  What many thought to be a ground-rule double, including Toronto outfielder Alex Rios, turned out to be a defining moment in Fielder's career.

Keep in mind, you need to have a great baseball intelligence to realize that the ball is still in play and thus to keep running the bases when the right fielder isn't doing anything.  The normally slow-footed Fielder did just that and ended up scoring.

A video of this home run can be viewed here.

11. Brewers Winning the 2008 Wild Card

Say what you want about the Milwaukee Brewers winning the 2008 NL Wild Card off the backs of CC Sabathia and Ryan Braun—Fielder deserves as much credit as both of those men.

That year, Fielder hit .276 with 34 dingers and 102 RBI.  His postseason was forgettable as he hit .071, but his one hit in the series was a home run. The fact alone that he was a leader in the clubhouse all of that season should be brought to attention when he and his agent negotiate his next contract.

12. 2009 Home Run Derby

Fielder was the man of the hour when it came to the 2009 Home Run Derby.  He smacked an astounding 23 taters over the entirety of the contest, including one that traveled over 500 feet.  Sure enough, he was the winner as he edged out former teammate Nelson Cruz.

The fact that Fielder is able to hit home runs like the ones he had in the 2009 derby in regular games as well as batting practice speaks volumes about his skill set as a player.  Give the man the money he deserves!

13. His 2009 Season as a Whole

Fielder played in all 162 games in 2009 and hit a career-high .299 that year.  While his 46 home runs were all well and good, he broke Milwaukee's record for most RBI in one season by a player with 141.  It remains his career high to this day and could rise if he goes to a team whose home stadium favors hitters.

14. His Off 2010

Needless to say, Prince Fielder had an off-year in 2010.  He batted a career-low .261 and both his home run and RBI totals dropped tremendously.  That year, he hit just 32 homers with 83 RBI, both his lowest totals in those categories since 2006.

Yet, Fielder is only human.  While he would love to have 40-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI each year, sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.

Also, why dwell on the negatives?  Fielder actually led the NL in walks in 2010 with 114 and had an astounding OBP of .401

15. 2011 All-Star Game MVP

The National League won the 2011 All-Star Game by a score of 5-1, and guess who had the clutch hit?  Fielder went 1-for-2 in that game with three RBI thanks to launching a three-run shot off of C.J. Wilson that gave the National League a 3-1 lead.

Sure enough, he was named MVP of the game.

16. Three-Homer Game in September 2011

This game I remember, well, because it actually was the defining contest that resulted in me winning my fantasy baseball league.  On September 27, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Fielder went 3-for-3 with a walk.  Those three hits were all home runs as Fielder drove in five RBI.

It was his first career three-homer game.

17. His Overall 2011 Campaign

Fielder returned to his old form in 2011 as he hit .299 with a whopping .415 OBP, which was a career high for him.  He also smacked 38 home runs and drove in 120 RBI.

Yet, the stat that sticks out the most are his intentional walks.  Fielder led the National League with 32.  The fact that he became such a feared hitter after an off 2010 is proof enough that he deserves a big contract.

18. His Conditioning

OK, so he isn't the healthiest-looking player in baseball.  Still, Prince Fielder moves pretty well for someone his size and is actually in better shape than he may appear to be.

Believe it or not, the man is actually a vegetarian, as in no meat or fish in his diet.  The fact that he is so devoted to keeping those out of his system speaks wonders about his commitment.  His drive will make him a far better player than his father.

That brings us to our next reason...

19. He Has Distanced Himself from His Controversial Father

Ever since Prince Fielder signed with the Brewers, he and his father Cecil have been estranged.  I don't mean to sound insensitive, but trust me when I say that this is a good thing.  The elder Fielder did not make himself look good in the eyes of his family when he gambled away the family fortune and shortly afterward took $200,000 of his son's signing bonus without permission.

On top of that, Cecil made some pretty hurtful comments when he stated that the only reason Prince was drafted so high was because of his association with the Fielder name.

Still, rather than let his father's comments bog him down, Fielder uses them to push himself further.  All of his accomplishments are motivated by one mantra: outdo Cecil.

Most important, however, is the fact that Fielder isn't a head case like Cecil was and works to stay in shape (and I use that term loosely) for the good of his team.  This is better compared to his father, who openly smoked cigars in the locker room and was rumored to once weigh 300 pounds during the season.

20. This Is Prince Fielder We're Talking About!

A .282 lifetime batting average, 236 career home runs, 656 RBI and three All-Star berths, all before the age of 30.  Do I really need to go into any more detail as to why Prince Fielder deserves a big payday this offseason?

The fact is that he and Albert Pujols are the two best first basemen in baseball today and if you ask me, Fielder deserves more just because he is younger and also bats left-handed.

Hopefully, when it comes time to negotiate with him, teams will realize how much they could lose by not agreeing to terms with this incredible talent.