2012 MLB Free Agency: 10 Bold Predictions for Prince Fielder's Free Agency

Where's Prince Fielder going to go?

Fielder ranks only behind Albert Pujols among the biggest names on the free agent market this offseason.

While Pujols is likely to re-sign with the Cardinals, Fielder is all but done in Milwaukee, making his free agency case a far more interesting and nuanced one.

Here are 10 bold predictions for Fielder's free agency.

Fielder's Done in Milwaukee

Prince Fielder has played his last game as a Brewer.

While this is not a bold prediction, it's nonetheless the pertinent point in discussing Fielder's free agency.

Fielder's ride in Milwaukee has been good for both him and the team, but the Brewers have limited resources that are best spent elsewhere.

Fielder Won't Sign Before January

Scott Boras is notorious for dragging out negotiations with his top clients and milking teams for every last penny he can pry out of them.

Prince Fielder's free agency will play out in this sort of fashion.

Fielder Will Break $190 Million

Scott Boras scored eight years and $180 million from the Yankees in 2009 for Mark Teixeira.

Boras will aim for a new personal best with Fielder. ESPN's Jim Bowden pegs Fielder's average annual value (A.A.V.) at $24 million.

What's $24 million over eight years? That's $192 million.

The Yankees Aren't Desperate for Fielder

With a relatively fluid situation at DH and a seemingly bottomless well of money, the Yankees have to be considered a player for Fielder.

New York, however, is not a serious player for Prince.

The Yankees' chief priority this winter will be pitching, as they figure to seriously court C.J. Wilson and, if he's posted, Yu Darvish.

The Mariners Aren't Serious

Mariners' GM Jack Zduriencik drafted Prince Fielder in 2002 during his decade-long stint as a Brewers' scouting exec, so it's of little surprise Fielder is on his offseason wish list.

Seattle's offensive shortcomings can't be solved by one monster bat alone, even that of Fielder's.

So while the Mariners may well be buyers this winter, they won't be in the hunt for Fielder.

The Orioles Will Make a Serious Offer

Are mammoth moonshots to Eutaw Street in Prince Fielder's future?

It's certainly a possibility, but just how much of one?

Peter Angelos will give his new general manager, Dan Duquette, the okay to make Fielder a serious offer, but it's difficult to see him considering the O's unless they outbid all other suitors.

The Marlins Aren't Pretending

With a new name and a new stadium in 2012, baseball is changing in South Florida.

Anticipating more profitable days ahead of him, Jeffrey Loria is raising the Marlins payroll to as high as $80 million, according to Fox Sports Florida.

Miami is eyeing all of the big name free agents so they have to be considered serious players for Prince Fielder.

The Rangers Will Try Hard

The Rangers spent big under Tom Hicks, but they are spending even more—and spending with more savvy—under the leadership of Nolan Ryan.

The Rangers showed the inclination to think big last winter with Cliff Lee and fell up short.

Texas will make Fielder a legitimate offer. However, as GM Jon Daniels acknowledges, the Rangers' top two priorities are retaining their corps and pursuing pitching, not breaking the bank on free agent position players. 

The Cubs Will Try Even Harder

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer won't make a move for Fielder just for the sake of making a big splash with their new team.

The Cubs will go after Fielder because they legitimately want him. The Cubs can also legitimately afford Fielder, even with a litany of bad contracts on the books. 

Chicago will throw Prince everything and the kitchen sink, however another team will bid neck-and-neck with the Cubbies and woo him just as hard, if not harder.

Fielder Will Sign with the Dodgers

In the end, Prince Fielder will sign with the team that will give him the most and pursue him the hardest—and that will be the L.A. Dodgers.

In a season full of distraction and disarray, the Dodgers still managed to win 82 games.

With this in mind, it seems that things are looking up in Chavez Ravine, especially with Frank McCourt on the way out.

It's no secret that the Dodgers are thinking big. Matt Kemp is eager to have Prince join him in Dodger Blue. It's going to happen.