MLB Free Agents 2012: Are Chicago Cubs Anywhere Close To Signing Prince Fielder?

There have been rumors around the MLB that the Chicago Cubs are still very interested in the Milwaukee Brewers' free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, but at this point in time nothing has been officially said by either side.

Some MLB executives have declared that the Cubs will indeed sign Fielder, but the same could have been said about their take on the former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, whom many had tagged as going to the North Side at the end of last season.

While the Cubs have been hesitant to give out large sums of cash this offseason, the opportunity to sign Fielder is a move that must be done given the current circumstances.

The Cardinals have been left high and dry with Pujols leaving for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Brewers slugger and reigning National League MVP, Ryan Braun, allegedly tested positive for PEDs, which has been said to result in a 50-game suspension.

With both of their biggest obstacles damaged, the Cubs grabbing Fielder would at least put them in the right direction compared to their biggest competition. Team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer likely know this.

That is why the talk has increased recently, and it should continue to do so until Fielder signs with the Cubs or some other club.

FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi declares the Cubs as the clean favorites, and it pretty much would be Fielder's best option considering the division and the opportunity. Currently, they are said to be competing with the likes of the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles for the big lefty's services.

The Cubs have the money to spend on Fielder, but it is reasonable that they have been hesitant about the years. Under Jim Hendry, the Cubs gave out so many bad long-term deals. Not to mention, Epstein sort of lived by the same motto over in Boston with the Red Sox.

One issue is that the Fielder has been supposedly looking for a 10-year deal, one similar to that of Pujols with the Angels. With Scott Boras as his agent, this could spell trouble for the Cubs.

Both the Cubs and Epstein have been trying to take a different direction. Making smaller moves for players like David DeJesus and Ian Stewart are moves to set the Cubs up for their future. 

At 27 years old, Fielder can very much be a piece of that future. Say it takes the Cubs three years to build this team for contention, Fielder will only be 30 years old and likely very much still in his prime.

The Cubs are unlikely to give Fielder the years he wants, but one can't imagine him turning down a similar payout for a shorter amount of years. If Fielder can't bite on that option, then perhaps it just wasn't meant to be.

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State Football.