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 Fielder was dealt to the Rangers on Wednesday night for second
baseman Ian Kinsler. The Tigers agreed to pay the Rangers $30
million as part of the swap, according to a person with knowledge of
the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the
amount of money exchanged was not revealed when the teams announced
the trade. The $30 million is payable from 2016-20.
"Obviously, a very exciting trade for us in adding Prince Fielder to
the organization," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "Also a
tough trade to make in that Ian Kinsler's been with the organization
since he was drafted in '03, and we've signed him here a couple of
times. Been here, a catalyst for our World Series clubs, and a huge
part of this. A winning guy, a heart-and-soul guy, and Detroit got a
tremendous player and person."
It's the first headline-grabbing move of baseball's offseason, and
it involves two of the American League's top teams. Detroit has won
three consecutive AL Central titles and reached the World Series in
2012, while Texas won the AL pennant in 2010 and 2011.
Fielder, a five-time All-Star, had to consent to the trade before it
could be completed. The big first baseman signed a $214 million,
nine-year contract with the Tigers before the 2012 season that
includes a limited no-trade provision.
"We're thankful for what he did for us," Detroit general manager
Dave Dombrowski said. "It'll be a bat that we miss at times —
there's no doubt about it."
Kinsler just finished the first season of a $75 million, five-year
contract.
With stars like Fielder, Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Anibal
Sanchez in the fold, Detroit's payroll had become one of the game's
biggest. And although Fielder hit 55 home runs over the last two
years for the Tigers, his numbers dipped this season and he
struggled in the playoffs when Detroit lost to Boston in the AL
championship series.
Fielder hit .279 with 25 homers this year. He drove in 106 runs, but
it was his lowest home run total over a full season. He did not have
a single RBI in the 2013 postseason and hit .182 in the ALCS.
Daniels said the trade came together quickly — the first discussions
took place Tuesday. The Rangers will welcome the durable Fielder,
who has played 162 games in four of the last five seasons. Texas was
interested in Fielder when he signed with Detroit as a free agent.
"Our offer was well below what it ended up being, so we weren't that
close," Daniels said. "I thought he was a genuine guy that really
loved the game, really loved playing the game, loved his boys, his
sons."
Kinsler batted .277 with 13 homers this year. The a three-time
All-Star was limited to 136 games because of injuries to his ribs
and right side. Kinsler stole 15 bases in 2013 — not a high total by
his standards but more than any player on the Detroit team he is
joining.
The trade could save the Tigers more than $75 million in the long
run, giving them more financial flexibility with Cy Young Award
winner Max Scherzer a year from free agency.
Fielder is still only 29, and the Rangers are set to add a big bat
to the middle of their lineup while also resolving a logjam in the
middle of their infield. Jurickson Profar, a highly touted
20-year-old prospect, appeared to be blocked by Kinsler and
shortstop Elvis Andrus. Now, Profar should have a chance to play
regularly.
The Tigers signed Fielder to a huge contract shortly before spring
training in 2012 — after designated hitter Victor Martinez injured
his knee. Martinez came back in 2013. With Fielder gone, Cabrera may
move from third base back to first.
"I'm really not sure what we're going to do as we sit here now
today," Dombrowski said. "Eventually, we see him as a first baseman.
Will it happen this year or not? I'm not sure."
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The 31-year-old Kinsler fills a need at second
base for Detroit after Omar Infante became a free agent.
Fielder is due $168 million through 2020, a salary of $24
million per season. Under his no-trade clause, he submits a list
of 10 teams each year that he can be traded to without his
approval.
Texas was not on that list this year, but Fielder agreed to
accept the trade and instructed agent Scott Boras to approve the
deal.
"If he was coming off the best year of his career, he's not
available," Daniels said. "I think that's kind of the whole idea
of this deal — if anybody feels like that's a sign of things to
come, that he's slipping, you may not like the deal. We don't
feel that way. We don't feel that way at all."
Kinsler is guaranteed $62 million through 2017: $16 million in
each of the next two seasons, $14 million in 2016, $11 million
in 2017 and a $5 million buyout of a $10 million option.
It's already been an unpredictable offseason for the Tigers.
Manager Jim Leyland stepped down after the season and was
replaced by Brad Ausmus. Detroit could have come back with a
similar roster and probably been favored to win the division
again, but now more changes seem possible.
"If you put Kinsler's bat at the top of the lineup, that's an
instant threat," Ausmus said. "It changes the dynamic, but it
doesn't mean it's any less potent."
If Cabrera moves back to first base, prospect Nick Castellanos
might replace him at third. Previously, it appeared Castellanos
would have to play the outfield if both Cabrera and Fielder were
still on the team.
Andy Dirks is still available to play left field, but that's a
spot the Tigers could still try to upgrade. They also have six
capable starting pitchers — Drew Smyly was used in the bullpen
this year — so that's a surplus that could come in handy in a
possible trade.
Detroit's bullpen will likely undergo a makeover after
struggling last season.
The Rangers lost slugging outfielder Nelson Cruz to a
late-season suspension as a result of MLB's investigation in the
Biogenesis case. He's now a free agent, and if Texas loses him,
Fielder, who hit 50 homers in 2007 for Milwaukee at 23, should
help replace his production.
"A huge focus for us this winter was finding some kind of
middle-of-the-order presence and power, and at 29 years old, I
still think there's still a lot of big run production and years
ahead of him," Daniels said.
Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios are among the dangerous hitters
under contract next season in Texas. Beltre had an AL-high 199
hits and Rios, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in August
after Cruz was suspended, has a year left on his deal.
The Rangers lost a one-game tiebreaker to Tampa Bay for the
second AL wild card this year.
The trade agreement was first reported by CBSSports.com.
[Associated
Press; NOAH TRISTER, AP Baseball Writer]
AP Sports Writers Ronald
Blum in New York and Stephen Hawkins in Waco, Texas, contributed to
this report.
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