Fielder: The Doctors Said I Can't Play Major League Baseball Anymore
By: Josh Clark
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ARLINGTON (105.3 THE FAN) - Prince Fielder was left in tears as he struggled to speak at his farewell press conference on Wednesday.
An emotional Fielder said goodbye to the game he loves in front of a packed interview room at Globe Life Park.
As a testament to the type of person Fielder is, the entire coaching staff and team was in attendance.
"Doctors told me after two spinal fusions, I can't play Major League Baseball anymore," Fielder tearfully said. "I just want to thank my teammates, all the coaching staff. I'm gonna really miss being around all those guys because they were a lot of fun. I've just been in a big league clubhouse (for a long time) and to not be able to play, it's gonna be tough."
According to Rangers manager Jeff Banister, Fielder will certainly be back around the team when he's able to.
"It's emotional, I believe, for the entire baseball community," Banister said. "He's our teammate. He's as important to our organization than the guys that are on the field right now."
Rangers GM Jon Daniels acknowledged in a recent press conference that the team does have an insurance policy on Fielder, but declined to get into the specifics of it.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News is reporting that the club will still pay Fielder $9 million each season through 2020.
According to his sources, he believes the insurance policy covers 50% of the contract, meaning Texas will save the other $9 million they would have paid Fielder.
Texas was responsible for paying $18 million towards his $24 million per-year contract that the Detroit Tigers gave him back in 2012.
Fielder hit.212 with eight homers and 44 RBIs in 89 games, although Daniels said Fielder had been playing through pain for most of the season.
Fielder underwent the first neck surgery in May 2014 and missed the rest of that season. He returned in time for the 2015 season and hit .305 to go along with 23 home runs and 98 RBI.
Fielder was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st round (7th pick) of the 2002 draft. He was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Texas Rangers for Ian Kinsler in November 2013.
Fielder is a career .283 hitter with 319 career HRs in 12 MLB seasons. Fielder's father Cecil had a career record of 319 HRs as well.
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