Prince Fielder, Tigers Agree On 9-Year, $214 Million Deal
BOSTON (CBS) - Free agent first baseman Prince Fielder is coming to the American League.
Fielder and the Detroit Tigers have agreed on a nine-year deal worth around $214 million, according to CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. It's not known whether Fielder, a Scott Boras client, has an opt-out clause.
By comparison, the Red Sox signed first baseman Adrian Gonzalez at the beginning of last season to a seven-year, $154 million deal.
Fielder will likely take over as the Tigers first baseman, with Miguel Cabrera serving as the team's primary designated hitter. Cabrera, a former third baseman, could possibly slide across the diamond as well.
Victor Martinez, who played a lot of DH last season for the Tigers, recently suffered a torn ACL and is likely out for all of 2012. But, with the Fielder signing, the Tigers, who won the AL Central last season by 15 games, will likely be the favorites again.
Fielder, 28, hit .299 with 38 homers, 120 RBI, and a .415 on-base percentage last season with the Brewers.
Fielder's dad, Cecil Fielder, played with Detroit from 1990-1996.
