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PRINCE FIELDER
POSTED BY EIZ ON THURSDAY, 19 JANUARY, 2012, 7:14 AM
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By NOAH TRISTER AP Jadyn Fielder, 7, answers a question next to his father, Prince Fielder, who
agreed to a $214 million, nine-year contract with the Detroit Tigers, during his introduction to
reporters as a member of the team at a baseball news ...
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PRINCE FIELDER
POSTED BY EIZ ON THURSDAY, 19 JANUARY, 2012, 7:14 AM
After luring Fielder to Michigan with the
fourth-largest contract in baseball history,
the Tigers are hoping he will help usher in
a new championship era for the Motor City.
"This is awesome," Fielder said Thursday
after finalizing a $214 million, nine-year
deal with Detroit. "It's kind of a dream
come true. I'm excited."
Detroit began seriously pursuing Fielder
after designated hitter Victor Martinez tore
the anterior cruciate ligament in his left
knee during offseason conditioning. Now the Tigers have three of baseball's biggest stars —
Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander — all in their primes. Detroit won the AL Central by 15
games last year but lost to Texas in the AL championship series.
"We're trying to win right now," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "We tried to win last year.
We were close. I think we've reached a point now, on a yearly basis, we feel that way. When you
look at the core of our group of players, there's a lot of guys that are on that field right now that are
quality players."
Fielder's father Cecil became a big league star when he returned to the majors from Japan and hit
51 home runs with Detroit in 1990. Cecil played with the Tigers into the 1996 season, and young
Prince made a name for himself with his prodigious power displays during batting practice at Tiger
Stadium.
Detroit plays at Comerica Park now, and times have changed. The Fielders' strained relationship
has been well documented, and Prince didn't elaborate on it Thursday.
It will be up to manager Jim Leyland to figure out where to play all of his powerful hitters. He said
Thursday the Tigers will move Miguel Cabrera from first base to third to make room for Fielder. He
also listed a possible batting order, with Cabrera hitting third and Fielder fourth.
"If they hit it where they're supposed to hit 'em, they can trot," Leyland said. "We're going back to the
old-fashioned baseball. We've got big-time power on the corners."
Fielder's contract includes a limited no-trade provision. He can be traded to 10 clubs without his