Prince Fielder’s agent Scott Boras confident of securing a lucrative deal – MLB Update
Scott Boras is looking confident of securing a lucrative deal for his client and free agent Prince Fielder this offseason. With Major League Baseball general managers gathering in Milwaukee for meetings that start on Tuesday, November 15, Boras is making
a list to advocate his client against Albert Pujols in the free agent market.
While avoiding conflict, Boras asserted that the market for both players is different and there is no way that either of them are contending against each other. Nevertheless, he was quick to point out that Fielder is four years younger than Pujols and is
thus a more suitable choice for teams that are looking to sign players for a longer-term.
Boras added that his client is a player in which teams can afford to invest, unlike Pujols, who is already 31. Fielder was the National League home-run derby captain this past season and this is evidence enough to showcase his offensive ability. Fielder
accumulated 38 home-runs in 2011 and drove in 120 runs to finish at an average of .299.
Pujols, on the other hand, lashed one home-run less than Fielder’s total and produced 99 RBIs to finish the season at an average identical to Fielder’s. To Pujols’ credit, he won the National League pennant with the Cardinals after making it to the playoffs
as Wild Card entrants and then went on to win the World Series 4-3 against the Texas Rangers. Pujols performance and leadership was phenomenal throughout the postseason and all teams will have that in mind when they make a choice between Pujols and Fielder.
All interested teams will have to make a choice between either of them for the simple reason of affordability. Pujols was offered a ten-year 200-million-dollar contract by the Cardinals in 2010, but the player turned it down. The team extended a nine-year
offer with an identical monetary incentive this season, but Pujols has kept it on hold. With both parties unbending, it seems that Pujols will have to part ways with the Redbirds.
Boras hinted that he will talk to Chicago Cubs’ Theo Epstein and Brewers’ Doug Melvin at the meeting this week. With nothing less than a remuneration of 20-million-dollar on demand, it will be interesting to see where Fielder goes.
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