Rangers preparing late run at Fielder

OK, but I am sure a few other teams are "studying a late run at Prince Fielder as a contingency." It is what teams do this time of year.
It is all about how much he will lower his demands, namely how many years he wants.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 10:02 AM ET  01.08 by jgb

Damn......the AL West is the new Eastthe evil empires have moved west before our eyes

And there could be some baseball played in Florida that is exciting. The Rays?

It's all about the available TV money.

The difference between the haves and the have nots just grew and the growth of the gap is accelerating. It will be interesting to see how baseball survives without a salary cap.

Something will either change in the business model or no one outside the top 6 or 8 markets will care one about baseball. There will be no Green Bay Packer type teams in baseball soon. The Cardinals are the closest thing in baseball, but they are going to slowly fall out of contention because it's impossible for them to increase their revenues enough to keep up. The market is tapped out. There are no more fans to be won.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:02 AM ET  01.08 by 50yearfan

OK, but I am sure a few other teams are "studying a late run at Prince Fielder as a contingency." It is what teams do this time of year. It is all about how much he will lower his demands, namely how many years he wants.

IMO, Fielder is not worth all the money he is demanding, he can only play one position, 1st base. Now if he were to go to the AL at least he could DH. I just hope the team he ends up, has a hitter (home run) friendly park.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 10:28 AM ET  01.08 by jgb

explain the rays then.....they were just in the WS with a fraction of the payroll of the big boys

Good point. I think we could all agree that baseball needs to do something to address the disparity between teams with money (Yanks, Red Sox, maybe six others) and those that struggle, such as the Rays and A's.

The Royals and Pirates are approaching two decades of losing and futility. Something needs to change.

As for Fielder, who knows? I would have thought the guy would have signed somewhere by now. I think the longer he goes unsigned, the more likely it is that he goes to Texas, which is already loaded.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 10:03 AM ET  01.08 by 50yearfan

And there could be some baseball played in Florida that is exciting. The Rays?

I never thought the Rays were going to be competitive last season after losing so much but they were. This year the Sox and Yankees haven't made any major improvements so they should stay in the thick of it again.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:43 AM ET  01.08 by Mongo Alex

I never thought the Rays were going to be competitive last season after losing so much but they were. This year the Sox and Yankees haven't made any major improvements so they should stay in the thick of it again.

Yes, but the Rays really need a little power in the middle of that lineup.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 10:41 AM ET  01.08 by jgb

Some of these owners think it's their inherent right for fans to come out no matter what garbage they trot out...that's horse____they need to spend money to make money-

Agreed. Part of the reason the Royals and Pirates have been bad for so long is they never really tore the team apart, then started over. They always acted as if they were close to contention, then would sign some sh!tty free agent for a big contract that set them back. Tampa did the early on too, signing guys like McGriff and Canseco to get fans in the seats.

Tampa, right now, is showing the blueprint that other teams should be following.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 10:16 AM ET  01.08 by The Oldtimer

has a hitter (home run) friendly park.

the rangers park????

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:43 AM ET  01.08 by Mongo Alex

I never thought the Rays were going to be competitive last season after losing so much but they were. This year the Sox and Yankees haven't made any major improvements so they should stay in the thick of it again.

i like tampa rays approach, they are a tough team and they have proved to both leagues, this franchise doesn't need big names to be in the competition in their division, before the red sox and the yankees would sweep them at every series but now the yankees and red sox are having hard time to nock the rays out of contention!!

the rays GM and joe maddon have done with the rays franchise what nobody has done in decades!!!

about the rays third baseman longoria??

If the Rangers don't sign Darvish, it could be argued that that the outbid the other teams just to prevent other teams from signing him and it doesn't cost them a single penny. This isn't the first time that this has happened. We can anticipate that MLB and the Japan Leagues will be taking a hard look at the current posting procedures.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 10:02 AM ET  01.08 by jgb

Damn......the AL West is the new Eastthe evil empires have moved west before our eyes

the yankees have change their name, use to be its all about money, now their new name should be stingy with the money!!!

if the rangers are capable of signing fielder, their lineup would be too deep that i doubt that the angels would be able to comete against them!!