After earlier rumors that the Detroit Tigers were listening to offers for star first baseman Prince Fielder and that the Texas Rangers were looking to make a big move, it appears that both of those stories are overlapping, as the Tigers and Rangers are discussing a deal involving Fielder and second baseman Ian Kinsler, which is a huge need position for Detroit and would solve issues for both teams and now it appears the deal will go through.
According to Hardball Talk, Fielder and Kinsler would be involved in the deal and it would fill a big need for both teams, as the Tigers have a big gap at second base, while the Rangers are looking to build back up and they need power hitting after losing Josh Hamilton last season and potentially Nelson Cruz this offseason and this would be the biggest deal to go down in quite some time in baseball. Kinsler and Fielder both have large contracts so that would be a decent switch, although Fielder signed a nine year contract worth over $200 million and that is way bigger than the $60 million-plus that Kinsler is still owed. The big issues would be the fact that Fielder has $168 million left on his deal and a limited no trade clause and that could hold things up.
The fans in Detroit turned on Fielder a bit after his terrible playoffs performance and adding Fielder to a lineup that already includes Elvis Andrus and would likely now have Jurickson Profar at second base with Kinsler gone would be one of the best in the American League. The Rangers are looking to add more production at first base after getting some poor play last season and they had the second worst OPS according to Hardball Talk and that makes the position a big need for Texas. The Tigers got some awful production from the second base spot and adding Kinsler would bring one of the most productive players at the position to the lineup.
Jon Heyman was reporting on the deal originally and it would be a blockbuster of a deal between the two teams and sources said that any trade is just a "possibility" at this point and would put Fielder on a new team just a short time after he signed from the Brewers. The Tigers made it to the American League Championship series and they have been mentioned in a number of deals already this offseason, including for Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and that is mainly because the team was looking to upgrade on offense. Fielder has a limited no trade clause and it is unclear if the Rangers are one of the teams, but at the very least they are one with some talent and playoff success. More to come on this one.
