Genealogy experts have not been able to establish a direct relationship yet, but they remain confident their research will eventually link Scott Boras to P.T. Barnum.
Several experts seem to think Boras found his most recent sucker in the form of the Detroit Tigers who inked slugging first baseman Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract this week. Fielder joins a roster that already has two other $20+ million per year players in Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera, each of whom is on the books for $20 million to $22 million per season through 2014.
"We're trying to win right now," Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski noted shortly after the deal was wrapped up, qualifying himself for the Most Obvious Statement of the Year Award.
The deal definitely helps Detroit in the short-term with Fielder stepping right in and picking up the offense lost recently when C/DH Victor Martinez tore up his left knee while working out. Manager Jim Leyland said his plans are to move Cabrera to third base in order to fit Fielder in at first.
An infield of Fielder, Ryan Raburn, Jhonny Peralta and Cabrera around the horn does offer some incredible punch for the lineup, but it also might make for a very porous group defensively. Leyland can improve the glove work a bit with Ramon Santiago at second along with either Brandon Inge or Don Kelly at third, splitting Fielder and Cabrera in the 1B-DH slots of the lineup.
There is also some question about Fielder's power numbers dropping off a bit playing half his games in pitcher-friendly Comerica Park. Fielder slapped 210 homers during the past five seasons with Milwaukee where Miller Park has consistently ranked as one of the most hitter-friendly stadiums in the National League.
If there are any winners in this signing other than Fielder and his agent, it's the pitchers in the NL Central who have to be happy at the prospects of not facing either Fielder or former Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols with such regularity in the coming seasons. Make that just the coming season for Houston hurlers who will find both power hitters waiting on the Astros when they arrive in the American League for the 2013 schedule.
Meanwhile, back in Milwaukee...
Fielder might not be the only bat missing from the Brewers lineup when the season begins. Ryan Braun is appealing his 50-game suspension for a positive PED test last fall, and the resolution of the case is still in doubt. The reigning NL MVP stated his case to a panel on Jan. 19 and reports are a final decision might not be announced until the middle of February.
Regardless of how it turns out, baseball loses. Should Braun's suspension be overturned, which would be the first such reversal with the new MLB drug policy, it will open a new Pandora's box for other players to skirt the drug testing. Braun has maintained the positive test was due to some medication he was taking for another medical matter. If that's the case, why didn't the Brewers already know about that and sign off on the treatment with MLB's approval?
If the suspension is upheld, it's a black eye for the players and the game just as the whole steroids issue seemed to be fading out of the spotlight. That it happened to a Brewers player will no doubt leave one Alan H. Selig a bit red-faced.
Braun led the NL in slugging (.597) and OPS (.994), was second in batting (.332) and ranked in the top 10 in doubles, steals, homers and RBI during the 2011 season. Milwaukee will likely see a spring battle for Fielder's vacancy between Mat Gamel and Travis Ishikawa; Braun's LF position could temporarily turn into a platoon of Carlos Gomez and Norichika Aoki.
Oswalt & Jackson still looking for work
Right-handers Roy Oswalt and Edwin Jackson remain the most attractive pitchers in the free agent market. Rumors persist that Boston is in the mix for one or the other, though the Red Sox do not seem willing to offer Jackson the multiyear deal he's seeking. When push comes to shove, Jackson might have to decide on a 1-2 year deal for a contender or his preferred 4-year contract with someone like Oakland or Baltimore.
Oswalt has made it known that he would like to catch on with either the Cardinals or Rangers. A report on ESPN says Boston has put a 1-year, $5 million offer on the table. Look for Oswalt to sign for less and pitch in either St. Louis or Texas.
Posada retires while Vizquel and Moyer keep on truckin'
Longtime Yankees catcher Jorge Posada announced his retirement from the game following a solid 17-year career that included playing on five World Series championship teams. He leaves behind an impressive trail of statistics that should eventually get him into the Hall of Fame, including being one of only five catchers in MLB history with at least 1,500 hits, 275 homers, 350 doubles and 1,000 RBI.
While Posada decided to hang 'em up at age 40, two more seemingly ageless veterans are coming back for more. Left-hander Jaime Moyer, who turned 49 during the offseason, recently inked a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. Moyer missed the entire 2011 season following elbow surgery, and has compiled a 267-204 record in over 4,000 big league innings since making his MLB debut in 1986.
Omar Vizquel, who will be 45 in April, is hoping to hang around for a 24th MLB season after inking a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The infielder spent the past two seasons with the Chicago White Sox where he played 166 games and batted .268.