Prince Fielder has signed a 9-year $214 million contract with the Detroit Tigers. Fielder is a power hitter, having averaged 40 home runs in the last five years. With that kind of power and his knowledge of the strike zone, Tiger fans consider Fielder a welcome addition to the Tigers’ roster.
Fielder has “baseball DNA” as his father, Cecil Fielder, was a great player and a former Tiger. While his father played in Detroit, Prince was a little leaguer in Grosse Pointe. Prince showed signs of his future greatness even then, hitting home runs over the fence at Ghesquiere Park.
Prince will reportedly receive $23 million in each of his first two seasons and $24 million in each of his last seven seasons of his contract. His contract also includes bonuses such as $500,000 for winning MVP, $200,000 for being the second through fifth MVP runner-up, and $100,000 for being sixth through 10th. Prince could also receive $100,000 if he is an All-Star starter and $50,000 if he is named a reserve.
This contract is the largest in Tigers’ history and the fourth-largest in baseball history. The Tigers organization is putting its money where its mouth is in order to get the ball club to a championship run. Go Tigers!