While there's no guarantee that Prince Fielder will sign soon, he will be off of the market by Spring Training. Agent Scott Boras told Barry Bloom of MLB.com that he intends to complete a deal for the powerful 27-year-old before March.
"Certainly we're going to have him signed well in advance of Spring Training," Boras said. "I can't give you the exact date. These things take some time. That's why we have January and early February. Spring Training doesn't start until late February."
Boras is in Phoenix, where owners have gathered for their quarterly meetings, to discuss Fielder and other clients, such as Edwin Jackson. Here are the latest rumors on Fielder:
- There are more teams involved than the ones that have been reported and most of the unnamed teams are from the National League, a source close to the situation told Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle. At present, it appears that the Mariners are lying in the weeds and aren't at the front of the pack.
- The Blue Jays are not a serious suitor for Fielder, multiple people in the industry told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Fielder's price and years would need to come way down for Toronto to get involved.
- The Brewers invited Fielder back on a one-year contract that would have set him up for a mega-deal with the Dodgers next winter, once the team has a new owner in place, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times tweets. However, Boras showed no interest in the Brewers' proposal. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt says he's "not going to talk about" Fielder, Shaikin tweets.
- The Dodgers aren’t currently involved in the Fielder sweepstakes, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets.
- There are strong indications that the Marlins aren’t pursuing Fielder aggressively, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports. Boras touched base with owners including Jeffrey Loria of the Marlins yesterday, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reported.
- The Nationals are “patiently and aggressively” pursuing Fielder, Kilgore reported.
- Exchanging information with Fielder’s suitors takes time because “he's going to be there a long time, wherever he's going,” Boras told Bloom.
i know content is hard to come by lately, but jesus… this is a reach.
You got that right, Jay. Add one more quote for the Nationals. Undoubtedly, Fielder won’t be signing with them.
Who WILL he be signing with? The Yankees and Red Sox were never in, the Cubs are out, the Angels are out, the Brewers have said they’re out, the White Sox were never in, the Dodgers have a financial black hole until the team is sold, the Orioles have a need but probably have so MANY needs on their team that it isn’t worth bringing Fielder in at this point… the typical players for a free agent of this caliber are simply not realistically in play.
In that context, the Nationals are as good a possibility as any. They have the money, the need, and are probably looking to contend as soon as this year or next.
At this point the only teams I could see doing something are the Blue Jays (who seem disinterested, at least at the current terms), Rangers (who probably only come into play if things fall through with Darvish), Mariners ($4MM to spend?), Marlins (who have maintained their disinterest), Nationals and Cardinals (only if the years he’s asking for drop significantly) and Giants (who have not been connected though I don’t know why not). Pretty much every single team on that list has at least claimed they’re not interested or don’t have the money. Maybe they’re just playing it close to their chest, but who knows.
If Fielder is going to get a mega deal, the Nationals are probably the most realistic choice. I’d call the Dodgers a possible surprise if they think it will help the sale price, but with a hard deadline to sell the team they don’t have a ton of leverage; it would basically be a potential buyer calling McCourt up and going “I’ll bid $X for the team and $X+Y if you go sign Fielder.” If his asking price drops significantly some of these teams will end up back in the discussion, but it is hard to know who without knowing what those new terms may be.
You are just encouraging this article by writing so many words. I am making the assumption he will sign with either a National or American League team.
Update: I am assuming he will also sign with a baseball team.
What is wrong with Japan? It worked for his father.
My point is the Nationals keep getting mentioned, for other reasons, but the real winner will probably be someone who is quietly waiting for the right moment to jump in negotiate seriously and make a deal. Could be the M’s….could be someone else. Nationals are getting used to keep Boras’ demand from collapsing.
You must mean $X minus Y if you sign Fielder. Because while he’s an asset in the eyes of a baseball fan, in financial terms, he’s a liability. Thus, McCourt doesn’t need compensation for Fielder’s salary payments — other than maybe the first paycheck, he won’t be the one paying it.
Well, I guess the real question is, will he sign before the All-Star break? Postseason?
ORLY?!?!
“Which means something could go down somewhere in some way at some point in time, SO LOOK SHARP!”
He’ll likely sign before spring training but either at a reduced cost or reduced years.
Score: GMs 1, Scott Boras 52
Pretty good track record for Boras
Tomorrow’s Headline: Bobby Abreu Plans to Take First Pitch He Sees
Saturday’s headline: Gio Gonzalez’s First Pitch Likely To Be a Ball
Monday Headline: Yankee bleacher creatures to continue player chants
jerry dipoto: still wishes vernon wells wasn’t on the team
boras going out of his way again to imply it’s going to be a ‘long’ deal. not sure what he’s trying to prove with that. as outlined by others, market doesn’t look primed to give him 7-8 years.
No, Scott. We have January and early February because it’s on the calendar. Not for you to get Fielder signed.
1 year deal for Fielder would be best since Pujols won the big contract. Fielder could get resigned next year when a few teams will have more money coming off the books. Boras is always full of it when will players learn he is just a con man.
He may be forced to, but there’s alot more competition for that money next year. This year, it was Pujols, Fielder or Reyes. No other position player was gunning for top dollars.
Next year, position players who may hit free agency (if not extended) include:
Yadier Molina, Mike Napoli, Robinson Cano (club option), Brandon Phillips, David Wright (club option), Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn, Curtis Granderson (club option), BJ Upton, and lots of others. How much money is there going to be available? Based on the positions they play, I can think of at least four guys on that list I’d rather have than Fielder right now, and that doesn’t take into account how I think players will age.
Even worse, while this year had a relatively weak pitching class (Buehrle and Wilson are ok, but Jackson as the third best available starting pitcher?!), next year is much better: Matt Cain, Zack Grienke, Shawn Marcum, and Cole Hamels, to name a few.
If I were Fielder, I’d try to make my demands more reasonable and sign something this year. It may not be out there next year.
While you make valid points, you can immediately cross Cano and Granderson off that list. Those options will undoubtedly be picked up, even to be traded. Napoli isn’t so special. Phillips will be extended. Wright will be exercised. Hamilton will be nothing more than a platoon player/DH after 2012. BJ Upton is probably one of the better (not in my opinion) free agents. Michael Bourn isn’t anything really all that special either. Comparing him and Fielder is apples and oranges. A whole host of things can happen in one season. Fielder should see this. Montero could be traded for pitching. Teixeria or AGon could have injuries that require them to DH in 2013, who knows. The Orioles may win 82 games, and will be more of a factor next year.
One thing won’t change however. The Mariners will still suck and no one will want to sign there, so we can keep them scratched off the list.
I am a little perplexed as to why the Blue Jays are not in on this at all?
If the Jays were in on Fielder, nobody would know as the Jays management have a policy of no publicity prior to a deal (see Wells, Rasmus, KJ, Lawrie, Escobar, etc.).
Officially, however, AA has said that he won’t offer any FA more than 5 years and has restated the low likelihood of signing any big FAs.
And I don’t think they get bigger than Fielder. Bazinga!
Has any BIG name free agent signed in Toronto in the past 5 years? Seattle will end up 3rd in their division just like the Blue Jays. Who wants to play in Toronto?!
trollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
I asked a valid question and a realistic prediction and the best you can come back with is a silly name? Are you sure you finished all your homework before mom let you on computer? You wanna feel like a big boy before bedtime?
Dude you just got trolled by someone calling you a troll.
thanks for confirming the extent of your trollness.
Lol I got ganged up by lunchbox and a burrito, I’m hurt I’m not part of the posse
huh? I dont speak troll
The Nationals are “patiently and aggressively” pursuing Fielder while at the same time being “99% out on Fielder”, depending on who is being quoted… hilarious!
They’re ‘patiently and aggressively’ pursuing him at a 1% capacity. What’s wrong with that? =)
What percentage of free agents sign before spring training? Gotta be like 90% at least.
depends on the free agent. For lesser free agents, or those coming off of injury, signings happen during spring training and even into the season. For good free agents (anyone making the top 50), I’d bet its closer to 99%.
The latest signing of this calibur that I can think of was Delgado in 2005, and he was signed late January.
The “best” player not coming off of injury or poor performance that I can remember signing in spring training was Kyle Lohse in 2007 – Boras screwed him over by insisting on a deal that didn’t exist, so he had to take a bad deal from the Cardinals just to pitch (of course, Boras then screwed the Cardinals immediately afterwards by getting a four year extension).
Has there ever been a comparable to Fielder right now? A slugger entering his prime, but no real market for him? I can’t think of any examples at the moment.
At this point, I would not be shocked if he took a one year deal with a contender and tried again next year.
We are not sure what will happen with Joey Votto but if something goes terribly wrong he could face a similar situation.
How long is Boras going to tie up off season before it gets old. Fielder is a great player but teams need to know one way or the other so they can move on into shoring up lineups way before spring training.
if boras truly thinks that fielder will sign before spring training, then the asking price is definitely going to have to be closer to reality. otherwise fielder and boras can start their own league and play in La La Land
If anyone can fill the Dodgers black hole it would be Prince Fatty
Oh, because he’s overweight. I get it.
He’d get spaghettified as he approached the event horizon, duh.
He’ll sign with either the Nationals or the Rangers. Book it. The Nats have to do something.
Actually I see the rangers signing Yu and said they don’t have the money for both. The Nats are so hot and cold about it, I see him returning to the crew.
Can the Brewers even afford him? They couldn’t afford to resign him for $20+ million before they signed Ramirez, and they were hoping not to be on the hook for $10+ million for K-Rod. How are they going to come up with the money now?
At some point, he makes financial sense for the Yankees as a DH, or the Blue Jays, Mariners or Marlins to decide they want him. Heck, even the Cubs will jump in if the price gets low enough.
I think all these things happen before the Brewers are back in the mix.
I’d bet on either the Rangers finding the money, Dodgers jumping in to boost club value before the sale, or the Nationals deciding the price is right.
with the nats it’s not about price, it’s about years……..they really want to avoid another werth type albatross.i really don’t blame them for taking a pass if fielder demands 6 or more years…….if fielder would go 4, then the nats would do it……..
The Prince contract situation goes a long way into telling us not just what organizations think of him as a player long-term….that seemed almost obvious from the outset….it shows us what organizations think of him as a marketing tool. He appears like a trojan horse.
At this point, I’m inclined to believe that Milwaukee should jump back in on a shorter deal. They have a built-in marketing base for Prince and a team that could actually use him to compete on the field for the next few seasons.
I think if the Brewers can find a way to dump K-Rod, they will bring him back. But that won’t be easy.
The Nats?? You guys are just being used by Boras to keep the price up on the negotiations. The team that signs him is not being mentioned now because they’re quietly waiting for the right moment to negotiate seriously, i.e. the last minute – Boras’ specialty!
As a nats fan I am shocked the blue jays haven’t signed him..what gives?
AA refuses to play on Boras’ playing field. When Super Agent becomes more despreate they will tango, but i suspect another team will sign Fielder before that happens. Besides, Lind isn’t that terrible, he showed signs of returning to his former form at the begining of last year before he was injured.
Please stop with the AA riding in on his chariot talk. He’s a great young GM, but he’s fooling no one. Fielder would be a tremendous addition to the Jays. It’s as simple as AA putting an offer out of 4 years and $100mm take it or leave it. I’d even tell Boras, go ahead and shop it around. If you get better, great, if not, that’s the best we’ll do. A little tired of holding these GM’s like trophies, when sometimes, its just best to get to the freaking point.
boras laughs in your face with that offer. if he could be had for that much he would have been extended by the brewers last offseason.
Oh okay gotcha. I’m just surprised because it seems like a good fit but I obviously don’t know them really well. So if they’re out and texas inks Darvish then its nats vs o’s vs mariners..shouldn’t have to ridiculously overpay there. I suspect Mil will come back into the mix.
plain and simple, rogers wont pony up the money..
Prince won’t put them on the same level as the rest of the AL bEast for at least another year or two; next year, they could sign a stud SP which fills their needs better.
That’s exactly what I said above. That’s probably the most bizarre thing of this whole offseason.
When AA was hired, he put out parameters on what he would do and what he wouldn’t do.
– he wouldn’t sign a hitter for longer than 5 years, unless options are included for the team
– he wouldn’t sign a pitcher for longer than 3 years, unless the player is a star rising in the organization and is seen as a foundation piece – hence Romero.
– he would go the trade route over free agent signings, unless a player is seen long term and falls within the above two scenarios.
– a value is placed on each player and term. If agents demand more, the player will never play in Toronto.
– As quoted earlier this off season. There were free agents where the money was right, but not the years, and vice versa.
– it was also demonstrated in the Garza, Lato’s, Gonzalez trades. AA presented fair value for the players and nothing more.
– Toronto has a GM that will pay fair value for players, but they also have a GM that won’t be held hostage to agents or other teams. If the trade benefits both teams, he pulls the trigger. He isn’t going to mortgage the future on a one-year wonder, since the end doesn’t justify the means.
– teams that go all in for one year are forced to win or they disappear into mediocrity in the future. Milwaukee could go all in on Fielder, but they will lose Greinke, Marcum, etc that are due new contracts and wouldn’t have the payroll to resign them. San Francisco are in the same boat with Lincecum and Cain. What is more important, signing a slugger or having a pitching staff that isn’t held together with bandaids?
– Washington has a GM that has said repeatedly he isn’t interested in another albatross contract, but many fans refuse to accept that.
– Seattle could sign Fielder, but it takes playing time from guys like Smoak, etc. Do they give up on them or trade them?
– Baltimore has now tried to improve their pitching staff with unknowns from Korea, Taiwan, etc, which doesn’t mean anything. Do they sign Fielder and finish fifth again, or hope it adds a few more wins each year, where they still finish last in the east?
– the Cubs are rebuilding and Fielder blocks the trades they made for Rizzo, etc from ever playing. Do you leave them to rot in the minors or avoid a long-term contract in Fielder?
– the Dodgers still have to sign Kershaw, plus other players with no ownership in place. Kemp just signed long-term, handicapping any new owner immediately.
– Boras can demand anything he wants, but in reality, he accepts the offer teams submit or his client doesn’t play in 2012.
this is too many words.
the skinny of it is, AA doesn’t have the money to get Fielder signed. the end.
Just rename us the Toronto Devil Jays
it isn’t too many words for someone that doesn’t have the attention span of an earthworm. lol. I take it you never read anything that actually requires some of your time. I provided information for everyone to benefit from. If you choose to ignore or write it off, hey that is your option, but your comment in no way describes the Jays, who have more money than 29 other teams in baseball, but choose to spend it wisely. Something you wouldn’t comprehend. That is why you don’t have a job in baseball offices. They have enough incompetent fans, without adding to it in every major league city. lol.
more meaningless words..
the argument that jays have more money than 29 other teams is pathetically ridiculous and ignorant I don’t know where to begin with a rebuttal.
instead of being a sheep, you should listen to the words of your faithful leader. He even stated in plain english today on the fan that the jays would not be in on any big name free agents because they don’t currently have the budget to do so. In fact, he even hinted at the fact that they didn’t intend to bid on darvish, and if he did bid (he wouldn’t admit it) it was modest.
the fact that rogers is a billion dollar company means nothing to jays. The jays are run as their own separate entity (and as a media/advertisement source for their owners) they need to make money, before they start spending it.
So, he believes in sustainability, thats cool. Im not a fan of Rogers in anyway, infact, i think they limit AA. Thats why i’m a fan of AA for what he has been able to do.
ofcourse.. but you have to understand.. that AA has looked for other avenues to make the team better because he needs to, he has no other choice. He’s done well for sure, I have no complaints about the Gm himself, but the ‘oh rogers is the riches owner the league’ argument is ridiculous.
I guess there aren’t a lot of options for Fielder.
Orioles, Blue Jays, Mariners, Rangers and I think the Giants could be a surprise team to get involved.
Can’t see the Giants in it, especially with the albatross contract with Zito. Not to mention they’re probably still traumatized by that contract and don’t want to possibly get into another one…
If only one team, and an NL team at that, is currently serious about Fielder then no way he gets anything like the years or dollars Pujols raked.
It would seem that the Nationals hold all the cards at the moment and could get Fielder while stiffing Boras if they play it right.
Reading between the lines it sounds like the Mariners are only team that has made offer that is comparable to years and $$$ that Boras wants. But Fielder does not want to play for Seattle so it’s up to Boras to convince another team to give Fielder the years the Mariners have offered him. Nats are the target team Fielder told Boras to go after … but getting the same years from a National League team with no DH spot is proving challenging. Nats management realizes they are only real contenders for Prince’s services at this point are are thus toying with Boras … telling the press they are happy with LaRoche and they are 99% certain not to sign Fielder.
Rangers remain a last ditch possibility in the event they don’t sign Darvish, but Boras is not stupid enough to rely on Rangers to bail him out of his tough spot although Fielder might consider a one year deal with the Rangers if Nats don’t up the ante to a tolerable # of years. That is why Rangers are still being held a Fielder fig leaf by Boras, as he sees the 1 year or “short” contract as most likely coming from a Rangers team currently in the window to win a championship … thereby providing the most prolific stage for Fielder to advertise his talents while showing he can hit AL pitching and drum up interest from the behemoths of Boston and New York in the coming years.
When players hire boras, they say goodbye to their personal happiness forever, unless the zeroes on the check provide said happiness.
haha. they join the forces of evil.
The Dodgers will swoop in and grab him. Mark my words. McCrook will try to save face as he will try to keep the parking lots at Dodger Stadium
I love how it says that Boras has no interest in the Brewers’ proposal, but doesn’t mention what Fielder thinks on the chance to come back home for another run. This guy is a riot.
At this point, he should just sign for one year and get a big contract from the Dodgers next year.
i agree, but if I were the new owner, I wouldn’t pay him lonterm for 200 million plus. Give him a 3 to 5 year contract. Then he will go to american League as a DH and retire
People in Milwaukee would go crazy if he came back to give it one more shot. His numbers would be astronomical with Braun in front of him and Ramirez behind him. His value would be justified for next years market. Even though he may not see a Pujols type deal, at least the length of his contract or his avg. salary would get a boost. Yet, Boras is such an F-head, and it’s all about the bottom line for him. He’s horrible for the MLB. The commissioner needs to have a talk with Boras.
if he does sign a 1 year contract i wouldnt rule out the giants going after him next year..huff and rowands contracts come off the books and belt can easily play the OF. just a thought, not that i would really want that huge contract on my team
I would, they still need to lock up Lincecum, Cain and Sandoval lonterm and will get pretty expensive even with huff and Rowand coming off the books.
Albert signed over a month ago. Didnt we all(us here on MLBTR and baseball writers) think Prince would sign with in days if not 2 week after that. I understand Boras is trying to build up enough of a market to sign Prince to a long term deal. But that deal seems to be no where. The Nats have a cheap alternative to him in Morse so if Prince wont sign for what they want him to and not what Boras wants him to they can easily move on and not lose to much production from 1st base. This is the problem with boras. There are times where he gets his big player to sign ASAP to the highest bidder and there are other times(Damon a few years back) where he cant get a market at all because he waits to long and his client has to settle for a lower deal. I wonder if Prince will drop Boras after this. I bet Prince signs a 1 year 20 mill deal to build up his value even more and jump into the market next season as the #1 Free Agent.
There really is no team out there with enough money for him that needs his production. I know I know I know every team can use a guy like fielder. BUT most teams that NEED him have 3-4 more holes besides 1st base or DH. The cards could have gotten him right after albert signed but they didnt (which surprised me) the marlins were thought to be going all in this off season(how’d that work out last time you went all in ozzie) but in all reality they signed an injury prone SS when they already had a SS who when healthy and On is better than Reyes and they upset their current SS, they singed an old closer to a big long deal, they signed Buehrle who is good but not great and traded for Big Z who is nothing more than a 5th starter at this point in his career and might not even last the full season(him and ozzie are both one bad game away from destroying each other) If they were really going for it all this off season they would have signed Prince as well and traded either Lo-mo or Gabby for pitching. Both Chicago teams are out for obvious reasons. One is full on rebuilding and the other has no place to play him and retooling. Both New york teams are out for the same reasons, mets=rebuilding yankees no place to play him..Boston has no place to play him and might not have the money for him. The LA teams are out the dodgers have no money and the Angles have too many players at each position plus with wells hunter albert weaver harren and wilson taking up 60% of the payroll there is no money for him…leaving small market teams and they are all out because they usually spend their money better than 20+ mill on one player…his best best go back to the brew crew for a year(could be a good year with aram in there) and go for it all then be a free agent next year as the best free agent on the market
THANK YOU! finally somebody who agrees that the marlins off-season was overrated
It was! There is no proof that Hanley can effectively move to third his defense was suspect enough at short plus he might not be healthy and Reyes is a dl stint waiting to happen. They don’t have a centerfielder and lomo hasn’t proved anything yet other than he strikes out a lot. Jj has to come back from a serious injury. Buehrle is solid but not a game changer at all. Big z is a headcase and no one knows what to expect out of him. And bell. Cool you spent like 9 mill a season on a closer who will pitch at most 60 innings and has never pitched in a winning environment before who know if this will effect him or not. They should have spent the bell money on the other holes on their team( 3rd base, centerfield pitching) to sum it up they signed a 4th/ 5th starter in buehrle traded for a 5th starter who is a suspension waiting to happen and signed an injury probe short stop when they already had one who is better when he is healthy.
the money for huff and rowand coming off the book are going to go towards lincecum and cain…plus you know as well as i do, brian will never spend on a top flight free agent who is young and who could actually help the team win now and in the future. Now when prince is 38 brian will sign or trade for him
Any team that gives Prince a contract longer than 3 years will regret it. 3 years 50 million is the max I would give. Let’s not beat around the bush. He’s fat. Not big boned. If anyone thinks I’m crazy I have two words for you…MO VAUGHN! Mo hit for average too.
this difference is that prince is actually very athletic for how big he is….yes he is over weight but he is also just a big guy. 3 year is a little extreme. 5 maybe. But people have been saying this for years about him. Its like the cubs montra “next season” I have heard it for years “next year is the year he will break down, his body will finally stop him from being a ball player” but it has yet to happen. It very well may be that he is simple just a big guy. We also heard the same thing about CC before he signed his deal with the yankees and look nothing has happened yet. Some people live perfectly long lives and are athletic but just big. I do believe 5 years is pushing it but I believe that about any ball player that is in his mid to late 20’s as is.
If he gets less than the 6/150 the Brewers reportedly offered him, it’s a huge blow (or at least it should be) to Boras’s reputation, IMO.
I believe they only offered him 6/120…
THIS JUST IN FROM SCOTT BORAS: Prince Fielder likes to EAT.
So if the Rangers sign Darvish and then cannot have a realistic chance on Fielder will it speed up negotiations or will Boras hold out till right before spring training praying for the 10 250
What a total shame that Boras didnt have the wherewithal to realize how great of an opportunity it was being presented that would have enabled Fielder to stay with Milwaukee for 2012, to assist the team that gave him his start during it’s most dire need (Braun 50 game suspension), knowing that the Dodgers ownership would be settled and they would be in a position to sign him for the rest of his career. Everyone knows that’s where he should end up, looks like that is not gonna happen now.
Prince better take a one year deal and try again next year. Looks like Boras held out too long.
This just in:
Nobody is in on Prince Fielder.
I’d be shocked if he didn’t sign with the Nats tho, regardless of what is being reported. Who else will sign him???
The Rangers…. does that scare you??
Not so much. They already have a strong offense and it looks like they are going to sign Darvish and seems they can’t afford both. Plus, even though many may disagree with me, I think their starting pitching should be their big concern, a lot of question marks in that rotation for me. Of course, I thought the same thing last year and they very much outperformed by expectations. That said, any offense is better with Prince, I just don’t think its what the Rangers need.
Taking at bats away from your good hitters to give to other good hitters for more money isn’t really all that scary. Texas’ offense is already scary.
Josh Hamilton is a free agent after the 2012 season—if they sign Fielder, they cannot afford Hamilton.
The Prince had a bad expierence with former Dodger Guillermo Mota I wonder if that might affect a
Possible deal
Guillermo mota plays for the giants now so no…if you mean affect by wanting to play for the blue crew then yeah cuz he would hit a bomb off him into McCovey cove, lol
I just don’t see Prince staying in the NL for a long-term deal, unless it truly is for a year and then go up on the market again.
How much money does one person need anyways?
quit calling the prince fat. he is NOT fat. he is short for his weight
He isn’t fat he is big boned, is that better?
I think the biggest problem and hold up with Fielder signing anywhere is Scott Boras. I would love to see the season start with Fielder as a free agent. Just to see Boras look like an idiot.
That said I think the Mariner’s need to sign him. Because #1 they NEED him. He fills the biggest need they have. Smoak I think has upside, but to put all your faith in him and Montero to turn the offence around is a pipe dream. If they had a few years to figure it out hitting in front or behind Fielder would do wonders.
Also, it keeps him from signing with Texas. This would be more of a bonus than a reason.
And the idea that they couldn’t afford him is rediculous. The Mariner’s like every team in baseball are owned by a billionaire. They have multi-million dollar TV contracts and all the merchandise they’d move with him on board wouldn’t hurt either. And since the taxpayers built they’re ballpark who have to ask, what do they actually spend their money on?