9:00pm: Texas has indeed negotiated a deal with the insurance company, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. Per Grant, the agreement is believed to defer the payment of policy benefits but otherwise leave them intact.
12:12pm: The Rangers announced that they have released first baseman Prince Fielder. With the move, the club will be able to utilize a 40-man roster spot that had previously been tied up owing to financial considerations.
Fielder had previously announced that he would no longer play after undergoing neck fusion surgery late in the 2016 season. But the veteran slugger did not formally retire at that time, as he is still entitled to earn $24MM per season through 2020 under the massive free-agent deal he signed back in 2012 with the Tigers.
Of course, a big chunk of that salary was being paid by the Tigers and, since the surgery, an insurer. Cutting Fielder loose would have opened a roster spot, but also would have meant sacrificing the right to collect an estimated $9MM annually.
Details on the move aren’t yet clear, but it’s hard to imagine the Rangers have simply decided not to worry about the $27MM they could still collect in insurance proceeds. It seems more reasonable to expect that the move was made after some sort of settlement was reached — though that’s still speculative at this point.
The Phillies reached a settlement with the insurance company before they released Matt Harrison. They likely got the insurance company to agree to give them some percentage of the $27 million. Anything less than 100% is a win for the insurance company. I don’t know how much the 40-man roster spot is worth to the Rangers, but I’d guess they didn’t sacrifice that much.
If a player announces that he will no longer play, then why should a team keep paying his salary? ‘I will not do the work you are paying me to do but you do have to keep paying my full salary’… I’m gonna try that a work tomorrow..
Anyway, do the Rangers only get the insurance money if Prince is on the 40-man roster? Otherwise it seems like they could have designated him for assignment and outrighted him to the minors. Or am I misinterpreting the last paragraph?
He chose not to retire because the doctors chose to retire him ??
No doctor would medically clear him to play, despite his desire.
He was declared medically unable to play by his doctor. Basically the same as getting disability for any other job.
Why does the 100% accurate info get downvoted? He’s giving a correct answer.
If they DFA’d him, he would clear waivers, then Fielder as a veteran would decline the assignment and become a free agent with the Rangers on the hook for the entire remaining amount on his contract.
Which is the same situation they are in now that they just released him straight away. Why would Fielder decline the assignment?
Because he’d be a minor-leaguer, and subject to different restrictions and regulations, as well as no longer a member of the MLBPA.
I’m guessing that the terms of the insurance policy would not allow the team to collect if he is DFA’d and outrighted off the major league roster (whether accepted or not) just as they could not collect if he just agreed to retire if they pay out the contract. Thus, they needed to cut a deal with the insurance company to get some payment while releasing Fielder and paying him. They probably got the present value of the $27 million less some agreed upon discount for the insurance company agreeing to alter the agreement where the discount has less value to the team than the spot on the roster during the offseason. Once the deal was reached, there is no difference to the insurance company, the team, or Fielder whether it was for a DFA/outright or release, and release probably cleaner with respect to paperwork.. There may also be some tax issues that I am missing, but I am neither an account nor a tax lawyer.
Fielder was declared medically unable to play due to an injury sustained while playing. Injuries while playing don’t void an MLB contract. So he gets paid for the remained of the deal.
The insurance is only paid to players on a team’s roster who are unable to play for a full season due to injury. If a team releases the player he’s no longer on the team and the insurance is only for players on the team.
Some full season injuries aren’t career threatening. So the insurer doesn’t want to give the team an incentive to not try to have the player play. If he’s medically cleared they’re off the hook.
If they just cut him for sucking, they’d still owe him the same. The Tigers knew when they signed him the contract was guaranteed and the Rangers knew when they took over that contract it was guaranteed. I don’t see the problem here.
The insurance company also decided to take on the risk. That means they were likely getting a pretty hefty sum in premiums. There’s no way an insurance company would take the risk without it.
The Rangers obviously want the insurance policy they’re paying for the pay out, and the insurance company obviously does not want to pay 9 MM every year for the next three. Some sort of lump sum valued less than that 27 MM seems like a fair compromise for both sides.
Basically, yeah, the Tigers and Rangers knew this would be an issue, and if he were healthy and bad a la Crawford or Sandoval or Reyes or perhaps in future years Pujols or Cabrera, they’d be stuck. That’s why somewhere along the line, before Fielder’s neck problems developed, someone took out insurance on his deal to protect them in case of actual injuries. The Mets have a partial insurance payout coming their way every year Wright misses 60+ games, too. They’d also be on the hook for that money if they released Wright, but not if they carry him and he misses the season like he did this year.
Thanks for the insight man!
So he didn’t retire, he just chose not to play? How in the world was able to keep getting paid
That’s exactly why he kept getting paid because he didn’t retire
I just don’t understand how a player can say they’re not going to play anymore, but still able to get a check from the team just because they don’t formally retire
It’s not that difficult to understand. He didn’t decide he just didn’t want to play anymore, he wasn’t cleared to play anymore by a doctor. It’s effectively the same as receiving disability or workmen’s compensation from your employer.
It doesn’t matter, MLB contracts are guaranteed. Unless he violates the terms of he contract, he gets paid no matter what.
If he voluntarily retires healthy, like Gil Meche a few years ago, I’m pretty sure he forfeits his guaranteed salary. That’s why usually there’s a buyout attached in some form when a player retires.
Nope, I’m a Royals fan. Gil voluntarily gave up his salary that season because he didn’t feel right taking it. Unless there is some clause in the contract that allows them to void it (Jeff Kent wrecking his motorcycle or what the Yankees tried to do with A-Rod) MLB contracts are 100% guaranteed no matter what.
The Mets are still paying snobby Bonilla for 119 AB of .160/.277/.303 baseball in 1999.
Lol, wasn’t calling Bobby Bo snobby, autocorrect.
How hard is this to understand? Fielder has a significant medical condition that makes playing professional baseball impossible. The doctors said he CAN’T play, not that he doesn’t want to play. He gets paid because he has a guaranteed contract.
From someone unfamiliar with the situation and one That didnt read the article, it sounds like he just said he didn’t want to play anymore. The people confused haven’t realized he hasn’t been cleared to play.
Here’s an idea…read the article next time.
His retirement press conference was one of the most tear jerking things I’ve ever watched. He is a stand-up guy and he remains one of my favorite players of all time. He was a very easy guy to root for. I hope he’s doing well.
For a guy who loves the game so much, he could be a great bench coach.
I disagree. It seems like he didn’t take good care of himself. He was super overweight. I don’t know if his injury is related to it, but as a professional athlete he should have been more responsible with his body.
Prince fielder has been a vegetarian since 2008. He’s always been a large man, that comment is based solely off of what you look at. Take a look at his ESPN body issue magazine. That guy doesn’t look bad at all. He’s just a large human being.
According to baseball reference:
5-11, 275lb (180cm, 124kg)
I’m 6’3 and 210lb, and I’m slightly overweight.
Prince Fielder was/is massively overweight, no way to put it other than that.
Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean you don’t eat things that are terrible for you. Nachos (to cite an example of something he literally ate out of the stands, while playing) are vegetarian if you don’t add meat, and will kill you if they’re a mainstay of your diet.
In no way am I endorsing the vegetarian diet. To be honest staying that large without meat is probably a difficult thing to do. He’s gotta be eating lots of plant based proteins to stay that large. He’s clearly a strong guy, a good chunk of that weight is muscle.
And another (huge) chunk of him is fat.
www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Prince+Fielder+Divisio…
Lol. I’m done discussing prince fielders body weight. I think we’ve spent too much time on it as it is. He’s a big guy. Not in the way Pablo Sandoval is a big guy. Sandoval is the kind of overweight that kills a career. I’m sure fielder could’ve stood to lose a few pounds himself but that wasn’t his demise. And as for the commment that you’re 210 and a little overweight. Different body types have different healthy weights. We aren’t all the same. I can’t imagine a 210lb fielder being healthy for his body type.
Just so you know:
Pablo Sandoval:
5-11, 255lb (180cm, 115kg)
Pablo is/was 20 pounds lighter than Prince, but I will agree that they probably are around equal in overweight, as Prince looks stronger.
If you read his Wikipedia bio and corresponding links, you’d see that he stated he was vegetarian for only thee months. He’s been back to being a tub of lard ever since.
The reasons for your disagreement have 0 to do with the comment you replied to.
Yeah, I was referring to calling him a “stand-up guy”, but you’re right, even if he didn’t take care of himself, no reason not to call him that. I just think he’s not a good example for the young ones.
Don’t know why anyone would give you a thumbs down, Phillies2017. You are correct. Even Deadspin, a reputable company, albeit one that is not exclusively involved in world of sports, echo your sentiment. (And my bet anyone with a heart)
deadspin.com/prince-fielders-retirement-press-conf…
Mets need to do the same thing with David Wright.
Time to come back to Milwaukee….and retire as a Brewer
So Milwaukee can pay him the MLB minimum until 2020 for nothing? Why would they do that?
I’m sure they could probably work out the details in a symbolic contract…
This may be dumb but why is taking up a 40 man roster spot? Shouldn’t he be on the 60 day DL?
There’s no 60-day DL in the offseason. Texas would’ve had to carry him on the 40-man all offseason before placing him on the 60-day DL when Spring Training kicked off.
I’ve just realized this now, but aren’t the Mets in sort of the same situation with David Wright if he can’t continue his career but doesn’t retire?
No, because a doctor hasn’t declared David Wright permanently ineligible to return to the game. David Wright is actually continuously attempting to come back, so it’s different.
In case anyone is interested, here’s the language from the CBA:
“If a Player’s Contract is terminated by a Club by reason of the Player’s failure to render his services due to a disability resulting directly from injury sustained in the course and within the scope of his employment under the Contract, and notice is received by the Club in accordance with Regulation 2 of the Uniform Player’s Contract, the Player shall be entitled to receive from the Club the unpaid balance of the full salary for the year in which the injury was sustained, less all workers’ compensation payments received by the Player as compensation for loss of income for
the specific period for which the Club is compensating him in full.”
You think that Balloon Head Rob Manfred is going to interpret this?
You gotta be kidding me!
So basically the only way it’s not guaranteed is if the player just walks away because they’re bored playing baseball or pulls a reverse Jordan and tries to start an NBA career?
Hmm… were the Rangers at least having Fielder do SOMETHING to earn his pay? Like obviously he’s medically unable to play but was he contributing to the team in some other way?
Why would Fielder agree to do anything? He signed a contract to play, got hurt, and gets to earn that salary.
If a worker in a factory slipped, fell, got injured and received disability/worker’s comp would you be upset if that worker, assuming they weren’t healthy enough to return to work (which Fielder is not) didn’t do paperwork and instead rehabilitated, rested and earned the money?
Should have dangled Prince as trade bait. Probably would have gotten something back from an owner like Arte Moreno.
If I were The Rangers’ GM, I’d offer to let him play out the rest of his contract as an assistant hitting coach.
Ha! “Let him”? He doesn’t have to and he doesn’t want to, otherwise he’d have taken a role after it was announced over a year ago he can no longer play.
I mean, I wouldn’t make him. It just be an “If you want to” situation. Give him the option.
The dangers of guaranteed contracts for the morbidly obese. Another one just cost the Giants the #1 pick, while milking the Red Sox for $45mil.
What does a neck injury have to do with his weight? Oh thats right, nothing.
We’re all registered dietitians now
Prince hustled all over the field. Loved watching him in a Tigers uniform. Too bad he always seemed to get in his own way when there was a chance to transcend and become an all time great. Nonetheless, wish him and his family the best.
Whyyyyyy?
Is the Prince Fielder situation like Albert Belle? I don’t remember him retiring.
except people aren’t afraid of Prince possibly murdering them, the two are similar.
Prince was no angel. Wasn’t there an issue when he was in Milwaukee with him trying to break into the opposing clubhouse to fight someone?
Dear ignorant people who are snarking on Prince Fielder getting paid,
Stop typing. Read the comments that explain the contractual situation.
Thank you.
This gonna be like a bobby bonilla type pay deal?
No, that was just an utterly ridiculous contract. Unless they can restructure the deal somehow, assuming prince would even want to do that. The Rangers likely just want to get his money off the books as soon as reasonably possible.
Crap happens. Doctor says he can’t play. I’d not retire and take the money too.
9:00pm: Texas has indeed negotiated a deal with the insurance company
The Rangers negotiated?
They negotiated for everyone in this Country then, because Fans and Non-Fans are paying for this one way or another!!!!
TV deals enable Scott Boras and players like Prince Fielder! SMH
You lose your right to an opinion.
Why???
Also, why do non baseball fans have to support that fat moose?
Prince played hard and for a big guy he was a joy to watch and he should get his paycheck which is guaranteed! He’s lucky to be black or the Democrats would be screaming he makes to much and take it away and give it to dead beats that don’t want to work! Don’t care what the color of your skin, if you don’t work your worse than an infidel! God bless Prince because he’s going to have neck pain the rest of his life! Enjoy life Prince!!!!!!!
After 2018, Victor Martinez $18M; after 2019, Justin Verlander $8M; after 2020, Prince Fielder $6M after 2021, Jordan Zimmermann $25M; and after 2023 Miguel Cabrera $32M come off the Tigers payroll. $89M anchor to hold fast.
I can’t believe some of the idiotic comments on this thread. I can’t tell if this is just trolling or if there is just a complete lack of common sense…
What took them so long? They’re off the hook for all but 50mil of the remaining 115mil or something like that.