Going Beyond The Everyday: Prince Fielder Rewarded With Massive Contact

Prince Fielder happily played for the Milwaukee Brewers for seven seasons, hitting 230 home runs and earning third in the NL MVP voting last season. His baseball career arguably began Detroit, however, where he grew up while his father, Cecil Fielder, spent six seasons crushing home runs much like his son. Cecil became a fan favorite in Detroit, leading a potent offense with the likes of Alan Trammel and Lou Whitaker.

Sixteen years after the senior Fielder left the Tigers, the junior Fielder returns. Judging by the nine-year, $214 million contract he signed, Prince intends to create a lasting legacy of his own.

Critics harp that the contract is too lengthy, and too expensive for a player whose prime may not last much longer than five more years. How effective will Prince Fielder be in 2018, 2019 and 2020? The question is moot if the Tigers win a World Series in the meantime, and with an ace like last year's AL Cy Young and MVP Award winner Justin Verlander, the team expects to contend for a championship, immediately.

The Tigers needed two more wins over the Texas Rangers in the ALCS to earn the right to play the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals for all the marbles last season. They could not keep up with the Rangers' potent lineup, however, losing by scores of 7-3, 7-3, and 15-5 to drop the series. With Fielder in tow, the Tigers should have a lineup to compete with anyone. Perhaps more importantly, Prince Fielder has the chance to return home and expand on his father's legacy by bringing a World Series back to Detroit for the first time in 28 years.