The Fresh Prince of Detroit

Last season, the AL Central Division Champion Detroit Tigers made it all the way to the American League Championship. This was mainly behind consistent hitting and phenomenal pitching by AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander. The Tigers seemed poise to make another run again this season, until a week ago when they got some tough news. Victor Martinez, the team's second best hitter, had torn his left ACL during offseason training and would likely miss the entire season. Many thought the Tigers would try to find a solution internally, but clearly team ownership decided this team had a chance to win now. So they spent money, a lot of it, on the best free agent hitter available, Prince Fielder. Fielder signed a nine-year, $214 million deal to join the Tigers.

The signing was a very unexpected one because Fielder plays first base and the Tigers all ready have one of the best hitters in the game at first base in Miguel Cabrera. However, Cabrera has already announced that he will be the team's third baseman, which was his original position when he came to the majors. The combination of Fielder and Cabrera give the Tigers what is considered to be, in most eyes, the best 3-4 hitting duo in baseball. While playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Fielder hit for a .299 average with 38 home runs and 120 RBIs last season. Cabrera had a .344 average with 30 home runs and 105 RBIs.

Did the Tigers overpay for Fielder? Yes, they did, but they got the best hitter available, and he is a very good one at that. The Tigers obviously think they have a shot at the World Series this season. Do they? I would say yes, but this doesn't necessarily make them the favorites. Remember what happened to the Boston Red Sox last year. Enough said. This is a nice move for the Tigers, but we are going have to see how this plays out because nine years is a long time.