Three Best Parts Of Tigers trading Prince Fielder To Texas For Ian Kinsler
By: Pat Caputo
@patcaputo98
1. Fielder needs a change of scenery, and the Tigers need a change for him. So do their fans, who had no intention of letting him out the proverbial doghouse. He just didn't come through for the Tigers in the postseason. While he had productive regular season numbers in a sense, they sure didn't match his nine-year $214 million contract, either.
2. Kinsler is tracking downward statistically in regard to OPS, and he represented baggage for Rangers. He has a very big contract, too. But it is not like Fielder's either year-by-year salary nor length. And the one statistic that remains impressive for Kinsler is his WAR. At 5.0, it was 15th in the American League in 2013 and would have been second to only Miguel Cabrera among Tigers' players. It means he can still score from second on a base hit, doesn't hit into a lot of double plays and has range, at least as best can be determined statistically, defensively.
3. It will free up money for the Tigers to retain Max Scherzer beyond this coming season.
