Fielder played two years with the Detroit Tigers after signing with the team for a nine year deal worth $214 million.
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Fox Sports first reported the announcement. But he is better known for his big bat. Cecil Fielder played from 1985-1988 and 1990-1998. His career slash line is.283/.382/.506 (134 OPS+) with 321 doubles, 319 home runs, 1,028 RBI and 862 runs.
“The doctors told me, since two spinal fusions, I can’t play major league baseball anymore”, Fielder said, struggling to hold back tears.
In 2006, Fielder became the Brewers starting first baseman.
Unfortunately, the injuries Prince has suffered in the last two seasons will likely be too much to recover from, even at the tender age of 32.
Despite the fact that his career is ending early, the Brewers were vindicated for taking the risk on Fielder all the way back in 2002. He also led the National League in homers in 2007 when he hit 50 – and in turn vaulted himself into the superstar conversation. The Rangers will pick up $9 million per year, with Detroit paying $6 million, and insurance covering the remaining $9 million. He was acquired during the previous offseason from the Tigers in exchange for second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Fielder’s agent, Scott Boras, said that Fielder first started to complain of neck pain last season and saw his condition worsen until he finally chose to see a doctor after a game at Anaheim on July 18. He had successful neck surgery similar to the surgery that has prolonged the career of football great Peyton Manning. I don’t know what kind of person it would take to watch that video and not feel any shred of sorrow for Fielder. That streak carried over to his time with the Tigers, where he played all 162 games in 2012 and 2013.
“You just like playing the game”. “They’ve still got work to do, I’ve still got some cheerleading to do”. Just the fact that you can come out here again and do this for your job, and be in the clubhouse with your second family.
“I was thinking, how am I going to hit a fastball tomorrow?”, he said.
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There will be a lot of words written about Fielder and his career in the coming days if he does end up retiring, but one quick note on his career.
