Prince Fielder is expected to announce his retirement at a press conference with the Rangers on Wednesday, FOX MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal first reported Tuesday.
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Fielder was drafted out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida in the first round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.
But Fielder was limited to 289 games in Texas because of two neck surgeries in just more than two years.
The 32-year-old slugger will finish his career with 319 home runs, the exact same amount as his father, Cecil.
The Prince Fielder situation is also a warning to teams who sign veteran players to big-money free agent contracts, especially one-dimensional players with bodies that tend not to age well.
“I thought I was just gonna cry in the auto”, Prince Fielder said after several minutes of tear-filled words in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Texas Rangers’ Prince Fielder jokes with Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley as Fielder steps to the plate in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 20, 2015, in Denver.
“I think you need surgery, and I wouldn’t advise you to play again”, Watkins told Fielder. The Tigers, who traded Fielder for Ian Kinsler prior to the 2014 season, are on the hook for a quarter of Fielder’s salary.
Let’s step into the wayback machine, if you will, and remember the rejoining from Tigers fans on January 24, 2012, when first baseman Prince Fielder signed a 9-year $214 million deal.
His sons – one who turns 12 next week and the other 10 – sat with him at the podium, mostly with their heads down and also shedding tears.
“He’s a great player, great ambassador for the game”, Verlander said.
In June 2014, Fielder underwent season ending neck surgery. I’m happy I got to enjoy my career so far and play with these guys. From 2007-11 for the Brewers, Fielder accumulated 17.5 WAR while playing in all but eight games.
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If Fielder were to retire, he’d presumably leave the rest of his contract – approximately $79 million (which includes the roughly $7 million still owed to him this season) – on the table, but that’s not a guarantee. He has 319 career home runs in 12 seasons for the Brewers, Tigers and Rangers.
