In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski writes yesterday's trade by the Tigers to send 1B Prince Fielder to the Rangers for 2B Ian Kinsler was "a classically shrewd move" by Tigers President & GM Dave Dombrowski. The Tigers "paid a hefty price for Fielder and weren't getting enough on their investment, and they have significant, expensive needs elsewhere" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/21). Also in Detroit, Lynn Henning writes Fielder's departure "unclogs the entire Tigers lineup and reduces what could have become a paralyzing payroll albatross in the years ahead." The Tigers "can consider it a bargain, not only because of the payroll obligations it sheds, but more integrally, because of the lineup efficiencies it stands to create" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/21).
THE RANGERS' SIDE OF THINGS: In Dallas, Tim Cowlishaw notes the addition of Fielder represents just under $20M per year for the next seven seasons for the Rangers' payroll, including "money coming from the Tigers." Cowlishaw writes, "Worry about whether this is too much money in 2018 when we get to 2018, OK?" The Rangers today are "a step closer to a return to the World Series than they were 48 hours ago." Fans "can thank" Rangers President of Baseball Operations & GM Jon Daniels and "the fact he didn’t need the approval of any icons or figureheads in the front office to make it happen" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/21).
STIFF COMPETITION: Giants President & CEO Larry Baer appeared on CSN Bay Area's "Yahoo Sports Talk Live" last night, and when asked whether the team felt like it had to keep up with what the Dodgers were spending on players, he said, "It's dangerous business to say, 'Okay, we've made this move, what's the Dodgers' countermove?'" Baer noted the Giants' recent signings have put $150M "into payroll." Baer added the Giants need to "not be too focused on what the Dodgers do or don’t do because we can't control it" ("Yahoo Sports Talk Live," CSN Bay Area, 11/20).
BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW? In N.Y., Tyler Kepner writes free agent 2B Robinson Cano is Roc Nation Sports Owner Jay Z' first baseball client, and "nobody knows what the whiff of true celebrity will do to Cano’s priorities." Teams "might find" agent Scott Boras, who formerly represented Cano, "exasperating as a negotiator, but they appreciate his doggedness at keeping clients focused on the field" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/21).
