Paul Johnson

The Toronto Blue Jays should do whatever it takes to sign Prince Fielder. ‘Nuff said.

Why? Well, there are 10 reasons actually – and here they are.

10. Adam Lind moves to DH. Not because Lind is a horrible first baseman – just because in the American League – you’re allowed to have one. Lind goes to the DH spot and of course can spell Fielder when he needs a day off.

9. Enticing others. The Blue Jays also need pitching and there’s no better way to attract more of it than run support. The addition of Prince to an offence that ALREADY boasts Bautista (.302 / 43HR / 103RBI), Lawrie (.293 / 9HR / 25RBI in 43 games), Escobar (.290 / 24 doubles), Lind (26HR / 87RBI) and Arencibia (23HR / 78RBI) equals run support.

8. Heritage. His father Cecil spent the first 4 seasons of his major league career with the Blue Jays. While he didn’t put up the kind of power numbers in Toronto that he did during his stop with the Tigers (7 years of at least 26 homers including 51 in 1990, 44 in ’91 and 35 in ’92) he was still a presence in the city – and a name that most Blue Jays fans still recognize.

7. His age. Born May 9th, 1984 – Fielder has A LOT of baseball left in him. At 27 you could also argue he’s headed into his baseball prime as well which means handing him a 7 or 8 year deal is a little easier to swallow given what he’s got left compared to say Albert Pujols – who is 31.

6. Durability. In the last 6 seasons he’s missed a total of 13 games. 13. Out of a possible 972 games he’s played 959. That’s durability – despite his “healthy” girth.

5. Butts in the seats. In order to pay for his outrageous salary which will likely be in the 20 to 30 million range annually – you need to sell tickets and sell they will. Attendance is already on the rise thanks to the likes of Bautista and the other young talent that GM wonder-kid Alex Anthopolous has already assembled. Then you add Fielder. Attendance goes up because people “dig the long-ball”, and you don’t have to worry about suffering through another 2-1 pitcher’s duel. It will be 7-2 or 10-4 homerfests on a regular basis. The Jays would likely get even more attention on a national scale in the US, and the team will also be sending at least 2 players (Bautista/Fielder) to the next 8 All-Star Games.

4. You won’t have to outspend the Yankees or the Red Sox. New York (Mark Teixeira) and Boston (Adrian Gonzalez) already have their high priced first base talent and Fielder will not sign for big money to be a DH. Basically they will be competing with other teams that understand the concept of “fiscal responsibility.”

3. His numbers. Last year he hit .299 with 38 homers and drove in 120 runs. He also scored 95 runs and was intentionally walked 32 times (of note – Bautista got a free pass only 24 times this past season). He’s also a career .282 hitter and already has 230 home runs and 656 RBI in 998 games.

2. An embarrassment of riches. Look at just a segment of what the Jays batting order could be. Escobar, Rasmus, Bautista, Fielder, Lawrie, Lind, Arencibia. I think my brother and I could be the other 2 hitters in that lineup and they would still have one of the best batting orders in the American League.

1. Protection for Joey Bats. Fielder would be the perfect protection for Jose Bautista in the batting order. Opposing pitchers will HAVE to pitch to Jose – with Fielder behind him. Or…they’ll have to pitch to Fielder in the 3-spot with Bautista is hitting clean up. Either way – BOTH will get some good pitches to hit.

Whether I’m dreaming in Technicolor – or just plain off my rocker – in my opinion, it’s a can’t lose situation for the Jays.

Get it done Alex – you know you want to.

Have a day, and order your “Fielder” jersey!

Paul