Baseball’s last big free agent of the offseason, first baseman Prince Fielder, has agreed to a 9-year, $214 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, it’s the fourth largest deal in the history of Major League Baseball.

The deal comes less than a month until pitchers and catchers report and took many by surprise as the Tigers weren’t even in the conversation until a little more than a week ago.

Fielder follows in the footsteps of his father, Cecil, who played seven years for the Tigers in 1990-1996 and hit 51 home runs for them in 1990. He was also being courted by the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers, has averaged 37 homers and 106 RBI the last six years with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The addition of Fielder creates a bit of a logjam at first base where Miguel Cabrera already plays. However, with catcher/first basemen Victor Martinez already out for the season the two sluggers could alternate time between first base and designated hitter.  Cabrera is also expected to see action at third base and could eventually take over their full time if all goes well.

He joins Albert Pujols as All-Star Basemen to leave the senior circuit and the NL Central this offseason for greener pastures with an AL club.

In fact the moves, coupled with Adrian Gonzalez’s trade to Boston last offseason, leave Reds’ first basemen Joey Votto as the only elite option at the position remaining in the NL.

FANTASY SLANT:  Fielder figures to be a top 15 overall option regardless of the trade and I’m not sure him landing in Detroit does much to alter that. I still rank Pujols, Votto, Cabrera, and probably even Gonzalez ahead of Fielder at first base.  However, his arrival to Motown provides great protection for Miguel Cabrera and with the likely to come 3B-position eligibility and Cabrera could move up to our No. 1 overall pick.

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