It has always been assumed that Pujols was the best player in the league — free agent or not. However, now that he is on the DL with a broken forearm, that may not be the case. Sports Illustrated is even saying that Fielder might be the best upcoming free agent.
Obviously, Red Sox fans are happy with their current first baseman, as Adrian Gonzalez puts up MVP-type numbers (knock on wood). But who is the better offseason target for teams in need of a big-time slugger? Let's break down the candidates.
Albert Pujols
Pros: He has been Mr. Consistency. Since he won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2001, Pujols has delivered monster numbers every season. He has never had a batting average lower than .312 and averages 42 home runs and 127 RBIs. Oh, and he won three MVPs and a couple of Gold Glove awards too. Pretty, pretty good.
Cons: He was slumping this year before he was hurt, batting only .279. Sure, that's not terrible, but this is Pujols we're talking about. He also went through a bit of a power outage earlier this season, when he went 106 at-bats without a homer. That's the longest such streak in his career and could be cause for concern. But the biggest question (other than if he is a robot) will be how he recovers from his broken forearm.
Prince Fielder
Pros: Fielder is four years younger than Pujols and, at age 27, is just starting to enter his prime. The three-time All-Star currently leads the NL in home runs with 20, and has one 50-homer season under his belt already. Also, there's this.
Cons: Fielder strikes out more than Pujols. In his seven-year career, he has already has more Ks than Pujols does after playing four more years. Also, he's going to want to get paid. This year, he's playing for $15.5 million, the highest contract ever awarded in arbitration. With Scott Boras as his agent, he will definitely be testing the free agent market to its full potential. Regardless of who you think is better, Fielder might be the one commanding the larger salary.
Let NESN Nation know who you think is the better option for teams looking to add a big-time bat to their lineup.
Who is the Better Free-Agent Target This Offseason?Market Research
