IS FIELDER DONE?

Prince Fielder has been awful this season. No one has been able to explain why. Now we know why.

Back in 2014 Fielder was terrible (.247-3-16 in 42 games). The reason? He had a herniated disk in his neck that required surgery.

Last season Fielder returned, with a bit less power than hoped for, but a .305-23-98 line he produced, and anyone would take from their first sacker.

This season it’s looked an awful lot like 2014 for Fielder who has struggled immensely over 89 games with a .212-8-44 line.

Guess what? Fielder’s neck is an issue again and he’s been placed on the DL. The question now becomes, what does the future hold for Fielder?

Here’s what the Dallas Morning News has to say about the situation.

Fielder could end up having an epidural injection and hope that helps. It likely wouldn’t.

Fielder has been told he likely needs to have surgery to repair another herniated disk, virtually the same procedure he undertook in 2014. A few years back the herniated disk was between C5 and C6. This time the issue is between C4 and C5.

If Fielder has the surgery again, the lack of motion he will be left with leaves doubt about whether or not Fielder will ever be able to play big league baseball again. Will Carroll penned the following about Fielder. “Fielder could miss into next season even if he has the surgery now.” Carroll also pointed out that if Fielder goes in another direction, if he has artificial disc implantation, his road to returning to the big leagues seems bleak. “…there hasn’t been a pro athlete that has had this surgery and returned, though the surgery is having good results in a general population. No one wants to be a first in sports, but it is an option.”

Obviously Fielder is a no-go for the rest of 2016. If you had been holding out hope you can now stop. Send him to the waiver-wire. No telling if he’s a force at the big league level ever again.

What happens right now with the Rangers?

That same article from the Dallas Morning News said the following. “[Rangers GM Jon] Daniels vowed that he would not let the injuries or the month's performance push him to make a trade simply for the act of concluding a transaction.” Daniels also “…indicated that he would not suddenly swing towards searching for extra offense.”

That would seem to leave the Rangers with a couple of obvious options.

Just play Mitch Moreland every day at first base, which he’s done for the most part anyway. He’s had a rough season with a .235 average, 13 homers and just 36 RBI in 84 games this season. He has shown himself to be much more effective of late though with a .295 average, seven homers, and a .591 SLG his last 31 games. Perhaps there is hope.

Who fills the designated hitter role, especially with Shin-Soo Choo back on the disabled list? Seems like there are two main options at the moment.

1 – Let Jurickson Profar play first base every day. Profar isn’t a first baseman, but he has played there a bit (he’s appeared in 11 games). He’s hitting .304 with a .351 OBP and .435 SLG this season with four homers while scoring 22 times in 148 plate appearances. He’s been really, really good. However, that’s a front loaded effort. Over his last 19 games he’s hit .213 with a .277 SLG and .265 wOBA. That’s awful. He’s also been terrible against lefties this season with a .209/.277.209 slash line. As horrible as that is, that’s actually slightly better than the totals he’s posted, in limited work, as a big leaguer that includes 161 plate appearances (.189/.280/.231). Profar has little power, is in a significant slump, and can’t hit lefties. Doesn’t seem like a great option.

2 – The Rangers could call up Joey Gallo. The slugger has as much power as any player in baseball. Period. Everyone knows it. In 65 games at Triple-A this season he’s hit 16 homers with a strong .388 OBP and .547 SLG. The dude can mash. We heard a lot about his “new” approach this year and all. Where is that of late? Over his last 10 games he’s hitting .182 to drop his season long average down to .249. He’s also struck out 13 times his last seven games. He’s struck out 84 times over 225 at-bats, a rate of a strikeout every 2.68 at-bats. That’s hideous. Don’t forget what happened to him last year either. Gallo hit two homers and drove in five runs his first two outings last year and hysteria ensued. I told everyone to be cautious. No one listened. Over his final 109 plate appearances he hit .177 with a .275 OBP, but the strikeouts were the biggest issue. Folks, the guy struck out 51 times his final 96 big league at-bats with the Rangers. That’s the worst mark ever (I didn’t actually look it up, but it has to be). Gallo can mash, but he’s extremely limited at this point. When he’s given a chance at the big league level realize, be really honest with yourself here, that he’s a massive power bat that could struggle to hit .220.

 

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).