Rangers fill void with acquisition of Fielder

Two seasons ago the Texas Rangers had Prince Fielder in town trying to woo the first baseman in a bid to bring him to Texas.
   
Now they have him at the expense of the longest-tenured player on the Texas roster.
   
The Rangers traded Ian Kinsler to the Detroit Tigers for Fielder and cash considerations. The club confirmed the deal was done late Wednesday night.
   
"We came into the winter with depth in the middle of the diamond and multiple needs from a corner production standpoint," Texas general manager Jon Daniels said. "We've balanced that out a little bit. We're not necessarily done there. We've kind of chosen a path I guess you could say. Both on the field and financially we have some direction."
   
The move makes roster sense for the Rangers, who were in need of a power bat and had questions at first base because of the inconsistent play of Mitch Moreland. Daniels said Wednesday that Fielder would be the team's primary first baseman, which puts Moreland in flux. If he's still with the club next year, he can spell Fielder at first, play some in the outfield and also see time at designated hitter.
   
Trading Kinsler, who made his Texas debut in 2006, also frees up a potential starting spot at second base for Jurickson Profar. Texas had a logjam in the middle infield with Profar, Kinsler and shortstop Elvis Andrus.
   
Daniels said that Profar won't be given the starting second base job but that he has the tools to handle the position.
   
"He's a guy who we like," Daniels said of Profar. "We certainly like his potential and what he can bring to the table. He's the guy that we would like to see claim the job but he's going to have to go out and do that."
   
Financially the move adds to the Texas payroll. The Tigers are sending $30 million to Texas but that money won't start coming to Texas until the 2016 season and be spread out over the final five years of his deal.
   
Fielder, who had to approve the deal because Texas was on his limited no-trade list, is under contract through the 2020 season and is due $24 million a year until then. Kinsler is under contract through the 2017 season with the club owning an option for 2018. He's guaranteed $62 million through 2017 with the club option in 2018 being $10 million with a $5 million buyout.
   
Kinsler, 31, is coming off a season in which he batted .277 with 13 home runs and 72 RBI as the Texas leadoff hitter. Kinsler, who was the longest-tenured Texas player, is a three time All-Star and the Texas leader in leadoff home runs with 29. Twice in his career (2009 and 2011) he's had 30-30 seasons.
   
The deal came about quickly, with Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski initiating the talks Tuesday morning. Neither Daniels nor Texas manager Ron Washington has had a chance to talk to Kinsler but both lauded the career Ranger for what he brought to the team.
   
"He's a tremendous player," Washington said. "Certainly he was our igniter. Our run over the last four years he played a tremendous part of it. His leadership in the clubhouse was huge and on the field. We're certainly going to miss him."
   
Fielder, 29, had a down year by his standards in 2013, batting just .279 with 25 home runs and 106 RBI. The homer total was the lowest of his career since 2005 when he hit two in 59 at-bats with Milwaukee.
   
Daniels didn't seem concerned about his 2013 numbers.
   
"If he was coming off the best year of his career he's not available," Daniels said. "That's kind of the whole idea of this deal. If anyone feels like that's a sign of things to come, that he's slipping, you may not like the deal. We don't feel that way. We don't feel that way at all."
   
Washington said he expects Adrian Beltre to continue to be the cleanup hitter for the Rangers, which would likely put Fielder in the No. 3 spot.
   
Despite a down year, Fielder's RBI total would have led the Rangers. He's been a run producer since his first full season with Milwaukee in 2006. Six times he's had at least 102 RBI and the five time All-Star had a career high 141 RBI with Milwaukee in 2009.
   
"He's a winning player," Washington said. "I believe he will fit well with the characters we have in our clubhouse. I do believe he'll be a leader and he'll be a guy who will do a tremendous job in our lineup."