At least one Washington Nationals player believes the team could still land free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, a three-time All-Star. "We're in the market," one anonymous Nationals player told Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. "We're still shooting for him."
If the Nationals are indeed still aiming to sign Fielder, it'd contradict what general manager Mike Rizzo said Wednesday. Rizzo said something "extraordinary" would need to happen for anyone other than Adam LaRoche to play first base in Washington's season-opener. "Adam LaRoche is under contract for us, we're paying him a lot of money to play first base for us next year," Rizzo said. "We feel that he's going to have a bounceback season."
Due to a shoulder injury, LaRoche played in only 43 games in his first season as a National, hitting .172 with three homers and 15 runs batted in.
Fielder, 27, hit .299 with 38 homers and 120 RBI for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011. He finished No. 3 in National League MVP voting, earned an All-Star roster spot, and took home his second Silver Slugger award.
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