According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder will announce the end of his playing career on Wednesday after his second neck surgery in 27 months.
Rosenthal's report was confirmed by the Dallas Morning News and Star-Telegram's Rangers beat writers shortly after it was tweeted out Tuesday afternoon.
Sources: Prince Fielder’s career appears over. #Rangers expected to hold press conference tomorrow.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 9, 2016
Fielder, 32, was in the middle of his worst season as a pro, hitting .212 with just eight home runs in 89 games. It is his third season in Texas after the club traded second baseman Ian Kinsler to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for the first baseman on Nov. 20, 2013.
At the time of the trade, the first baseman was one of baseball’s most durable players, missing a total of one game in the previous five seasons. But Fielder only played 42 games for the Rangers in his first season in Arlington, and missed the remainder of the season when he underwent his first surgery.
In 2015, Fielder was named the AL Comeback player of the year, hitting .305 with 23 home runs and 98 RBI. But Fielder’s performance lagged this year, and on July 25, it was revealed that he was experiencing weakness in his arm due to a secondary herniation.
Fielder underwent the second surgery with Dr. Drew Dossett on July 29. He had a cervical fusion to repair a herniated disk.
He is guaranteed $24 million annually through 2020, but according to Jeff Wilson with our content partners at the Star-Telegram, the Rangers have an insurance policy on Fielder's contract. The Morning News has reported the insurance policy will pay half of Fielder's contract going forward in the event of a long-term injury, but they will not be able to recoup any of Fielder's 2016 salary.
With the Tigers paying $6 million of Fielder's annual $24 million salary and the insurance policy picking up half of the contract, the Rangers will pay around $9 million a year to Fielder through the remaining years on the deal.
Rosenthal noted Fielder is not technically retiring, because retirement means the player is renouncing the remaining guaranteed money on his contract. He said Fielder is "medically disabled" and doctors will not clear him to play.
In an odd statistical twist, Fielder will leave the majors with 319 home runs, the same number as his father, Cecil, retired with in his career. Both men played for the Detroit Tigers through the best years of their careers and were known for their large physiques.
The announcement is not a surprise, but is still a tragic end to Fielder’s career. More details will be made available at Wednesday’s press conference.
