"A National League team probably never would have pulled the Prince Fielder deal that the Tigers did yesterday, and if you're wondering why Jim Crane wanted and received a purchase price discount with the Astros' 2013 move to the American League, that's it.

Fielder is worth more to the Tigers, just like Albert Pujols was worth more to the Angels, than he would be to a National League team. Both can be stashed at designated hitter at the end of their deals when defense could start looking really bad, and both teams had first base commitments already, which National League teams couldn't handle with no DH outlet."