"The Nationals continue to be in the Prince Fielder sweepstakes, although the club is not willing to give the free-agent first baseman a 10-year deal like the one that first baseman Albert Pujols got from the Angels, according to a baseball source. It appears that the Nationals are, however, willing to give Fielder a no-trade clause.

An industry source believes that the Nationals want to give Fielder a six- or seven-year deal. The length of the contract was also a problem when the Nationals were trying to sign left-hander Mark Buehrle. The club wanted to give him a three-year deal, but Buehrle ended up signing a four-year, $58 million contract with the Marlins.

The source also said the Nationals are in serious competition with the Marlins and Rangers for Fielder's services, even though reports indicate that Miami is trying hard to land center fielder Yoenis Cespedes. It was also reported that Fielder had a meeting with the Rangers on Friday in Texas. "