"Since 2008, there have been five megabucks contracts handed out to five elite first basemen. Those deals might be instructive as to the kind deal Prince Fielder can hope to expect – and the kind of deal the Nationals may have to fork over in order to land him.

These deals came in different ways, at different points of each players' career. Ryan Howard received an extension, and Miguel Cabrera had his final year of arbitration bought out. So these are not all ideal analogies for Fielder, but the figures offer the right picture for the kind of financial stratosphere he fits into."