Fielder exploring return to Tigers
Posted: Thursday December 03, 1998 06:20 PM
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Fielder hit 51 home runs in 1990 for Detroit Damian Strohmeyer/Allsport |
DETROIT (AP) -- Cecil Fielder
wants to return to the Detroit Tigers.
Released last season by the Anaheim Angels, but not
wanting to retire, the 35-year-old Fielder is hoping to land a job for
1999, and his former club in Detroit is one place he is looking.
"We haven't told him no," Tigers general manager Randy Smith said
Wednesday. "I'd say there's a chance."
Smith said if the Tigers do take a look at Fielder, it would be as a
spring-training invitee.
"At this point, we can't tie up a roster spot," Smith said.
Fielder earned a World Series ring with the Yankees in 1997, but had his
most productive years with the Tigers, who signed him out of the Japan
before the 1990 season.
His 51 home runs in 1990 were the most by a Tiger since Hank Greenberg's
58 in 1938.
Openly disgruntled at the direction in which the Tigers were headed,
Fielder was traded to the Yankees in 1996 after climbing to fifth on the
Tigers' career list with 245 home runs.
Before being released by the Angels last year, he hit .233 with 17 homers
and 68 RBIs. He also played briefly for Cleveland.
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