Spring Headlines: Prince Fielder to be evaluated for sleep issues
As important as it is for players to stay in shape and take care of their bodies, it’s of equal importance to be well-rested. Unfortunately for Prince Fielder, that hasn’t been the case this spring. He’s been plagued by sleeping issues that have impacted his performance and his mindset at spring training.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Fielder reported those issues to the Texas Rangers this week, and as of Wednesday he was sent back to Dallas to hopefully find some answers.
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“It sounds like he’s having disjointed sleeping,” assistant general manager Thad Levine explained on Wednesday. “We figured at this time of year, rather than asking him to gut it out, why not have him evaluated?”
Fielder is expected to undergo a pretty thorough evaluation, which will include a sleep study. His absence shouldn’t be a long one though, as the team believes he’ll be back on Saturday.
As noted by Levine, now is the time of year to get these types of issues sorted out. It’s an important issue too because of the impact it could have on Fielder’s overall health. As you may remember, Mike Napoli dealt with a similar issue while with the Red Sox, and wound up having surgery to correct it. Nobody knows if Fielder is heading down that same path, but some relief should come just by having ome answers.
OTHER SPRING HEADLINES
Just a tweak: Justin Upton left Wednesday’s game as a precaution after tweaking his ankle in a near collision with Anthony Gose. [@jaysonst]
Demands: Adrian Beltre is seeking a three-year extension in the range of $19 million per season. He’s eligible to be a free agent following the 2016 season. [@JonHeyman]
Opening day nod: Right-hander Sonny Gray will get the ball for the Oakland A’s on opening day. [@JaneMLB]
Ailing: Jean Segura was scratched from Arizona’s spring game on Wednesday with knee soreness. It’s not believed to be a serious issue. [@nickpiecoro]
Steep price: The Braves are expected to ask for a large return if the Cardinals inquire about shortstop Erick Aybar. [Atlanta Journal Constituion]
The end: Veteran utilityman Skip Schumaker has retired, according to Padres manager Andy Green. [@Padres]
Showcase: Tim Lincecum is still a week or two away from holding his showcase. [@JonHeyman]
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
