Fielder Eyeing The Tigers

Cecil Fielder says he 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 an 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 home runs and 68 RB I. He also played briefly for Cleveland.

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