Waiting to get that football game out of the way next Sunday, so we can move from Hot Stove talk to anticipating pitchers and catcher reporting.

Until then, some thoughts …

So the Tigers signed Prince Fielder for nine years and $214 million. Fielder, 27, batted .299 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI last year. Pairing him with Miguel Cabrera brings comparisons to the one-time Red Sox 1-2 punch of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

You can’t pitch around both of them.

Cabrera will have to move back to third base or DH until Victor Martinez returns from knee surgery in 2013. Cabrera last played third base full time in 2007 with the Marlins. The result was 23 errors.

Look at Fielder’s contract and the seven-year, $154 million deal for Adrian Gonzalez looks like a bargain for Boston. Gonzalez batted .338 with 27 home runs, 117 RBI. But at 31, he is four years older.

But another high-priced negotiation is looming for Boston. Agent Scott Boras, who represents Fielder, also has Jacoby Ellsbury for a client. Ellsbury will be a free agent after the 2013 season.

Last year, Ellsbury batted .321 with 32 home runs, 105 RBI, 39 stolen bases and 119 runs.

How much will Boras demand for Ellsbury, who will be 30 when he is a free agent?

CODY ROSS took J.D. Drew’s old jersey number (7) when he signed with the Red Sox last week.

Ross may be playing left field until Carl Crawford returns from wrist surgery. Ultimately, he looks like a platoon candidate in right field with Ryan Sweeney. Ross is a career .282 hitter against left-handers. .253 against right-handers.

Sweeney’s differential is more pronounced — .296 vs. right-handers, .233 against lefties.

ANTHONY RANAUDO pitched in Class A all last season, his first as a pro. But the Red Sox’s top pitching prospect has his sights on Hadlock Field this year.

Ranaudo, 22, was a first-round pick in 2010 out of Louisiana State, and spoke of his desire for a promotion in a recent interview with milb.com.

“I haven’t heard anything yet — no one from the Red Sox has talked to me about it,” Ranaudo said. “But I hope I start off (in Portland). I hope to make the most of it.

“I’m coming in as prepared as I’ve every been. I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m coming in strong and hopefully I’ll make a good name for myself and earn a spot at Double-A — that would be real fun.”

WHEN THE SEA DOGS announced that the University of Maine would be playing a game at Hadlock Field on May 15 against Boston College, they included a bit of trivia, stating that two former UMaine pitchers also pitched for Portland. Can you name them? (The answer is below).

DUSTIN RICHARDSON, the former pitcher for the Sea Dogs and Red Sox, was suspended for 50 games for the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

According to The New York Times, Richardson, 26, tested positive for five banned substances.

Richardson, a fifth-round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2006 out of Texas Tech, pitched in Portland in 2008 and early in 2009, and eventually reached the majors as a reliever, bouncing back and forth between Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket.

Boston traded Richardson to the Florida Marlins before last season in the Andrew Miller deal. Richardson pitched in Triple-A all last year, first for the Marlins and, after he was released, for the Braves. Atlanta released him after the season.

The Times story did not quote Richardson but used comments from his mother, Debra.

“Dustin realizes it was the biggest mistake of his life,” she told the Times. “He was so ashamed. I’m praying someone will give him another chance.”

THE TRIVIA ANSWER to the UMaine/Sea Dogs connections is Pete Fisher and Rusty Tucker.

Fisher’s time at Maine brings up a bitter memory for the Black Bears. Fisher, a Boston native, signed with Maine at the same time as another pitching prospect, Matt Kinney of Bangor.

But Kinney never pitched for Maine because he was drafted and signed by the Red Sox in 1995. Fisher lasted only one year (1996) before transferring to the University of Alabama.

A fourth-round draft pick of the Twins, Fisher eventually signed with the Red Sox in 2005. He struggled in seven games with Portland and was released.

Tucker pitched for Maine from 1999-2001, was drafted by the Padres, eventually signed with the Red Sox in 2006 and was sent to Portland. He relieved in 25 games, helping the Sea Dogs to an Eastern League title.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

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