The Nationals have emerged as the favorite to sign Prince Fielder, according to an MLB official who indicates that is the spreading word within the industry. For public record, the Nationals have played down any interest they might have in Fielder. General manager Mike Rizzo said recently that "unless something extraordinary and out of the ordinary" happened, he was planning to go with Adam LaRoche at first base in 2012. The market for Fielder has been slow to develop.