fielder is not retiring. if he were retiring, he'd forfeit what's guaranteed to him through 2020. he is part of the texas rangers organization, and is being paid by texas (and the amount pledged by detroit when they traded him). fielder has not been designated for assignment, nor has he been released. he remains on the 60-day disabled list, and will until the season ends. at that point, texas can release him or trade him (likely forfeiting any insurance money), or they can add him back to their 40-man roster (which keeps him in the texas organization). come spring training 2017, fielder is a near-guarantee to be put back onto the 60-day disabled list, then back on the 40-man throughout the 2017-2018 offseason. keep repeating this until 2020, when his contract expires. unless the rangers are super desperate for a 40-man roster spot in any of the next four offseasons, i can't see them cutting ties with fielder. so, if you are hopeful that the brewers sign fielder, look for that to happen no earlier than 2021. the texas rangers settled with their insurance company, allowing them flexibility to remove prince fielder from their 40-man roster in the offseason. they exercised that right by releasing fielder today. obviously, his 40-man spot can now go to any prospect or free agent, so this is advantageous to the rangers as they plan their 2018 roster.