While it was expected that Fielder would stay on the 40-man roster until his contract expired in 2020, it appears as though there was a financial settlement regarding the 33-year-old's neck injury that allowed the club to take him off the roster. Fielder announced his retirement in August of 2016.

This was a procedural move removing Fielder from the 40-man roster. Fielder has already announced the end of his playing career after undergoing neck-fusion surgery last summer, but he will remain on the 40-man roster in the offseasons, likely through the end of his contract (2020).

This was a procedural move removing Fielder from the 40-man roster. Fielder has already announced the end of his playing career after undergoing neck-fusion surgery last summer, but he will remain on the 40-man roster in the offseason, likely through the end of his contract (2020).

Fielder has been out for much of this season with a neck issue, that ultimately required surgery and cost him the rest of the year. He is still under contract through the 2020 season at $20 million a year, which could be a tricky situation for the Rangers if they don't have insurances on that deal. He is a career .287 hitting with 944 RBI and 319 long balls since 2005 when he broke through with the Brewers. At 32, it'd be an early retirement but neck issues have caused him to struggle over the last two years, so could be thinking about the long run.

Fielder was already done for the season after undergoing neck surgery so this move is just a procedural one to get him off the 40-man roster in order to accept the incoming Carlos Beltran on to the roster. This won't change his recovery time at all.