Baseball

Cecil Fielder, the major leagues’ run-batted-in leader in 1992, has demanded the Detroit Tigers trade him in a procedural move seen as a way to get a long-term contract from the club.

Fielder, who had the right to demand a trade because he has five-years plus of major league service, made $4.6 million from the Tigers in 1992. Sunday was the deadline to demand a trade.

Unless Fielder withdraws the demand, the Tigers must trade him by March 15 or he becomes a free agent. If Fielder is traded, however, he will lose the right to become a free agent for five years.