Brewers To Focus On Fielder, Braun
Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun form an awesome tandem; the two Milwaukee sluggers could combine for 90 home runs this year. According to Tom Haudricourt, they've been identified as the first two targets for contract extensions. Haudricourt says the Crew will want to buy out at least one year of free agency in either case.
Fielder is set to reach arbitration for the first time next year. Scott Boras mentioned "general discussions" with Doug Melvin on the topic. I imagine Fielder's arb years could cost more than $35MM going year to year. Then he'd want at least $18MM for the free agent year.
Talks thus far with Braun haven't been serious, though preliminary contact was made a month ago. At that time Troy Tulowitzki's deal was considered a possible framework. Most likely, the Brewers' waiting until late May to call Braun up last year pushed his first year of arb eligibility to 2010.
1. Pittsburgh, Bryan Bullington, rhp, Ball State
2. Tampa Bay, B.J. Upton, ss, Greenbrier Christian Academy, Chesapeake, Va.
3. Cincinnati, Chris Gruler, rhp, Liberty HS, Brentwood, Calif.
4. Baltimore, Adam Loewen, lhp, Fraser Valley Christian, Surrey, B.C.
5. Montreal, Clint Everts, rhp, Cypress Falls HS, Houston.
6. Kansas City, Zack Greinke, rhp, Apopka (Fla.) HS.
7. Milwaukee, Prince Fielder, 1b, Eau Gallie HS, Melbourne, Fla
To think all these teams passed on Fielder...
Posted by: AirmanSD | March 25, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Imagine if Fielder had gone to Pittsburgh. While they probably would have traded him eventually, you would have to think that he would have helping prevent one losing season there before moving on.
Similarly, who knows how Milwaukee would be right now without him.
Posted by: TigerFan54 | March 25, 2008 at 12:31 AM
yes drafting baseball players is anything but an exact science. upton, lowen, and grenke all are very talented. upton is becoming a star. loewen and grenke still could be good. the others? bullington, everts, and gruler? i have seen bullington pitch and he doesnt even have good stuff, let alone good command or mound presence. cant speak for the other two. fielder is a crappy person. he cussed out a kid at a game i was at last year. i think he will be greedy in negotiations. with boras as an agent its a perfect fit. braun has only produced for 2/3 of a season. maybe they should wait on him.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 25, 2008 at 12:34 AM
joelcards-
I dont know what you saw with him cussing out a kid...but Prince Fielder actually is considered a very nice person...he often stays after games for 2 hours signing autographs for kids and generally cares about his image. He has a kid himeself and enjoys sitting down after the game and watch sports center with his son...
But again I did see what you saw so I cant comment on it. I do know he got some flack for when he swore at Matt Capps in the Pirates game last year after he was beaned and then scored the winning run from 2nd base on a play at the plate...He does often times let his emotions get the best of him.
Also about the contract...He seems like the type that would want to stay in one city his whole career but he does have the wrong agent for that to happen..
Posted by: erbacaine | March 25, 2008 at 02:22 AM
Also the Brewers and Jack Z(the man that does the Brewers scouting...and only Scouting Director to ever win Exec. of the Year) was BLASTED for reaching for the Very FAT Prince Fielder....People thougt he would never make it to the Majors when he was drafted out of High School..because he was so large...he has actually dropped 30 pounds since he was drafted...
Posted by: erbacaine | March 25, 2008 at 02:25 AM
"Also the Brewers and Jack Z(the man that does the Brewers scouting...and only Scouting Director to ever win Exec. of the Year) was BLASTED for reaching for the Very FAT Prince Fielder....People thougt he would never make it to the Majors when he was drafted out of High School..because he was so large...he has actually dropped 30 pounds since he was drafted..."
I've also read that while he looks fat, it's mostly muscle. The guy's just a beast.
Posted by: FineHamAbounds | March 25, 2008 at 07:23 AM
It might be muscle now, but it was not muscle back then. There was an interview of Prince last year. Not sure if it was in Sports Weekly, SI, or ESPN magazine (most likely SW, since it's the one I subscribe to). He said at one point he went 6 months?? without looking at a scale because he was afraid of what it might say ... I'm sure I have the exact amount of time wrong, since I'm just pulling this from memory.
He's definitely a beast now, no doubt.
Posted by: kosmo99 | March 25, 2008 at 10:05 AM