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.
