It's good to be Prince Fielder. At 25 years old, he's one of the most feared bats in the National League, entering the second year of a two-year, $18MM contract, and according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Anthony Witrado, he's worry-free when it comes to his next contract.
Fielder addressed several reporters today at Brewers On Deck, a day-long fan festival held in Milwaukee. While it's no secret that his agent, Scott Boras, aims for every dollar possible for his clients, Fielder says he's not yet concerned with the situation, and that ultimately, it's not Boras' decision:
"In the end, it's my decision. But as my agent, he's going to make sure that I have the most information possible about what's going to benefit me and my family. That's what it's about first. My family has to be happy, and then I go from there. There's no urgency right now as far as that."
Fielder owns Brewers single-season records in home runs (50 in 2007), walks (110 in 2009), and RBIs (141 in 2009). McCalvy writes that the historical significance of those numbers matters to Fielder. While Boras may be dreaming of the open market with dollar signs in his eyes, if you ask the big man himself, he's happy where he is and would like to stick around:
"I came up here and I love it here. My thing is I want to stay here as long as possible. For now, I'm here for two more years anyway. All that other stuff, hopefully, will work out."
Fielder is under team control through the 2011 season, as he'll be eligible for arbitration one last time after the 2010 season. It's tough to imagine that the Brewers would want to go through that process, as it could be a record-setting case. For comparison, Mark Teixeira received $12.5MM through his final year of arbitration, a 39% raise from the prior year. That type of raise would put Fielder somewhere around $14.5MM for 2011.
There have been no deadlines set on working out an extension to this point. If he were to reach the open market, Fielder would join a group potentially including Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, and Ryan Howard. Now that's what I call a free agent class!
When Ryan Howard is the worst 1B option, you know you have a good class.
When Ryan Howard is the worst 1B option, you know you have a good class.
Wow, that WOULD be some free agent class, but I’d give the edge to Albert Pujols & Adrian González in terms of being the total package – as offensive AND defensive giants.
Thing what team could give ig money to the guys? Yankees and red sox not really in the market. leave the nym as the only team that have big cash. im guessing outside pujols 15-17 5 yrs deal is the best they can get
Thing what team could give ig money to the guys? Yankees and red sox not really in the market. leave the nym as the only team that have big cash. im guessing outside pujols 15-17 5 yrs deal is the best they can get
red sox could very well be in the market for one of them.
red sox could very well be in the market for one of them.
Unless we were talking this season, the Mets might not be in it at all. They have very high hopes for 1B prospect, Ike Davis, who is expected up by next season, at latest. Although he isn’t the big basher type that Fielder is, he is projected to be a prolific hitter. It is hard to know but I am not sure the Mets would toss him aside even for Fielder.
Unless we were talking this season, the Mets might not be in it at all. They have very high hopes for 1B prospect, Ike Davis, who is expected up by next season, at latest. Although he isn’t the big basher type that Fielder is, he is projected to be a prolific hitter. It is hard to know but I am not sure the Mets would toss him aside even for Fielder.
Wow, that WOULD be some free agent class, but I’d give the edge to Albert Pujols & Adrian González in terms of being the total package – as offensive AND defensive giants.
Pujols and A-Gonz need to stay with their hometown teams. its a fantasy but i think i’d be awsome to see howard with the cardinals and pujols..howard grew up in the st.louis area and was hoping to be drafted by them but was chosen by the phillies.And he lives here in the offseasonwon’t happen though :/
Not unless the rules change and Pujols can play 1B with Howard sitting on his shoulders. 😉
pujols was drafted as a shortstop, played 2 full seasons in left field, and has won a silver slugger award at third base..their are plenty of options.
Of course….but it’s still more fun imagining Cirque du Pujols!
Of course….but it’s still more fun imagining Cirque du Pujols!
LoL. Pujols is a good 1B, but he can’t play LF or 3B anymore, especially if you want him to keep up his usual production.
“he can’t play LF or 3B anymore”
dude he’s only 30, not 37. Im pretty sure he can play LF and 3B without much concern seeing as he as already done that for 3 years ( 2 in OF 1 at 3B). If i remember right, pujols said he was 100% ready to move over to third base or back to the outfield if the cardinals were able to get teixeria..so clearly he can still play multiple positions.
but this isn’t really relevant sense we know that pujols and howard wont be on the same team.
But he has been playing 1B full-time since 2004. That is a lot of games. Since then, the only other position he has played is 2B, which he played for 3 1/3rd inning. If the Cardinals felt that Pujols could be a good enough defender at 3B for their team, they would’ve left him there, because having a bat like Pujols at a premium position is incredible. Pujols is a fantastic player, but just because he says he is ready to move over to a position doesn’t mean he can.
Most players are athletic enough to play any position on the field. They still have to play that position well.
i think he would be able to get away with not having prima vera defense at 3B or LF if he produces like he has been…and it wasn’t sense 04..it was sense 05. and the main reason he moved over to 1st base was because their was a 7 time gold glover named scott rolen playing 3B at the time or else he would have probably stayed.
But he has been playing 1B full-time since 2004. That is a lot of games. Since then, the only other position he has played is 2B, which he played for 3 1/3rd inning. If the Cardinals felt that Pujols could be a good enough defender at 3B for their team, they would’ve left him there, because having a bat like Pujols at a premium position is incredible. Pujols is a fantastic player, but just because he says he is ready to move over to a position doesn’t mean he can.
Most players are athletic enough to play any position on the field. They still have to play that position well.
“he can’t play LF or 3B anymore”
dude he’s only 30, not 37. Im pretty sure he can play LF and 3B without much concern seeing as he as already done that for 3 years ( 2 in OF 1 at 3B). If i remember right, pujols said he was 100% ready to move over to third base or back to the outfield if the cardinals were able to get teixeria..so clearly he can still play multiple positions.
but this isn’t really relevant sense we know that pujols and howard wont be on the same team.
LoL. Pujols is a good 1B, but he can’t play LF or 3B anymore, especially if you want him to keep up his usual production.
pujols was drafted as a shortstop, played 2 full seasons in left field, and has won a silver slugger award at third base..their are plenty of options.
Not unless the rules change and Pujols can play 1B with Howard sitting on his shoulders. 😉
As a Cardinal fan I hope you are not! Moving Pujols anywhere is the WORST idea I have heard. He has elbow problems(if you’ve never heard) and does not need to throw the ball anymore than we absolutely need him to! Stupid idea please don’t ever mention Albert switching pisitions again!
Pujols and A-Gonz need to stay with their hometown teams. its a fantasy but i think i’d be awsome to see howard with the cardinals and pujols..howard grew up in the st.louis area and was hoping to be drafted by them but was chosen by the phillies.And he lives here in the offseasonwon’t happen though :/
does anyone have a link to the free agents in the 2011-2012 free agent class? would be interesting to see who is available.
You can go to Cots baseball contracts and see FA’s for individual teams and the teams total amount commited for the next 5 years. I know it’s not exactly what you want, but it’s all i know.
You can go to Cots baseball contracts and see FA’s for individual teams and the teams total amount commited for the next 5 years. I know it’s not exactly what you want, but it’s all i know.
does anyone have a link to the free agents in the 2011-2012 free agent class? would be interesting to see who is available.
I know it’s probably less than a 5% chance of it happening, but could anyone imagine Prince Fielder hitting in NYS? Wow….great shot at being the 1st legitimate player to break Maris’ 61 hr mark. With his propencity to upper cut the ball and the way the ball carries early in the year at NYS in RF he could have 30-40 hrs by the all-star break.
I know it’s probably less than a 5% chance of it happening, but could anyone imagine Prince Fielder hitting in NYS? Wow….great shot at being the 1st legitimate player to break Maris’ 61 hr mark. With his propencity to upper cut the ball and the way the ball carries early in the year at NYS in RF he could have 30-40 hrs by the all-star break.
Or Ryan Howard hitting in Fenway, especially with the way he hits the ball to opposite field. He could have 50 dbls and 50 hrs easily.
I would think Anderson or Rizzo would be manning first in Fenway by then.
Or Ryan Howard hitting in Fenway, especially with the way he hits the ball to opposite field. He could have 50 dbls and 50 hrs easily.
You hear that James Loney?
You hear that James Loney?
It’s scary looking at what Boston could do soon with this class. Right now they only have $58 million dollars commited to the 2012 team. They could go into that off-season needing a 1B, DH, 2 OF, SS, C, SP. Let’s assume they keep Beckett and Papelbon after arbitration and they go with 1 year deals to fill their needs for the 2011 season (DH and Catcher). With the roughly $80 million they would have to spend it wouldn’t be impossible for them to sign Fielder to DH, Gonzalez for 1B (Youkillis moves back to 3rd), Reyes at SS and Mauer to catch. No I’m not an idiot who really thinks this is what will happen, but I’m just saying what is somewhat possible.
It’s scary looking at what Boston could do soon with this class. Right now they only have $58 million dollars commited to the 2012 team. They could go into that off-season needing a 1B, DH, 2 OF, SS, C, SP. Let’s assume they keep Beckett and Papelbon after arbitration and they go with 1 year deals to fill their needs for the 2011 season (DH and Catcher). With the roughly $80 million they would have to spend it wouldn’t be impossible for them to sign Fielder to DH, Gonzalez for 1B (Youkillis moves back to 3rd), Reyes at SS and Mauer to catch. No I’m not an idiot who really thinks this is what will happen, but I’m just saying what is somewhat possible.
I could see the Nats after one of them if they don’t extend dunn…They might not sign one of them but i could see them maken a push like they did Tex..I know kasten said they could have a payroll under LA teams or Mets so around 120million prolly…they only spent 60million last season so I could see them being players.
I could see the Nats after one of them if they don’t extend dunn…They might not sign one of them but i could see them maken a push like they did Tex..I know kasten said they could have a payroll under LA teams or Mets so around 120million prolly…they only spent 60million last season so I could see them being players.
I can just see it now:
“Prince Fielder due to be a free agent after 2011…Red Sox have interest.”
Red Sox could sign him as a DH
a 27 year old DH? Really?
At least the Cardinals won’t have their shortage of replacements if they lose Pujols…
How many of the four reach free agency? I’ll guess Pujols and Howard re-sign with current teams and Gonzalez and Fielder test the market.
Someone on another forum suggested that the Crew should offer Prince 5/100 – I don’t think that’s going to cut it. That’s not a long enough offer. Maybe 6/132 with 5-10% of it deferred. I think this is a situation like CC where Melvin can justify making this type of offer because Prince is a genuine franchise player. But he won’t take it. Like Utley4God suggested Fielder & Gonzalez will test the market. The only other teams I see who could & would offer a similar or better deal would be Boston & Anaheim (maybe Seattle & the Mets too but doubtful).
I say we make a solid run at Prince but if negotiations hit a stalemate & this team isn’t looking sharp at the 2011 All Star Break then trade Prince by the July deadline & consider entering the Adrian Gonzalez sweepstakes that winter.
When a player starts saying ” I love it here” and then” I have to do what is good for his family” it means I want top dollar or goodbye. Doubtful The Selig family will pay him what he is worth.
Agreed, although I think we’re about to see a trend start of players working out somewhat team-friendly deals to stay with their original clubs. From Felix Hernandez to Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer and possibly Prince Fielder. I could see him signing a 6 year/$100-112MM deal with the Brewers, but it’ll probably take closer to 7 years/$140MM to keep him.
The Seligs haven’t owned the club in over five years. Mark Attanasio has shown he’s willing to spend money. Do I think they’ll spend enough to keep Prince? Doubtful, but crazier things have happened.
*Antanassio family
“Doubtful The Selig family will pay him what he is worth.”
Nice job making completely uninformed speculations.
Just my opinion.
Brewers are probably gonna flip him for prospects eventually
Seriously, if Fielder doesn’t lose any weight, he will automatically disqualify himself to the DH role. It is only a matter of time (5 years tops) that he has left in a NL uniform, before he falls in line with the rest of the “Designated-not a real baseball player-hitters”.
I agree with the weight issue. If you read the whole interview he discusses his weight battle, and mentions that we could easily become obese if he did’nt work out every day. He even went vegetarian in 08′ (thank God that did’nt last long). I hope that he stays in Milwaukee, but if that dose’nt look feasible, I hope that Melvin raids someone’s farm system rather than loosing him to free agency and settling for a conciliatory draft pick.
The good thing for Fielder is that he is still a youngster. Once he ages, he will drop off a cliff in production at age 32 or somewhere around there. I’m guessing the Mets or someone like that will drop 20 million a year for 6 years. Its crazy to give anyone a contract like that – even Teixeira or Ryan Howard.
All true. I’m just afraid that they might turn Davis around before they really know what he is. That’s important. Recently there have been more than a few references to Omar trading Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Phillips, back in the day. I wouldn’t want to see a repeat of that kind of transaction, even for gain. After so many lapses in judgment, Omar & the Wilpons need to be more shrewd in their transactions.
All true. I’m just afraid that they might turn Davis around before they really know what he is. That’s important. Recently there have been more than a few references to Omar trading Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, and Brandon Phillips, back in the day. I wouldn’t want to see a repeat of that kind of transaction, even for gain. After so many lapses in judgment, Omar & the Wilpons need to be more shrewd in their transactions.
but….NO we COULDN’T!! Albert Pujols cannot switch positions. Apparently you do not realize how bad his elbow is. It is amazing he can still play with all the damage done to it. The worste idea ever would be to move the best hitter in the game to a place where he would struggle to stay healthy. Let alone that the Cardinals would never afford to sign Howard.