I think it's safe to say that Prince Fielder was not pleased about having his contract renewed this morning by the Brewers.
Fielder, Ryan Braun and Corey Hart had their contracts renewed when the sides couldn't agree on terms for 2008. The team renewed those contracts using a formula they go by for players with zero to three years of service in the majors.
I don't know if the figure is exact but I was told Fielder was renewed at approximately $650,000. He made $415,000 last season, when his contract also was renewed.
I think a lot of people are blowing this out of proportion.
That being said. Upper management better understand loyalty, and taking care of your own. I'm not that worried, Melvin has avoided arbitration every year since he came to Milwaukee, so I think that Fielder's time will come, and Milwaukee will pay him.
Attanasio said he would pay him what ever it takes. So I am going to hold him to that. Take care of your own, and they in turn will take care of you.
I am a huge Prince fan, that said here is how it is. The Brewers don't have to pay him anymore than what they did. Prince isn't even arbitration eligible yet, next year will be his first year of that. Prince can be pissed off all he wants, but his agent is Scott Boras and Boras doesn't want his guys to be bought out of their arbitration years, so Prince will not sign a long term deal now. So Prince and Boras want the best of both worlds. They want the Brewers to pay Prince now when they don't have too, and when Prince becames a free-agent in 2011 they are going to try to get every penny they can from whoever will pay them.
I think he is worth more than he got, but hopefully it doesn't affect his play. I don't hink it will, but I think next year he will be looking to get something close to what Howard got this year I believe it was about 10mil. I would guess that Sheets will be gone next year so I think the Brewers will use some of that money to try and make him happy after 08
I agree that he is worth more than the 650.000 but at the same time he is getting paid like everyone else gets paid un tell arbitration once that happens I think the Crew will offer him a long term contract but like Saint1 said Scott Boras is his agent and don't really see it working unless the Crew over pay him for those years.
I would be upset too. He is a big part of the Brewers offense and he is also a part our great looking future. He hit 50 HR and had 119 RBI's last year he deservses more money than that.
I think this is a case of the media blowing it out of proportion! I think Prince is smart enough to know that his time is coming, and he knows how good he has it in Milwaukee.
Not the smartest of comments by Prince, but what would expect from a 23 year old. His abilities are far beyond his salary, but that is the life of a young MLB star. If he continues to perform as he did last year, he will certainly get some huge dollars when his time comes. Prince needs to suck it up and avoid bringing negativity to the clubhouse.
The most dangerous thing about this is what affect will this have on the team? Will this be an issue that is an interruption to the team? The Brewers best shot is NOW. They have to go all in for the division this year. They cannot afford to have a unhappy, grumpy, slumping superstar. I hope they handle this well. GO BREWERS
If anything, this will result in Prince playing better baseball. He'll be out to show the Brewers' front office, and the rest of baseball that he deserves to be making the big bucks.
You also have to remember that what takes place in the front office and what takes place on the field are two entirely different things. Let's say hypothetically that you worked for a large company. If the CEO makes a decision that you don't agree with, would you be likely to take it out on your co-workers and your supervisor? No, these are seperate matters and won't translate onto the field.
Prince is upset and carries it with him for a long time. Look at his relationship with his father. Look for Prince to be part of a block buster trade within the last two years of his contract. They did it with Sexton, Overbay and and Lee.
The better Prince plays this year, the more money he'll make in abitration next year (I believe he is eligible for arbitration next year. Correct me if I'm wrong). NO matter how mad he is, I'm sure he understands this. However angry Prince is, his best option is to take it out on opposing pitchers, plain and simple.
In the article that came out about his being upset. I believe it also said he was the being paid more than anyone else in his situation, being a third year player and all. Yes, he is undercompensated now, but his big payday will be here before he knows it. That is just how MLB contracts work.
