Unable to come to terms on a long term contract last winter, the Brewers bought out two of his arbitration seasons with a two-season pact that paid him $7.5 million this year and will pay him $10.5 million next year. After the 2010 season, he’ll have five years of service time and be eligible for arbitration for the last time before hitting free agency after the 2011 season.
So, the Brewers essentially control his rights for two more seasons. $10.5 million is a bargain for a player of Fielder’s caliber, but that’s going to go way up in 2011 – he could easily break records for an arbitration award with another strong season as a 26-year-old next year. He’s looking at something like a $15 to $20 million payday in 2011 before he hits free agency and commands a massive contract.
Dave thinks the Brewers should trade Prince after this season and move another infielder over to first, probably Mat Gamel. Why not pay Prince? The Brewers were throwing $20 million a year at Sabathia last season, and they didn’t spend that money on anyone else. Braun is locked up through 2015, so they don’t need to worry about his contract breaking them until they’ve gotten through his peak years. Fielder is six months younger than Braun and has more major league experience. My guess is that there is some number of years X for which X * $20 million equals the amount that puts Fielder’s signature on the line. So rather than trading Fielder and putting a less talented player at his position, pony up $20 million a year for his services from 2011 through 2020. The Brewers can trade him after the 2014 season when his peak production is over and $20 million will seem cheap for the what is he producing.
(I’m assuming that Fielder will sign for the right offer. AS far as I know he has nothing against Milwaukee, he just doesn’t want to sign a long term deal that buys out as free agency as cheaply as Braun’s contract. Brewers fans, if I’m wrong, please let me know.)
Posted by David Pinto at 12:44 pm | Management, Players | Permalink | No Comments
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