The Price for Prince
Take the 'n' out of Prince and you have the word 'price'. The Brewers and their fans knew that this day was coming and it has arrived. The Brewers signed Fielder to a $670,000 deal yesterday. That is a lot of money to most people, but to Prince it was a slap in the face. He believes he deserves more money, and he deserved it last year. When you compare him to other players in the league, there is no question that this is true, but it is also the Brewers' right to use the system they have used for every player with 0-3 years of experience.
When teams like the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies make exceptions to their rules for guys like Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Howard, I can understand why guys like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder would be jealous and/or frustrated (Note: Braun has not expressed this, but I can imagine he may have these feelings).
My opinion on the whole situation is that the Brewers will make long term offers to Weeks, Hart, Braun, Gallardo, and Hardy and will let guys like Sheets and Fielder go once their deals expire. The Brewers will get all they can out of Fielder this year, and each year he goes to arbitration. Once he is eligible for free agency, he will head to New York, Boston, or California and play first base until he physically can not play the field anymore and has to move to DH. The Brewers will then transition Matt LaPorta from right field to first base after Fielder leaves. I think the Brewers realize they have no chance once he is able to bolt to another team, and they believe they should save their money for guys they have a legit chance at keeping.... and I think they are making the right decision.
While Prince is a Brewer, I will be a big fan. But I know that Scott Boras is drooling over the payday Fielder will get in a couple years... and it will not be in Milwaukee. Prince is no Robin Yount when it comes to loyalty.... at least I am not getting that impression from him based on his comments both yesterday and before.
I'm really going out on a limb here because I don't know what I'm talking about, but its times like this when I wish there were a salary cap in baseball... It seems like to me that would keep player's paychecks in order and all teams on a level playing field. Well, Price, I'm going to root like crazy for you for the next few years, but then probably end up loathing you when you sign with the Yankees...
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Well said, Steve. I agree with your whole perspective on this. Prince is gone someday for more money, but hopefully Melvin will get something for him before he leaves (and I believe Melvin will.) We will be alright. I'll cheer loudly for the Prince while he's here, but I won't blame him when the time comes for the big payday. If some team is willing to pay him, why should he not take the money! It's the same old business of baseball! We've just got to get something for him before he leaves so it doesn't set the franchise back for years! Remember the Paul Molitor situation. We didn't trade him, thought we could resign him, didn't and didn't have anybody to replace him. I really believe that set the franchise back many years (that and the Higuera resigning, should have used his money for Molitor.)
Looking forward to the end of winter in Wisconsin! Scott H.- Cudahy, WI
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It's a definite slap in the face. He was arguably the best 1st baseman in the league last year and you don't do everything you can to compensate him and keep him happy? It's dumb and disrespectful.
Now he'll probably just squeeze every penny he can out of the Brewers when he goes to arbitration. If there was ever a chance for the Brewers to keep Prince and maybe compete in a World Series in the near future, they just ruined it. Either the Brewers are dumb for believing you can win championships without stars or their organization is satisfied with just being competitive.
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While I cannot argue that, when compared to other superstars, Prince is underpaid, he is going through what every single star in the history of baseball went through during their first 3 years. They are stuck with their original team and limited salary wise. This is a good thing for a team like the Brewers because they do not have to offer huge contracts to young players, who may fizzle out after a couple big years. If it were not for a system like this, the Brewers would have already lost their best players to other teams. It may be the only thing baseball does right when it comes to salaries.
When arbitration comes, he will likely ask for $12 million or so and the Brewers will likely offer $8-$9 million. The arbitrator will probably settle right in the middle of the two... and he will get $10 million or so. This is what would have happened whether they gave him a big deal this year or not.
And you can't tell me that he will not play harder this season in an effort to drive up those arbitration numbers. Brewer fans will reap the benefits of an angry Prince.. and Prince will reap the benefits of a huge year.
I have a hard time feeling bad for a guy that makes a little less that 20 times what I do per year... especially when he just has to wait one season until he makes 285 times what I do!!
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