Will Braun's Extension Heat Up the MLB Trade Rumor Mill?
The Milwaukee Brewers are going to give Ryan Braun a lot of money. To be exact, they signed him to an extension that is going to pay him $105 million and keep him in Milwaukee through at least the 2020 season.
This is all well and good, but it just so happens that the Brewers have another player on their roster that deserves some contract attention: first baseman Prince Fielder. He's due to be a free agent at the end of the season, and he is going to command a hefty price tag whether or not he stays with the Brewers.
We know this because Fielder is good for 35 home runs and 100 RBIs every year, but the fact that he is represented by uber-agent Scott Boras is a not insignificant factor.
Now that the Brewers have directed so much money at Braun, can they afford to keep Fielder?
According to the Associated Press, Fielder hopes so:
I'm not sure. You never know. If they have this much to spend, you never know. I hope not. I hope they have a little left for me, but this year, my contract's good for this year, I'm happy about it and ready to play baseball.
Fielder is making $15.5 million this season, which is the highest figure ever given to an arbitration-eligible player. He is definitely helping his impending free agency in the early goings, as he is hitting .368 with three homers and an NL-best 19 RBIs.
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As for Braun, the slugging left fielder said he would love to keep playing alongside Fielder for years to come:
There's no doubt in my mind that he loves it here. I know he's enjoyed his time here. I can say that we've never had more fun playing together than we have since the beginning of spring training. We're really enjoying baseball right now. I know that this is a place he'd love to stay, but again, that depends on what happens here in the future, and what he really feels like is in the best interest of himself and his family.
When Brewers GM Doug Melvin was asked about how Braun's extension effects the clubs ability to re-sign Fielder, he said that their situations are different.
"They're similar in that they're two of the most talented players in the game, but then they're different in where they are with their contract status," said said Melvin.
Melvin also stressed that the club is trying to win this year first and foremost, and he thinks having both Fielder and Braun in the mix gives them a very good chance to do so. The Brewers are currently third in the NL Central at 9-9.
Personally, I think that Bruan's extension will ultimately spell the end of Fielder's tenure in Milwaukee. He's already making $15.5 million, so it's entirely likely that he could command an annual contract in the $20 million range, a la Adrian Gonzalez or Mark Teixeira. And if Albert Pujols gets what he's asking for, then so will Fielder.
Let's face it, the Brewers can't afford to pay any player $20 million a year. Braun's contract is too big, and Boras doesn't do hometown discounts.
So here's a question: if the Brewers are out of the race by July 31, would they listen to offers for Fielder?
I guess that would depend how far out of the race they are, but I also think that they would have to listen to offers if clubs started calling.
The tricky part is that, unless he is acquired by a team that thinks they can resign him, Fielder would be a pretty pricey rental.
Because the Yankees and Red Sox are set at first base, Fielder could therefore stay put.
Only time will tell.
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