Braun, Fielder, Hart, Hardy, Weeks: Will they stay in Milwaukee?

[WINDY SHRIMP]

I really think Mark needs to sign these guys longterm. Fielder's agent might go nuts and demand 15-20 a year, which would be a bit on the high end. I don't think Fielder is seflish and I think he appreciates his fans in Milwaukee and will sign with us long term.

 

I am equally worried about Braun though. I think he is kind of "L.A." and might leave and just be unwilling to stay in Milwaukee. Signing him long term is very important.

 

Lastly, Corey Hart has been our clutchest hitter and is very underrated. I don't think we'll keep him.

 

 

(added tags --1992)

(added to thread title to include all the names that have popped up in this discussion --1992)

[Ennder]

Fielder is in the AL for his first big contract in my opinion, Hart will stick with Brewers. Braun could go either way.

[sbrylski]

Well, Fielder is under contract 4 more years, Hart 4 more, and Braun 6 more. A lot can happen between then and now.

 

I would say pick two of Gallardo, Braun, Fielder, Hart, Hardy, Weeks, and LaPorta to be in Milwaukee longer than their 6 seasons. Three if things go right financially for the franchise over the next 4-6 years (i.e. playoff revenues, new TV contract).

[WINDY SHRIMP]

Oh wow. I didn't know they were under contract that long. That is great news. Are they going to start making more than like 500,000 dollars?

[sbrylski]

Brewerfan.net Salary Page Link

That link is a nice table of all the players contracts. Basically, every player is under contract for their first six season, with the first 3 at about league minimum salary. This season doesn't count for Braun, because he wasn't called up right away, which was a big reason for keeping him down for April.http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewTeamSalary.do?teamId=1

[rluzinski]

Any new player brought up from the minors is the property of the team for at least 6 years. For players that come up midseason, often the team has exclusive rights to them for 6+ years. For the first 3 years, the player plays for about league minimum (something like $385,000 right now?). For the last 3 years, the player is arbitration eligible. Usually, the guy will get something like 33%, 66% and 100% for what they'd get on the open market for those 3 years (someone else could probably give better numbers).

[pretendastronaut]

Braun should be able to classify as a Super II in two years though right? So he should still be aribration eligble in a couple of years.

[Ennder]

Braun should be able to classify as a Super II in two years though right? So he should still be aribration eligble in a couple of years.

He might be able to, its pretty close. That doesn't change how long the Brewers own him though, it only changes how soon we have to pay him more.

[WINDY SHRIMP]

Cool site. Do you think we'll keep Jenkins around after this year?

[sbrylski]

Braun should be able to classify as a Super II in two years though right? So he should still be aribration eligble in a couple of years.

He might be able to, its pretty close. That doesn't change how long the Brewers own him though, it only changes how soon we have to pay him more.

He better not, that'd be a 12+ million dollar oversight by the front office. I'm assuming they did the math and made sure, or else they would have waited another week to call him up.

[iluvlamp]

I don't think Boras will get Prince a 15-17 million contract. It will be more. Braun will be even more if he continues Pujols numbers. Hart...we'll see. The way it is shaping up, Fielder and Braun are the way to go. If they can buy them out at 11-18 million a year I say do it if it means 1 or 2 more years with the team. Gallardo? It's just too soon but he is locked up. Seeing how important Sheets is they will need to find a way to sign him also. Of course, all these players will be cheap for the next 4 years at least. Makes me smile:)

[And That]

As I mentioned in another thread, I think Matt LaPorta will turn out to be the guy that will be our first baseman in the distant future. I'd love to think we could keep Fielder, and with a World Series title and/or some other playoff success, we may be able to make a play, but this is a guy that if he stays healthy, is Hall of Fame projectable. He's going to break the Brewers' all-time HR record before he hits free agency. My word. I'd put the odds of the Brewers keeping Fielder past 2012 at 5%.

 

Ryan Braun is pretty hard to predict at this point. At this time next year, we'll have a better idea what he can actually do at the big league level. I think his BB/K ratio will even out some, and I also think his HR rate will continue at around the same pace, maybe a little less (around 40-45 a year). However, I don't think he's a .330 hitter, or even a .310 hitter every year. Clearly, if he turns out to be a guy that puts up a 1000 OPS every year, we'll have trouble keeping him. It may work to our advantage that Ryan hasn't (and hopefully won't have, by the time he reaches FA) experienced a lot of losing in Milwaukee. Ryan is ours through 2013. I guess I'd put the odds somewhere around 40-60% of him staying beyond that. I'm more hopeful of Braun sticking around than Fielder because a)he might not be as good and b)he can play in the NL easily as he gets older.

 

I'd be surprised if Corey Hart isn't a guy that the Brewers keep around for a long time. He's one of the organization's better success stories, and I really think the fans appreciate how hard he works on the field. And that's not to mention his upside. I would be shocked if he wasn't around past the 2011 season.

 

In other words, it is likely we'll keep one of them into free agency, 50/50 we'll keep two, and unlikely we'll keep all three.

[iluvlamp]

And That..Who doesn't love Hart? I hope you are right.

[sbrylski]

I guess I too could see Corey Hart and say J.J. Hardy being the ones around the longest. Hopefully another go around for Sheets, and then pass the contract down to Gallardo after that. So far it looks like the prospect cycle is gaining momentum though. We have legitimate star prospects and players already in place through 2014, and their arrivals and departures are decently spaced out.

[endaround]

Hardy will likely be the first gone. Keep in mind Hardy is only under Brewer control for three more years.

[wisportswriter]

I have no scientific reasoning for this whatsoever. Just my gut, which is currently empty, for whatever that's worth.

 

Hardy - good chance at keeping him

Hart - same

Especially if the following two leave, as I expect.

Braun - not if he keeps up this pace

Fielder - not a friggin' chance

Weeks - much better odds at this point with his struggles

 

Fielder and Braun are super talents under Scott Boras representation. Each has about a 1% chance of staying in Milwaukee post-free agency. IMO, of course.

[jlau20]

Honestly, I think I'm plenty happy that we have them (Braun and Fielder) under our control for as long as we do. Six or so years of those two in our lineup should be a blast. That said, I doubt they'll be here any longer than that. Hardy and Hart give me the feeling that they would stay here as long as we'd have them stay. Neither will command the monster contracts that Prince and Braun will probably be seeing, assuming this sort of production continues until their free agency of course.

[tomwopat]

I see Hart as the most projectible, his body may fill out and he could be a serious power threat in his peak years, so I think he's the best bet to lock up. Fielder and Braun look to pay the most dividends while they're under the control of the Brewers, but the next couple years will tell if Braun can stick at 3B. Too early to say for LaPorta.

[sbrylski]

Hardy will likely be the first gone. Keep in mind Hardy is only under Brewer control for three more years.

What's your point? Hardy is a solid SS that is loved by many fans. Just because he's the first up for a contract doesn't mean he's less likely to be resigned. I do think if we resign him it'll end up being an indication that we won't be able/willing to really dish out the money to Fielder.

 

[NYChez]

Wow. Our 1 through 5 hitters make a grand total of 1.9 million dollars.

[Tbadder]

None will stay in Milwaukee. The bettter they are the sooner they will leave. If Braun puts up anything close to similar numbers he'll be gone as soon as Fielder, that is, as soon as possible. I would imagine if both stay consistent can anyone here imagine we keep even one ballplayer who will bring down 125 to 150 million?

[giffted1]

My rankings of the chances of being resigned. (Highest to Lowest)

 

Hardy - We'll have some money after winning the World Series. We'll spend some on JJ.

Hart

Gallardo - Probably our future Ace. We need him.

Fielder - Hometown discount possibly.

Weeks

Braun - He seems to like all the attention. He'll get more in a bigger market.

[RyDogg66]

There is a chance guys like Fielder and Braun will stay one extra year if we can buy out a year of FA for a year of prearbitration time. I know Boras thinks that nothing bad will ever happen to any of this players (and therefore advises them to not sign extensions or long term contracts until on the open market) but Braun and Fielder would be crazy to play for 400k in their 3rd year when they could get millions.

[Loopee]

I think keeping Jack Z/Doug M around is a bigger priority for the Brewers than any single player. Losing Prince/Braun/etc to Free Agency hurts far more than losing the excellent personnel we currently have scouting and drafting for us.

[davego]

Of all those guys, Prince is the one that I hope ends up with a staute outside Miller Park.