Extension coming for Ryan Braun?

[B2k1121]

Extension for Braun a possibility

I definitely would not be opposed to this.

 

Edit - activated link.

[bsglorydays]

The only way this makes any sense for the team is if it is very cost effective. Ryan Howard winning his arby case could be one reason to look at locking up players like Braun and Fielder, if and only if you are getting them at salaries below what you project they will make in their arby years. Otherwise, it is pointless, IMO. These guys are already under Brewers control for their first 6 years, so there is no reason to throw a bunch of money at them, especially (in Braun's case) after less than one year of service.

[Nader Raider Tim]

Any long term deal would be buying out a year or two of Free Agency. That would be a huge plus. Also you could try and spread out the dollar value more evenly giving more room to sign players longer into the deal.

 

Fielder, Braun and Hart are all guys that I would like to see the Brewers buyout a year or two of Free Agency

[brewerfan0425]

This would be nice, but, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense at this point.

[milwaukeesportsfan]

I agree that the Brewers should do a long term extension only if it is cost effective. Otherwise I have no problem with Braun and Fielder making the baseball equivalent of slave wages until they hit their arby years. The overall contract would have to balance the pittance they are receiving now with the haul they could possibly get in arbitration.

[Weeks4MVP]

I agree that the Brewers should do a long term extension only if it is cost effective. Otherwise I have no problem with Braun and Fielder making the baseball equivalent of slave wages until they hit their arby years. The overall contract would have to balance the pittance they are receiving now with the haul they could possibly get in arbitration.

If you give them slave wages though, why would they want to stay here after their arbitration years. I think by buying out a year or two of free agency will more than make up for what we would give them before arby hits barring any injury to either of them.

[endaround]

Braun's first Free agent year is 2014. Way, way to far afield to take the risk. If Braun gets injured and misses any significant time it kills any value you'd get. Buying out two year of arby for cost certainty is one thing, but then again the club takes on all injury risk. And Tulo's deal doesn't price that risk right.

[logan82]

We are not even sure how good a player he is going to be. I think he will be pretty good, but I think it would be better to wait a year or two. Actually I would wait until his 1st or 2nd year of arbitration. Depends on if he is a super 2 or not.

[twobrewers]

Braun's first Free agent year is 2014. Way, way to far afield to take the risk. If Braun gets injured and misses any significant time it kills any value you'd get. Buying out two year of arby for cost certainty is one thing, but then again the club takes on all injury risk. And Tulo's deal doesn't price that risk right.

Exactly.

 

That risk has a huge price. (And I would imagine they would take insurance out to cover any potential injury) Yes, Howards huge arbitration number hurts, but I would still rather pay Prince and Braun 10M when they hit arbitration then pay them 20M over 3 years when they blew out a knee and never play again.

[apirk]

With the Brewers luck with contract extensions I'd probably give them a year or two before offering a longer deal.

[kramnoj]

"but I would still rather pay Prince and Braun 10M when they hit arbitration then pay them 20M over 3 years when they blew out a knee and never play again. "

 

When was the last time this happened to a baseball player? The big unknown with these deals is what arbitration (and free agency) will look like down the road. How many people a few years ago thought that a guy with less than 3 years service time would get $10 mil in arbitration? If a team can negotiate a deal they feel comfortable with and are confident they have a great player, they should extend them every opportunity they get. Baseball salaries don't go down over time, and there is no reason to think that is likely to change.

[endaround]

How often? Corey Koskie. More likely you get a Scott Rolen/Jim Edmonds type injury where they can play part of the time but miss significant portions of the season. And underperform when they do play.

[kramnoj]

Corey Koskie isn't enough evidence to have an effect on signing strategy. Are you sure you want to use Rolen and Edmonds as your examples? Rolen has only underperformed the last few years, and I would certainly take Edmonds numbers from any young centerfielder.

[logan82]

We have Braun for 6 more years at least. I can see some benifit in a long term contract to save some money, but I would rather wait and go with no more than 4 years guaranteed at a time with a 5th option year. That is what they have been doing.

[kramnoj]

It's a good point that few of the deals happen after one year (or less, to be technical). But who doubts that Braun will be at least an average player for the next 6-7 years?

[bsglorydays]

Any long term deal would be buying out a year or two of Free Agency. That would be a huge plus. Also you could try and spread out the dollar value more evenly giving more room to sign players longer into the deal.

 

Fielder, Braun and Hart are all guys that I would like to see the Brewers buyout a year or two of Free Agency

In Braun's case, it would take a 7 year deal to buy out 1 year of free agency. He's still 6 years from free agency, if my math is good. That's not happening. I could see a couple years of arby bought out, but not free agent years.

 

[twobrewers]

All I am saying is this...

 

Name that last long term contract that worked out well for the Brewers?

 

(That may not be fair, because one situation has no bearing on another - but it explains why I prefer to go year by year when possible)

[kramnoj]

"Name that last long term contract that worked out well for the Brewers?

 

(That may not be fair, because one situation has no bearing on another - but it explains why I prefer to go year by year when possible)"

 

I can understand being gunshy, but as you are basically admitting, those deals were signed by inferior front offices. The failures of losing front offices shouldn't prevent this team from taking any action.

[bullox]

You can't base your future on unlucky deals signed by past administrations. You work with what you have in the now.

[twobrewers]

You can't base your future on unlucky deals signed by past administrations.

To be fair, I am including this administration. (Hall, Suppan and Sheets)

I am merely pointing out that going year by year completely eliminates that risk.

[bullox]

You come to your conclusion based on one year of the Suppan and Hall deals?

[JJHardy7]

You come to your conclusion based on one year of the Suppan and Hall deals?

 

What else has the current administration done for long-term deals? I guess we can throw Counsell in there, but besides that I can't think of anything else.

[bullox]

You know what, that's a good point. From here on out, don't sign any one of the youngsters to a long term deal because nothing has worked out in the past.

 

Yikes.

[apirk]

I could be wrong but didnt Turnbow and Brady Clark also get contract extensions?

[bullox]

Hall, Clark, Turnbow, Suppan, Sheets, etc... none of these players had historic seasons leading in to their contracts. They were more of a gamble. What I'm more focused on are the Fielder and Braun situations. Both of those players did have historic seasons last year. Fielder being the youngest player ever to hit 50 HR in a season (beating Willie Mays) and Braun slugging .634, the highest rookie slugging % of all time.

 

This is a whole new level of player we are looking at. If ownership is going to base their extensions off of the history of subpar players in relation to Fielder and Braun, then we don't have much to look forward to as fans in my opinion.