(Photo of Price Fielder and sons Jaden and Haven is courtesy of the Miwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
The Milwaukee Brewers made big headlines during Tuesday night’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Prince Fielder rips a 3-run home run to lead the National League to a 5-1 win over the American League at the 82nd annual Major League All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Right after the game, the Brewers announced they have bolstered the bullpen by acquiring veteran relief pitcher Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez and cash from the New York Mets for two minor league players to be named later.
The move by Brewer G.M. Doug Melvin was a definitive statement that his team is “dead serious” about doing what it takes to win the National League Central Division title.
"We're trying to get as many quality pitchers as we can for the last 2½ months of the season," Melvin tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "We're trying to get as much quality as we can.”
The “experts” on the national scene are insisting that Fielder is playing his final half-season as a Milwaukee Brewer prior to cashing in as a free agent in the upcoming off-season.
During the 2010-2011 off-season Prince indicated that he hoped Melvin would strengthen the pitching staff. He did.
Tuesday night’s trade made Milwaukee a trading deadline (July 31st) “player” in a move that screams that the Brewers are serious about making a run to the playoffs for a second time since 2008.
If you remember, Melvin made another huge acquisition by trading for C.C. Sabathia at the trading deadline. Sabathia was a major cog in the Brewers run to the MLB playoffs in the second half of 2008.
Attanasio made it clear earlier this season that he will do “everything he can” to re-sign Prince and keep him a Milwaukee Brewer.
Admittedly, Prince will get “big money” from whatever team that eventually signs him.
Attanasio and Melvin surprised everybody by giving Ryan Braun a $105 million, five-year contract extension with the Milwaukee Brewers on in February.
The deal included a mutual option for one additional year worth up to $20 million and is the longest commitment to a player in Brewers franchise history.
This past February the Brewers signed second baseman Rickie Weeks to a four-year, $38.5 million contract with a vesting option that can turn the contract to a franchise-record $50 million.
In my mind, Mark Attanasio is the top owner in Major League Baseball. He “gets it” when talking about commitment to his players and Brewer fans that may top 3-million at Miller Park this season.
Just take a look at the above photo (courtesy of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) and listening to Prince’s comments on FOX while accepting the All-Star Game MVP trophy Tuesday night that Prince relishes playing in a family-friendly Milwaukee market on a team that is serious about winning now – not as part of a 3-year plan.
Scott Boras is Prince Fielder’s (and K-Rod’s) agent. Boras is well-known for long, often antagonistic contract negotiations.
Prince – if you really enjoy being a member of the Brewers as much as it seems – tell Boras that your first choice will be to remain in Milwaukee if Attanasio and Melvin put serious money with a home team discount.
The nucleus of this team has been together since playing for the then Brewers Class A minor league affiliate in Beloit.
You guys have worked hard to take it to get to the “next level.” Please don’t “jump ship” and stay a Milwaukee Brewer.
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