Fielder: No urgency for new contract
January 31, 2010
MILWAUKEE (AP)—On the field, nothing will change with Prince Fielder(notes). He’llplay first base, bat fourth and is still considered the key of the MilwaukeeBrewers’ offense.
Off the field, Fielder says there’s nothing to worry about right now,either. He wants to stay in Milwaukee as long as he can and there’s no urgencyin negotiating for a new contract.
“I came up here and I love it here, so I want to stay here as long aspossible,” Fielder said Sunday at the Brewers’ annual offseason fan event.“I’m here for two more years anyway, so I’m just trying to see what happensthen and all the other stuff hopefully will work out.”
Fielder hit .299 with 46 homers and tied for the major-league lead with 141RBIs last season. He has a year left on an $18.5 million, two-year deal signedlast season and the Brewers still hold his rights through the 2011 season.
“The guy is a definite force now,” Brewers manager Ken Macha said. “Ithink his contributions are greater than the numbers that he’s put up.”
After next season, Fielder could join a crowded class of free-agent firstbasemen that may include St. Louis’ Albert Pujols(notes), Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard(notes)and San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez(notes). Fielder said he hasn’t done a lot of thinkingabout what’s in the distant future, but realizes he’ll be the youngest of thatgroup who could be available.
“I’ve never been a free agent. I’m just thinking on things I’ve beentold,” the 25-year-old Fielder said on his priorities. “The money’s great, butin the end, if you have money and you’re not happy; say, if the team doesn’tthink they’re going anywhere, you have to make sure everything is order when yousign that kind of long-term (contract).”
The slugger has had a busy offseason back home in Florida, moving into a newhouse in Windermere and taking his children to school daily. His home has aworkout facility and a batting cage, and he said he started conditioningimmediately after the season ended to keep his weight down.
“So I don’t turn into an obese person, because I can,” said Fielder, whoweighed 268 pounds last season.
Fielder, who is represented by Scott Boras, says his only concern right nowis playing out his first contract, even though he realizes he’ll be asked abouthis plans more and more as he moves closer to free agency.
“In the end, it’s my decision. But as my agent, he’s going to make sure Ihave the most information possible about what’s going to benefit me and myfamily first. That’s what it’s about first,” Fielder said. “My family has tobe happy and then we go from there.”
General manager Doug Melvin said he won’t discuss any negotiations becauseit can hinder the process, but the organization recognizes Fielder’s value.
“I don’t think there’s any secrets to what kind of player he is. You justhave to look at his numbers and his performance and how he’s been here in theorganization the entire time,” Melvin said. “(He) grew up here, developedhere, came on the scene quick.”
Melvin said he had no specific time to discuss Fielder’s future with Boras.
“It’ll all be done behind closed doors at a certain time and a certainplace and I don’t even know where that place is and I don’t know where that timeis,” he said. “There’s really not a story to it from my standpoint.”
In the meantime, Fielder will be right back where he’s comfortable thisseason—hitting cleanup for the Brewers, who scored the third-most runs in theNL last season. After making the postseason in 2008 and fading to 80-82 lastseason, Fielder has a simple goal for this year’s club.
“My thing is just to get better,” he said. “Worry about our divisionfirst, worry about our own stuff first. When your team is crisp, taking care oftheir business, then all that other stuff falls into place.”
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