Fielder "discussion" to extend into season
The Brewers ongoing “discussions” with first baseman Prince Fielder about a contract extension will continue into the season, according to the team’s principal owner. But Mark Attanasio and general manager Doug Melvin both declined to say whether the Brewers had actually extended an offer to Fielder and his agent, Scott Boras.
Attanasio, who attended his sixth Opening Day as the Brewers’ owner, spoke briefly with Fielder on Monday morning before the season opener against the Rockies at Miller Park.
“One of the things Doug and I have said is that we were not going to give a moment-to-moment handicap of where things are at, up and down,” Attanasio said. “It would look a little bit like a stock chart. The discussions are ongoing, and most importantly, Prince is relaxed. I saw him in the clubhouse this morning.
“What we don’t want is this to be a distraction to him. … We don’t think it’s a distraction now, which is a good thing so we can continue the conversations. We’ll see where they go.”
Fielder is under team control for the next two seasons. He will earn $10.5 million in 2010 and will be arbitration-eligible after the season. He projects to reach free agency following the 2011 season.
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Adam McCalvy
