Price Wants $8 Mil
Milwaukee, WI – Prince Fielder is about to get a hefty raise.
The slugging first baseman asked for $8 million Tuesday in his first year of arbitration eligibility and the Milwaukee Brewers offered him $6 million. Whether the sides settle or go all the way to a hearing next month, Fielder can count on a pay hike of more than $5.3 million.
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Milwaukee also swapped figures with right fielder Corey Hart and second baseman Rickie Weeks, but the Brewers agreed with right-hander Seth McClung on a one-year contract worth $1,662,500 that avoided arbitration.
In 2007, Fielder became the youngest player to hit 50 home runs. He batted .288 with 119 RBIs, but in the offseason Milwaukee renewed his contract for $670,000.
e a lot less and are getting paid a lot more.
“But my time is going to come. It’s going to come quick, too.”
The 24-year-old Fielder couldn’t match his 2007 stats last season, sinking to .276 with 34 homers and 102 RBIs. Still, he helped Milwaukee reach the postseason for the first time since 1982.
Only Phillies slugger Ryan Howard ($18 million) asked for more in arbitration this year.
The 26-year-old Hart made his first All-Star game last season but slumped badly down the stretch and finished hitting .268 with 20 homers and 91 RBIs while making $444,000.
He asked for $3.8 million in 2009 while the club offered $2.7 million.
Weeks was the second overall draft pick in 2003 and signed a major league contract at the time, but has never lived up to his lofty billing, struggling both at the plate and in the field. He hit .234 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs, but struck out 115 times last season and has committed 71 errors over the past four years.
The 26-year-old Weeks made $1,056,000 last season and requested $2.8 million this year, while the club countered at $2 million.
Milwaukee, which had already avoided arbitration with right-hander Dave Bush and shortstop J.J. Hardy, agreed to a contract with the versatile McClung.
The 27-year-old made 25 relief appearances and 12 starts for the Brewers last year, going 6-6 with a 4.02 ERA. He made $800,000.
Doug Melvin has never had a case reach an arbitration hearing since taking over as Milwaukee’s general manager in 2002.
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Posted: 1/21/09 2:00AM ET
