Prince not going anywhere?

[brewmann04]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/11/melvin-were-not-shopping-prince.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[crewcrazy]

"Not being shopped" is very different from "not going anywhere," IMO. He's just trying to keep trade value up by making it seem like he doesn't have to deal him.

[kramnoj]

We can all try to read Melvin speak, but I think he is being honest here. Let's not look at this from a Brewer fan perspective. Let's look at this from any other team. Look at all the talent that is available to play 1B or DH. Prince is probably going to get about $15M in salary, plus it will take major prospects to get him. Which team would really benefit from acquiring Prince, when they can just pay cash and or 1 pick for a player they want, and have more cash and prospects to fill other needs?

[logan82]

Hopefully this is similar to the year they traded Overbay and they are not seriously considering paying Fielder. They didn't need to trade Overbay that year either.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think Melvin has said 'I'm not motivated to move ____' about Overbay, Hardy, Cameron, and probably more guys. It's all likely just a leverage ploy. I read "We're not shopping Prince" as, 'You have to call *me*, other GMs'.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yeah, all this really means is that Melvin isn't gonna go around from team-to-team shopping Fielder. He never said that he wouldn't deal him. He'll just sit back and let other teams make him offers, and if a good offer comes across he'll take it. This is just what I expected to begin with, so nothing new. If nothing good comes along, then he'll likely just hold onto Fielder until the deadline.

[Invader3K]

I really doubt Melvin will bother trying to negotiate with Boras again. Fielder has already reportedly turned down two contract extension offers from the Brewers (one earlier this year, and one before the '08 season). Maybe they make a token offer early in the winter meetings, and when that gets turned down again, start looking for trades a bit harder.

[Oldcity]

I still wouldn't be surprised if they don't trade him. I just don't think his value will be as high on the trade market as it would be to the Brewers for another year.

[TooLiveBrew]

Latest word on Dan Uggla is that the Marlins' "ask is very high" Link

 

Adam Dunn supposedly wants a big contract, Adrian Gonzalez won't come cheaply, and I'll probably pass out if the Cards don't get Pujols extended. If the high prices remain on other premuim bats into the Winter Meetings, imo Fielder's a more attractive target than we tend to believe here at BF.

 

I think Beltre will be the first domino to fall in terms of the Brewers' & Fielder's offseason. Once Beltre signs, imo the focus will shift to Uggla, Gonzalez & Fielder (each with one season of salary control remaining). Jon Heyman tweeted that a dozen teams are pursuing Beltre right now, and I'd guess several of those teams could use a big bat at either corner IF spot.

[Invader3K]

Just saw an MLB Trade Rumors tweet (mlbtrorlando) that said both Scott Boras and Prince Fielder are at the GM meetings. Perhaps talking with Melvin once more about a contract extension?

[TooLiveBrew]

Interesting... or might Prince be there to explore contract extensions with possible trade targets? Nothing will probably happen for sure until the actual winter meetings, but this stuff is fun to speculate about.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Just saw an MLB Trade Rumors tweet (mlbtrorlando) that said both Scott Boras and Prince Fielder are at the GM meetings. Perhaps talking with Melvin once more about a contract extension?

I forgot to post this in the other thread in the Major League forum, but the fact that Fielder is there with Boras is very significant. Fielder must mean business ;>)

[brewmann04]

Do you think Prince being there with Boras is good or bad for the Crew.

[Invader3K]

Interesting... or might Prince be there to explore contract extensions with possible trade targets? Nothing will probably happen for sure until the actual winter meetings, but this stuff is fun to speculate about.

Just to note that Prince (and Boras) would be prohibited from talking with other teams unless the Brewers were to give explicit permission; otherwise it would be considered tampering.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Prince and Boras must be there to talk contract extension. There is no other reason for them to be there.. The Brewers must be making one last push.

[Invader3K]

That's what I'd have to assume. Hopefully someone "in the know" will start spilling the beans soon.

This is going to be a long (but hopefully fun) hot stove season.

[PrinceEatMeat]

If Fielder reached an agreement on a contract extension with the Brewers I would be in complete shock. I just really don't see any way how that would happen. Based on past experiences with Melvin, the Brewers, and Boras, it just doesn't add up. I guess they must be talking though, because I don't see any other reason for them to be there. He only has one year left in arby, so I doubt there's anything to talk about there. Melvin does have to do his due diligence now though, because he needs to know whether or not he needs to get to work on trading Fielder at the Winter Meetings.

[Invader3K]

The only possible scenario for a Fielder extension I can see is if Boras has taken a real hard look at the 1B field out there. Maybe he's thinking waiting until next season might not be for the best with Gonzalez and others out there next winter. I really doubt it, though.

[thebruce44]

We can all try to read Melvin speak, but I think he is being honest here.

I didn't think he was being honest when Doug said this in 2005 and I don't think he is being honest now:

 

''I'd say there's about an 80 percent chance that Overbay will be

here,'' General Manager Doug Melvin said. ''There is interest in him,

but it's not at the level I feel I could do something to help the

club.''

[PrinceFielderx1]

Just saw an MLB Trade Rumors tweet (mlbtrorlando) that said both Scott Boras and Prince Fielder are at the GM meetings. Perhaps talking with Melvin once more about a contract extension?

I was wondering if you could provide a link Invader3k?

[RockCoCougars]

Maybe Prince has been thinking, and is putting out a feeler to see if the original extension offer still stands. If he doesn't lock in, he's taking a huge risk that he gets hurt or has another down season. In such a scenario, he could be leaving a huge chunk of change on the table. As for the 'Boras won't do this or that' stuff, Prince made it clear last season that he is Boras' boss, not the other way around.

[PrinceFielderx1]

The fact that Fielder made it clear that he is his own boss and that Boras works for him and you combine that with Fielder and Boras being at the GM meetings it makes you wonder if the Brewers are getting serious in regards to an offer for Fielder.

[Baldkin]

Or they're serious about trading him, with the caveat that he signs an extension for the team he's traded to (akin to Johan Santana a few years ago)

[PrinceFielderx1]

Heyman just tweeted, "prince fielder spotted eating with scott boras at hotel. no word on whether prince stuck to veggies."

[Invader3K]

Just saw an MLB Trade Rumors tweet (mlbtrorlando) that said both Scott Boras and Prince Fielder are at the GM meetings. Perhaps talking with Melvin once more about a contract extension?

I was wondering if you could provide a link Invader3k?

I'm not sure how to do a link off Twitter, but here's the original tweet:

@mlbtrorlando

Ben Nicholson-Smith

Sounds like Boras and Fielder are here. That should make things interesting.