PrinceFielderx1

I don't believe that. The Brewers new TV contract that they signed is likely going to triple from just under 10 million to around 30 million according to the NY times (exact figures unknown). I do think some of that will offset with potentially a decrease in revenue sharing, but I believe it will still allow them to up their payroll even further from 98 million this season, starting in 2013. Also ticket prices did increase, so that's additional revenue. K-Rod/Wolf are under contract for this year only, then they are FA's. Considering that Braun is likely going to miss 50 games due to a suspension, and that there are cheaper younger alternatives to Wolf in Peralta, and cheaper effective relief pitchers than K-Rod, the addition of Fielder back to the line-up would be a good move for the short term and long term (next 5-6 seasons). Plus, there is the return for K-Rod and Wolf. In my previous post I said "if" (big if) Fielders asking price drops to 5-6 years, then it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the Brewers go hard after him.

If Fielder's asking price drops to a 5-6 year deal I'd be willing to bet that the Brewers will go hard after him. That's still a big if. The Brewers and Fielder likely got nowhere in the extension discussions because the Brewers were only willing to go 5 maybe 6 years, and Fielder was looking for more years/money then that. The Brewers likely said good luck with that and go ahead and test FA and see if you get it. The Brewers have the option to wait it out because they have Gamel. The Brewers could trade Wolf and K-Rod and save 20 million, then suck up 5 million to cover Fielder. Future raises could likely be covered by increase in TV and ticket revenue.

I think it's safe to assume that the Brewers no matter what will have one of the lowest TV contract in the Majors. I just hope they receive a big enough increase to be able to bump their payroll to somewhere between 105-115 million. I agree with AJAY that the local media is completely asleep on covering this issue.

I'm very hesitant to say we have a good GM or a bad GM, because the fact is many GM's make questionable moves. Some of the moves pan out and some don't. That's just baseball. There are moves that I have seen Doug Melvin do or try to do that I question, like trying to sign McGehee to an extension last March. There are also moves that I thought were great moves like the Sabathia and Greinke trades. Even to an extent the Marcum trade, even though in the long run I'd bet the Brewers regret it. Lawrie is just that good. One has to admit though that Doug Melvin is doing a good enough job that he is putting a team together over the last few years that has drawn around 3 million fans each season. The Brewers already sold 1 million tickets for this coming season. It's the GM's job to field a competitive team to put butts in the seats year in and year out, and for the last 4 or so seasons Melvin has succeeded in doing so.

I'm very serious. The Brewers could have easily won 100 games last season if Weeks and Greinke didn't go down with injury's, if Mcgehee wasn't in a huge slump for most if not all of last season, if Saito would have been healthy and didn't miss significant playing time. The Brewers also had a weak bench for most of last season. Kotsay and Hairston were good, but they struggled in the beginning of the season. Counsel was bad offensively. Despite these major problems they still won 96 games. The Brewers also didn't have K-Rod for a couple months of the season who is just lights out as a late inning reliever. As for Braddock, Parra, Rivas and Manzanillo the potential is there for them to contribute to the big league ball club if healthy. They will all (except maybe Rivas) be in the discussion for the Brewers bullpen come Spring Training. Parra was very good in September in the bullpen a couple years ago. Braddock has good stuff, but his velocity was down and struggled with a sleep disorder. Manzanillo had an unfortunate accident, but it should be interesting to see how he recovers from it. Peralta and Fires moved ahead of Rivas in terms of likely to be promoted in case of injury to one of the starting 5. The Brewers added ARam and Gonzalez to shore up the left side of the infield and will place Gamel at 1B. By adding those 3 players to the infield the Brewers would have upgraded 2 positions offensively and defensively (3B and SS), and 1B defensively. Gamel has high upside offensively and it will be interesting to see what he can do when given a decent amount of playing time. The Brewers are going to have something that they really haven't had in a very long time which is Range on defense. The Brewers starting pitchers must be very happy about this right now, because they will benefit greatly. The Brewers had to employ many strategic shifts last season to make up for the lack of Range from the players. This season they probably wont have to do that as much. The Brewers pitching and defense will keep them in many ball games next season, and the Brewers still have an offense outside of Fielder and Braun. I can see 92 wins.

here is a cool Interview of Joe Block that I found, (dated march 26th) link

I see the Brewers winning 92 games next season with a Ryan Braun suspension. The Brewers in my opinion did a good job trying to replace Fielder by shoring up the infield defense and by adding ARam's bat who I think will have a career year next season, because of playing at Miller Park. The Brewers bullpen is just sick with Varus, KRod and Axford in the 7-9 innings. That doesn't even include pitchers like Manzanilo, Braddock, Parra etc.. The Brewers have a great starting 5 in the rotation in Gallardo, Greinke, Marcum, Wolf, Narveson and good depth in Peralta, Fiers, Rivas. The Brewers won 96 games last season and could have won even more if Weeks wasn't injured, and if the Brewers got more production out of 3B. The Brewers are going to be very good this coming season.

I love it! I got a chance to listen to him call that Dodgers game that was listed on his website before it went down, and came away very impressed. I can't wait to hear him and Uecker interact on the Radio. That will be a true test for him.

I gotta agree. For a small market team such as the Brewers to draw as many fans as they do year in and year out puts them in a elite class. The Brewers don't even need to be the favorites to win the division for them to hit about 3 million fans in attendance. It's truly amazing.

Wood is under control through 2016, and Marshall is a FA after 2012. Is it just me or does this scream overpaying on the Reds part? This doesn't even include the 2 prospects the Reds gave up.

Tom H Link to story.

Per Ken Rosenthal so he's only costing the Brewers 6 million in 2012, not 12 million. http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23MLB

I could see Gamel and Green used as trade bait now that the Brewers got Aramis Ramirez. Perhaps for a 1B man. DM said a couple weeks ago that they didn't have anybody to trade without creating another hole, and I suspect that changed with the Aramis Ramirez signing, and the fact that they are looking around at other 1B besides Gamel.

Very good move for the Brewers. They really needed to make this move, especially if Braun is out the first 50 games.

...or Walden could pull a Turnbow and the Angels would be glad they had K-Rod.I don't think any relief pitcher could pull a Turnbow. His collapse was truly epic. One of a kind.

according to the NY times, link to article

per Tom H on twitter

per Ken Rosenthal on twitter

The Brewers are a favorite for Ramirez for a couple reasons according to his agent, 1.) Milwaukee is located a couple hours from Chicago where his family wants to stay. That's a big deal to Ramirez. 2.) The Brewers are a contending team, and he wants a ring. I'd bet the Brewers could get Ramirez at a discount. The Brewers could probably get an even bigger discount if Ramirez doesn't have any other teams interested in him.

scratch that last post of mine, because Ken Rosenthal posted that a high up Marlins official said that they will not go after Fielder.. see a few posts above mine.

With all the Money that Miami has spent and was still prepared to spend for Pujols I'd just assume they are the favorites for Fielder for now.

We'll I don't believe the Marlins offered a no-trade clause to Pujols and the Angels did (full no-trade clause) which might have been the deciding factor.

Now that the Angels got Pujols and Wilson, the Rangers might go hard after Fielder.

peter gammons twitter

Sounds like by K-Rod accepting arby wont affect the Brewers ability to sign a SS or 3B or both as much as people were thinking, link