Prince Fielder: Would a World Series for the Milwaukee Brewers Make Him Stay?

There is no doubt about it. Prince Fielder will be one of the top prizes in the 2011 free agent class in Major League Baseball. Of course, that wouldn't happen if the Milwaukee Brewers were able to sign him. No doubt the Brewers will have trouble competing with bigger market teams for their star player, but what if Fielder was a part of a Brewers World Series team?

I doubt that would change much.

The Brewers are currently ranked 17th in the MLB in payroll at $85 million a year. Fielder is their highest-paid player at over $15 million a year and would no doubt be looking for a raise.

Fielder just had himself an MVP-type season for the Brew crew.  He hit .299, 39 home runs and 120 RBI during the 2011 MLB season. Numbers like those will get at least $20 million and that's a gross underestimation.

And this isn't the first monster season he's had. Fielder has had a Hall of Fame-type season every year he's been in the game and he is only 27 years old.

Last year, the Red Sox gave Carl Crawford $20 million a year, money that proved many wrong who said he was worth it. If a player like Crawford can get that much, you can already tell the free agent market is out of control.

In such a climate as that, a player like Prince Fielder could make upwards of $25 million or more if one of the "big fish" bite and make the highest bid.

The Brewers won't be able to make that approach towards a $100 million payroll in 2012. It's a place none too familiar for Milwaukee and quite possibly a place they don't want to go.

Oh no, to be one of the dreaded "big market" teams!

The Brewers would have around $60 million in payroll obligations for 2012, and adding Fielder would bring them up to their current payroll number alone, still having to fill in the holes left by departing players.

So unless the Brewers stumble on extra money or go with all minor leaguers, the numbers just don't add up. Fielder will simply command too much money and whoever writes the biggest check will be lucky enough to get his services.

These "what if he wins a World Series" scenarios leave too much logic at the front door as do any matters of the heart. Besides, Scott Boras will be involved in Fielder's negotiations and as we all know, heart and Scott Boras don't mix.

The Brewers have looked excellent so far, taking the first two games in the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are certainly good enough on the mound and at the plate to win a World Series this year. But even if this team reaches the ultimate goal in Major League Baseball, Fielder will still say, "Show me the money!"

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