MLB.com: [Brewers] Owner: Offers made to Fielder, Braun

The Brewers have submitted multiyear contract proposals to representatives for first baseman Prince Fielder and left fielder Ryan Braun that would “buy out” at least one year of free agency and include an option for an additional year past that…

“Even the fans don’t want us to lock them up on a basis that doesn’t make sense,” Attanasio said. “What the fans have to understand is that the arbitration system, relative to control of players, favors the clubs their first six years. We’ve got control of these players for four and five more years now… What fans don’t focus on is that they are going to have the young players here either which way.”
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• The team will spend more than $80 million on payroll this season, even after saving about $2.7 million last week by releasing pitcher Claudio Vargas. There still is room to add help at midseason.
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• Three million in attendance is “within reach.” Last year, the Brewers set a franchise record, drawing 2,869,144 fans to Miller Park.

“When I first bought the team, I never expected we could even think about anything like that,” Attanasio said. “Frankly, we all thought we couldn’t get to the 2.8 [million] they drew the first year the ballpark was open, because you have people who aren’t even baseball fans who are going to come out to see a new ballpark. Now, we’re just drawing baseball fans.”

• He gave no indication that the team would engage in midseason talks with Opening Day starter Ben Sheets, who will be a free agent at season’s end.