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Fielder upset with pay

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From the Associated Press

Prince Fielder is frustrated about his contract.

The Milwaukee Brewers renewed the slugger’s contract for $670,000 on Sunday after he finished third in the National League’s most valuable player voting last season.

“I’m not happy about it at all,” Fielder said. “The fact I’ve had to be renewed two years in a row, I’m not happy about it because there’s a lot of guys who have the same amount of time that I do who have done 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 first baseman, who made $415,000 last season, will be eligible for arbitration after this season.

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General Manager Doug Melvin said he thinks the 23-year-old Fielder is making more money than any player not eligible for arbitration who doesn’t have a multiyear contract. The Brewers base their offers to young players on performance benchmarks, not what other teams have offered players in similar situations.

“We view our system as more than a fair system,” Melvin said.

Melvin said Fielder hadn’t talked to him directly about his frustration.

“You have to respect their scale,” Fielder said. “But like I said, I’m not happy about it. But I’m going to do my job this year.”

Fielder led the NL with a franchise-best 50 home runs last year and had 119 runs batted in. Left fielder Ryan Braun, the NL rookie of the year last season, also had his contract renewed for $455,000.

The Brewers also agreed to a one-year deal with second baseman Rickie Weeks, who will make $1,057,000 in his third full season.

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The Florida Marlins renewed shortstop Hanley Ramirez’s contract at $439,000. He made $402,000 in 2007 when he hit .332 with 29 home runs, 81 RBIs and 51 stolen bases.

“That’s OK,” Ramirez said. “Whatever they think I deserve. I don’t care.”

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2005 because of multiple shoulder and elbow injuries, gave up one hit in two innings in an exhibition against Houston.

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“I still have a ways to go,” he said. “My arm feels great but my legs aren’t all there yet.”

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano will miss up to five days after he broke his right middle finger during fly ball drills. . . . Troy Patton ended his side session after throwing only 10 pitches, a setback that forced the Baltimore Orioles to schedule another examination on the left-hander’s ailing shoulder.

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