Weeks signing shows there could be life after Prince

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I know it's late, but I needed to get this posted as I have something pretty big planned for a certain sports hero of mine's birthday.
The Brewers signing of Rickie Weeks to a four-year, $38 million contract Wednesday added to what was a great offseason for the Brewers (Check Tom Haudricourt's story on the signing from the Journal-Sentinel, here). Had Rickie left with Prince at the end of the season, the right side of the infield would have been in disarray. Now, with Rickie back, the Brewers get a player they know will work hard and has worked out. They even factored into the contract his health for a fifth year. Essentially if he's an every day player that fifth year will kick in. The Brewers call it a vested-option (Adam McCalvy's story on Brewers.com), Weeks' agent just calls it a five-year deal worth $50 million. Essentially, they're both right. Weeks expects to get 600 plate appearances in 2014, which would trigger the fifth year. If there is any question he'll get that PAs, Ryan Bruan got 687 last year in 157 games, so if he plays every day, like he did last year, that should come without a problem.
As I said last week, this NEEDED to get done. Now that it has, looked what it means to this team. The Brewers will have the likes of Ryan Bruan, Corey Hart, Casey McGehee, Yovani Gallardo and Rickie Weeks under contract through the 2014 season and possibly through 2015.
That looks like a solid 2-5 in the batting order to me (I really want to move Rickie down in the order to No. 3 or No. 4 if/when Prince departs) and at some pretty respectable salaries in today's era that should be managable enough for them to add some other guys to keep things competitive.
To me, that's the biggest thing after Prince goes. No matter what happens this year, I don't want to be the 1999 Chicago Bulls or the Florida Marlins that awful the year after winning championships because key pieces left. Obviously looking at it now, expectations will likely be down going into next year, but they won't be plummeting to awful depths like the Bulls did after Michael, Scottie and Phil all left town.
Dare I say the Brewers could still be relevant going forward for years to come? Prince will be a Class A free agent at the end of the season and when he goes, he'll net the Brewers two compensatory picks. Those who say the farm system is trash, myself included, will notice how much that will help refurnish the system.
This sets up Doug Melvin and company to make a couple moves going into 2012 and 2013 that should still keep a pretty darn good and entertaining team in Milwaukee.
And as part of the discussion that isn't part of the future, one of my storylines to watch going into spring training is pretty much now a moot point. Weeks has his contract. He won't have to worry about performing for free agent money now. I was more worried about how he'd handle it than I was Prince. Fielder has had talk about him signing long-term here now for years and he has shown he can push it to the side after the initial discussions in the spring. Rickie has not had those talks and them circling may have been a factor.
The Brewers need a season out of him similar to last season. He doesn't have to be great, but the batting average can come up from last year, lifting the on-base percentage in the process, stolen base numbers should skyrocket and his overall value will go through the roof this season. Heck, his home run numbers can even come down and I'd be happy with him. Just get on base and I'll be making my "C'mon RRRRRRRRRRRRRRick!" Chant from section 223 Row 6, Seat 7 for this season and a many more to come!

Going to get right into the Nussie Hunter portion of the broadcast right away now. Was talking with a friend of mine today and Sofia Vergara came up. She has come a long way from being the hot Latin chick on Entourage. She is now one of the stars on one of TVs best shows. That accent is just as good as her body, too.