MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers are considering their options while star slugger Prince Fielder tests the free agent market. Darian Stewart Broncos Jersey . With or without him, they want to be a force again in the NL Central. General manager Doug Melvin has plans for both scenarios. The Canadian GM says the Brewers, who won the division title in 2011, are balancing the finances of Fielders potential salary versus filling holes for 2012. Melvin and Brewers owner Mark Attanasio met with Fielders agent, Scott Boras, on Tuesday at the general managers meeting. "Obviously, the budget will change if we can keep Prince Fielder. That has to be an opportunity-driven budget," Attanasio said Wednesday. "For the same reason, Doug has been meeting with some premium free agents, and if its the right fit for our club, then well make a move. But were not going to fill the payroll just for the sake of filling payroll." The 27-year-old Fielder and St. Louis star Albert Pujols are the biggest names in the free agent market this off-season. Fielder, teaming with left-fielder Ryan Braun, who signed a five-year, $105 million extension in April, helped the Brewers win the division title and advance to the league championship series. "We think we can compete even if we arent able to get Prince back," Attanasio said. "There are potential free agents but for right now, we want to leave that spot open for Prince." While Milwaukee was examining possible approaches should Fielder leave, the Red Sox and Cubs were trying to decide on a new manager. Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday night that the Cubs had offered their opening to Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum. A Cubs spokesman declined comment when asked about the reports. "Were trying to move to a conclusion," new general manager Jed Hoyer said earlier Wednesday. "There are multiple teams looking for a manager and were going to keep things close to the vest." Hoyer said his team had contacted some of the candidates again. Sveum, Mike Maddux, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Pete Mackanin got in-person interviews and DeMarlo Hale had a phone interview. Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who talked with president of baseball operations Theo Epstein several times, withdrew his name from consideration during a radio interview Wednesday. Hoyer also said to his knowledge there was no resolution to the compensation issue between the Cubs and Red Sox for Epstein leaving Boston with a year to go on his deal. Boston owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner had lunch with Sveum on Wednesday. "Were going to continue our discussions," Werner said after returning to a downtown Milwaukee hotel with Henry. Owners, who arrived Wednesday, and general managers were to finish their meetings Thursday. And owners were expected to approve the sale of the Houston Astros from Drayton McLane to Jim Crane. McLane bought the team in November 1992 for about $117 million. Major League Baseball told Crane it wouldnt approve his purchase of the Astros unless he agreed to move the team to the American League, a person familiar with the negotiations told the The Associated Press. Crane reportedly agreed to the move in exchange for a drop in the sales price valued earlier this year at $680 million. The person who spoke to the AP couldnt confirm the sales price. "Well let baseball talk about that. There were a lot of adjustments, so well just wait and see what they have to say (Thursday)," McLane said Wednesday night. McLane said hes leaving with mixed emotions, something that hit him as he attended a meeting with other owners Wednesday. "Last night when I went to bed, I thought about it. I can remember 19 years ago how elated I was. Its been a wonderful, wonderful ride," he said. "Each of these owners have been my friends for 19 years. One of the strange things is, Im one of the older owners right now," McLane said. "Theres only seven or eight that have been here longer than I have. Been a world of turnover." If the Astros switch to the AL West, it would create two 15-team leagues of three five-team divisions each. Itll be difficult for McLane -- at least at first -- to see his team in the other league. "Ive always been a National League fan," he said. "Change is a big part of my life and what Ive tried to do in business. I think its going to be interesting to see the American League teams come in and getting a rivalry with the Rangers. That wont be too bad. Its going to be good." Rangers president Nolan Ryan, who pitched for the Astros during his Hall of Fame career, said he has some of the same feelings. "I grew up an Astros fan and I look at the Astros as a National League team but I understand the desire to balance out the two leagues," Ryan said Wednesday. "From our perspective, I like having them in the same division because it gives us a team in our time zone. ... Weve talked about the fact that there will be more interleague play and how does the schedule actually work. ... Its going to bring some dynamics. Were not sure how theyll work. Obviously, its going to change some things." Ryan complimented McLane for his long run. "He had a real passion for baseball and the Houston Astros. I would expect there to be an adjustment period for him, not being in that role," Ryan said. "He promoted the Houston Astros extremely well. Im sure that Jim Crane and his group will do the same." Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner said New York likely would continue to look for moves to bolster its pitching. Last month the Yankees re-signed lefty ace CC Sabathia, who now has a package that will pay him $122 million over the next five years. "It was a major signing. Hes our ace," Steinbrenner said. "We still have some work to do." New York faltered in the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Detroit Tigers in a five-game series. "Were pretty close to the team we were last year," Steinbrenner said. "We let the fans down in the playoffs. No doubt about it. They know that, I know that, (GM Brian) Cashman knows that." Ronnie Hillman Authentic Jersey .ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. T.J. Ward Broncos Jersey .After struggling to score goals during a poor first half of the season, Lille claimed only its sixth league win after Traore beat defender Cedric Cambion and fired home a low shot from the edge of the box in the 61st minute.DENVER - This time, the Denver Nuggets didnt let the Phoenix Suns run free up and down the court.Arron Afflalo led seven Nuggets in double figures with 22 points, and Denvers defence stiffened in a 122-97 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.Timofey Mozgov added 13 points as the Nuggets snapped a five-game losing streak to the Suns, who took the first of their home and home series on Wednesday after sweeping four meetings between the teams last season.Eric Bledsoe had 16 points to lead Phoenix, which had an off night shooting in the face of Denvers defensive pressure. The Suns connected on 38.8 per cent of their shots from the field after hitting 51.1 per cent in its runaway 120-112 win two nights ago.Flat out, defence was the difference, said J.J. Hickson, who had 10 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. I think we got back and made them play in the half court. We challenged a lot of their shots and we made it tough on them.Goran Dragic said the Nuggets took the Suns out of their rhythm.They were more active, Dragic said. They were more dominant in defence and offensive rebounds. Early in the game, we couldnt make a shot and they were making everything.Helped by their deep rotation and dominance on the boards (Denver outrebounded Phoenix 58-34), the Nuggets opened a 66-47 halftime lead, piling up the most points in a half by a Suns opponent this season.Leading 77-57, the Nuggets stretched their advantage tto 88-59 with 5:11 left in the third quarter behind an 11-2 run that included 3-pointers by Wilson Chandler and Afflalo. Cody Latimer Authentic Jersey. Denver took a 99-70 lead into the final period.The Suns put together an 8-0 burst, capped by a dunk from Archie Goodwin to pull to 101-80 early in the fourth quarter but Denver gradually pulled away again. Danilo Gallinaris 3-pointer with 6:18 left to play put the Nuggets in front by 25 points.Defence wins games and we all know that, Gallinari said. We have to keep this formula that we have going, which is keeping teams under 100 points.The Nuggets improved to 6-0 this season when holding their opponents under 100 points.TIP INSSuns: Isaiah Thomas, the teams leading scorer, missed the game with a right ankle contusion. ... The 122 points by the Nuggets was the most by a Suns opponent this season, surpassing the 120 points Phoenix gave up to the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 15. ... Phoenix made eight of its 23 3-point attempts, snapping a string of four consecutive games in which it had made at least 12 3-pointers.Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari resumed his place in the Nuggets rotation after missing the second half of Wednesdays game at Phoenix with left knee soreness. ... Denver had its season high in points against Phoenix, eclipsing the 117 it had against New Orleans. ... Denver had 10 steals in a game for the fourth time this season.UP NEXTSuns: Host Orlando on Sunday.Nuggets: at Utah on Monday. 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