Media members quizzed Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols about his contract situation today at the team's Winter Warm-Up festivities, as covered by Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and B.J. Rains of the Globe-Democrat. Pujols does not want to discuss an extension during the season, though he did say he'd be willing to take a discount if it'd make the team better.
Though Pujols hopes to avoid free agency, he'd be fine with it if necessary. The slugger's comments indicated a lack of urgency, which makes sense since he is under team control through 2011.
CENSOREDFORSEX
Sorry Mets and Red Sox fans, he’s not leaving. He OWNS the city of St. Louis.
timmytwoshoezzz
Wow, are dudes in Cardinal country flipping out about this Pujols thing or what? Guy’s locked up for two years, enjoy watching the best player in baseball! Don’t send yourself to an early grave worrying about 2012, thw world may well end then anyway!!!
Ferrariman
this sort of confirmed the obvious that most people already knew.
protech76
CARDINALS WILL RESIGN HIM!!! No doubt. The FO doesn’t want a riot on their hands. Give him stock in ownership of team in his new contract, the keys to the city, or whatever else it takes. SORRY NEW YORK and BOSTON. The greatest of all-time stays in ST. Louis. There will be a statue next to Stan “The Man” of him one day. The machine can not be stopped. There is a better chance of the Choking Cubs winning a world series before the thought of a possibility Pujols ever leaves St. Louis.
Patrick Burke
wow, dislike
vivagermany
Pujols should start his own team and steal the souls of the St. Louis Cardinals players.
martinfv2
No reason to turn this into a steroid discussion, please take that elsewhere. Thanks.
LinkinParkFTW
Pujols’ manager would not be doing his job if he allowed Albert to sign an extension. He is one of, if not, THE BEST player to every play baseball. He has earned the right to at least hear what other teams have to offer him. I think he will end up as a Cardinal, but he will not sign an extension. I think he’s going to become a free agent, get lucrative offers from the Red Sox, Mets, and Caridnals, and some smaller offers from other teams, and he will most likely sign with St Louis. But he has earned the right to see what other teams are willing to give him.
empathizerightonyourbehind
The credibility of anyone who still remembers Linkin Park should be seriously questioned.
protech76
Point taken…..BUT….YOU HAVE LOST YOUR FRIGGIN MIND.lol
NL_East_Rivalry
There is believed to be a point in time when the difference between making 30 mil and 25 mil a year ( to stay on the team you want to play for ) doesn’t really matter.
Patrick Burke
look pujols is amazing, we all know that. let’s not go overboard. he’s in the conversation, but he’s not the greatest baseball player of all time. I’ll take Babe Ruth and Willie Mays over Pujols any day.
He’s a top 10 all time player though. Look forward to seeing what his final numbers look like.
Personally, I think he’s probably a good 2-3 years older than everyone thinks he is.
NKilburne
If he signs a 10 year deal you’re not talking about 5mil/year…you’re talking about 50 million dollars. I love it when marquee players resign with the home team and, although I’m not a Cards fan, I’d like to see him sign in St. Louis…HOWEVER, Cards fans are crazy to think they’re gonna get the guy for anything less than 25mil/year for 8-10 years and that’s after seeing what the LAs, Bostons, and New Yorks of the world have to say first. If anyone thinks he’s NOT going to see a 300 million dollar contract offer, you’re crazy…i’ll leave you to speculate what you are if you think he’ll leave 50-100mil on the table.
protech76
Possibilities are unlimited regarding How Much, How Long, Bonuses, and all the Extras slapped in a thick paper agreement. But, I guess not everyone has had the pleasure of seeing the kind of man Albert is. EVERYONE knows the player and teammate he is. But the humanitarian is not the “TYPICAL PRO ATHLETE”, of modern day. You are not talking about your typical Yankee, Red Sox, or met sell-out. It is something about this team, that star studded players have sacrificed things for the better of the team. If he says he will take the discount, then I believe him. If he gets offered the most lucrative contract ever, then so be it. Cardinal players share a very unusual nucleus that is a rarity in baseball. I believe this because like most cards fans, I was born into this tradition that continues to grow and draw talent to the organization. It is my opinion, but I think the nay sayers who dont understand how albert operates, could very well be fooled. As could I be!
Patrick Burke
blah, blah, blah. money talks. i’ll think all of that of him if he turns down an extra 50 million dollars to stay with the cardinals.
Atticus_Finch
Money is ruining this once great sport, for real. I find myself more and more attracted to the NHL everyday. They have a team max and minimum salary cap, as well as a individual player salary cap. Baseball is a great sport. The MLB, however, is a joke.
CardinalsOwn
He’s staying, No Doubt.
Glebb
If the Cardinals were smart they would sign him for 25 mil annually for 5 years.
He will not be the same player in his 35+ years so they really should keep his contract as short as possible and avoid an A-rod style 8+ year deal.
Patrick Burke
That offer would be so insulting to him, you’d have no chance of resigning him.
Tyler
The Prince is going to be living like a King wherever and whenever he signs, every reason in the world for him to be relaxed about it. Going to be such a mind-numbing amount of coverage next offseason it will make us long for the days of “Peavy to Cubs?” though.
highlanddave
I’m not a Colorado fan, but could you guys imagine what kind of numbers Pujols would put up there? 60 HR, .412 BA? I would like to see what he could do. Secretly though I believe he wants to play for Tampa Bay, hee hee.
protech76
TO MANAGEMENT, WHO ART IN ST. LOUIS,
PUJOLS IS HIS NAME,
THE DAY WILL COME,
HIS CONTRACT BE DONE,
ON EARTH, AS IS A CARDINAL,
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY MVP,
AND NOT TO ANY OTHER MLB TEAM,
AS YOU LEAD THE NL CENTRAL,
LEAD HIM NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER HIM FROM THE EVIL EMPIRE,
FOR THINE IS IN ST LOUIS,
WE LOVE HIS POWER,
AND CONSISTENCY IN THE CLUTCH,
FOREVER
“This is in no way taking the place of the almighty Jesus Christ, or the lord’s prayer. He is forever the king of kings and I am a dedicated Christian man. Please do not take offense.”
Just a cardinals fans plea. lol
CENSOREDFORSEX
Hate that prayer and christianity in general but that Pujols version is pretty win.
Guest 616
There is no way St.Louis could let him go. They could trade him for 5 top prospects and they all will never equal him. If he becomes a FA, he’ll be signed by NYY NYM or BOS which means [not so 100% with the Mets] it will NOT be a Top 15 draft pick. Pujols has carried the Cardinals, they have to resign him.
LTDm206
The Evil Empire can’t sign him. He and Texiera are both too good defensively to DH.
Tyler
Top 15 Draft picks are protected anyways, it will never for any team be a Top 15 pick in compensation.