The countdown that began weeks ago continues in earnest this morning as the Cardinals and Albert Pujols enter the final few hours before the Pujols-imposed deadline to reach an extension. If the sides don't agree to terms by 11am CDT, Pujols says he'll stop negotiating until after the season, when he'd become a highly-coveted free agent. There's "zero" momentum for a deal, though the talks still have a pulse. Here's the latest on the Cardinals and their first baseman:
- Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Pujols has informed the Cardinals that he's willing to revisit talks after the season (Twitter links). He doesn't want any distractions during the season.
- Rival executives expect the Cubs to pursue Pujols, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. One exec says “They'll give him the A-Rod deal'' and another guesses "They'll give him $33MM or $34MM for seven years.''
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from a source that St. Louis' offer would have given Pujols about the tenth-highest annual salary in the game, which translates to about $19-21MM (Twitter links). The exact length of the offer is unknown.
- GM John Mozeliak said the team will not consider trading Pujols, reports SI.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter). Pujols has already indicated that he would invoke his ten-and-five rights to veto any deal.
- The Cardinals announced that they weren't able to reach a deal with Pujols and will meet with the media at 11:30 CDT.
- There's zero chance of a deal by the deadline, according to Nightengale (on Twitter).
- The sides are not engaging in last-minute talks and there's no chance of a deal in the next hour, according to Scott Miller of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
- The talks are over and the deadline will pass without a deal, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter links). The sides have not exchanged proposals in the last four days or so and there's still a significant gap on annual salary.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports agrees: there will be no deal today (Twitter link).
- The sides aren't expected to reach a deal by the deadline, writes Scott Miller of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
- The Phillies anticipated this situation before locking Ryan Howard up, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter links). The Phils discussed a possible Howard-Pujols trade internally.
- Pujols doesn't have illusions of reaching a miraculous deal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).
2011-12 is gonna be an ugly offseason for the cards.
sad day for baseball!
sad day for cards, nice day for baseball
Meanwhile the Cards discussing the possibility of asking the Phils for Ultley and Hamels along with Howard for Pujols.
and then proceed to shop Howard and his enormous contract to the Angels
Howard, Hamels AND Utley? Do actually think that Pujols is worth that much? And do you think that Ruben Amaro is that naive to actually entertain it?
its actually a decent starting point…i would say though it would have to be howard and hammels for howard. either way utley is blocked to moving to first where he should move soon to help extend his career…utley and hammles for albert and pitcher(anyone but carpenter or wainwright) and then flip howard and some of his contracy to someone else for a pitcher ha
What in the world do u mean it’s a happy day in baseball. (pujh
Never mind what I just said I put that up by accident because I wasn’t finished. What I was trying to say is that it is a happy day in baseball because next year pujoles will be a cub in after this year
Learn how to spell his name and learn that your team is destined to lose forever.
ouch…
Like we haven’t heard that broken record before, Im not saying Pujols will be coming to Chicago but out of the major market teams where only team in a good enough position to get him (NY is filled, Both LA teams have their own issues with cheap owner or divorce) so anything can happen.
Funny how everybody forgets that he’s still playing all season for St. Louis, still has until after the World Series to actually become a free agent, and anything any other team offers the Cardinals still have the ability to match. The Cardinals are still the most likely team to sign him. He’s still given no indication that he wants to leave St. Louis, and it could turn out that in the end, he doesn’t receive an offer from any team close to what he’s asking.
please explain how the cubs are going to come up with 30 mill a season for albert? When they have a ton of back loaded deals and good guys in the farm coming up soon? And why albert would want to go to the cubs?
Pena and Ramirez alone are off the books, along with Silva this upcoming offseason which leaves them with over 30M in freed up money. I’m not saying I agree with him, but that’s where the 30M a season would come from if he were to leave and head to Chicago.
Consider the possibility that he doesn’t want to play for the Cubs? I seem to remember him saying several times that he would stay with the Cardinals if they appeared to be a competitive baseball team. So based on that, its a stretch to assume that he’ll leave St. Louis, for of all teams the Cubs, the arch rival of the Cardinals, and a team that does not win consistently.
HEY BUDDY, I said I’m not agreeing with him.
not only that but i believe the cubs will keep Ramirez and get rid of fukudome whose contract is out next year and also a possible trade of either Zambrono or Soriano, the White Sox have intrest in Zambrono as does Zambrono, as for Soriano i believe that another team such as the Nationals or Pirates like team would take that off our hands which leaves us with more than 30mil so in that case we can pick up a new pitcher or another bat
While I agree that Pujols will probably be in a new uniform next year, and that the Cubs seem to be in the best position to make a run at him, it is important to remember the obscure points in this process.
First the Yankees can all but be eliminated from the conversation, despite their track record. The first obstacle is Mark Teixeira. He has a massive contract would probably be harder to move than most would think. Second, the Yankees have a issue that will need addressing, which is pitching. If Sabathia Opts-Out, The Yankees will probably end up in a bidding war with 1-2 other teams. In Addition to CC, they will most likely be looking for AT LEAST 1 more SP. Bottom Line: The Yankees have more pressing issues to deal with.
The Red sox (AKA-New Yankees) are also pretty well set with their lineup. They worked for over a year to get Gonzalez from SD, and I have a hard time seeing them letting him walk after 1 season. Plus they just signed Crawford.
The Nationals can make an interesting case for Pujols, especially after snagging Werth, but with Strausburg, Harper, and Zimmerman, in addition to Werth, they might focus on some pitching to put around Strausburg.
The Cubs probably can make the best attempts to sign Pujols, for 3 reasons: Money, Location, and Potential. The Cubs can afford him, are relatively close to his current home, and have enough young talent to compete in the near future.
People keep saying that Pujols is going to just resign after the WS, but the Cards would not have been so quick to act if they could match other teams offers. Also, If Pujols goes the whole year without a new contract, he will probably test the market. What would you say if someone is waving $300MM in your face.
Teixeira is probably already starting to get shopped..
I honestly don’t see why people are saying the yankees are out of it. they could move Tex to third and DH Arod since Posada will be off the books. Im sure Tex would be more than willing to move for Pujols. Maybe doing that would stop CC from opting out (big maybe but you never know) they would have no pitching and an insane lineup.
I think trading him for an arm or 2 to help with the rotation makes more sense..
Plus teams that would like Albert but can’t afford him can get Teix at less money and years. . .
Perhaps trade him to the Angels, Orioles, or Nats
then go full on for Pujols.
You’re ignoring the fact that he has a no trade clause. Why would he do that? Just to be benevolent towards the team kicking him to the curb?
And honeslty? If we didn’t have Tex I would be all over AP. However, having him and seeing him perform over the last 2 years makes me think it’s better to have Tex for 6/$135 mil for ages 31-36 rather than AP for 10/$300 for ages 31-40. AP is > than Tex but the difference in production probably isn’t worth the extra risks and $165 mil. At least we know that Tex is going to be cut lose at age 36.
stop ruining the dream for Yankees fans.
Pujols, Mauer and Hernandez will ALL be yankees
stop being so biased.
when exactly will mauer be a yankee? he is signed through a team friendly(considering who he is) 2018 and hernandez is signed through 2014
Come on JW, that was obvious sarcasm…
Either that, or my buddy Lunchbox here forgot to include Ryan Braun and Tulo.
Nope yankees want HamRam!
I hate when people can’t read obvious sarcasm
That’s it? Nats aren’t trading Harper to the Yanks as well? B@stards.
one of the two, probably more likely could play left or right, more likely right considering its smaller in NY
You don’t move an MVP caliber player to an OF position they haven’t played in over 7 + years to a position @ age 31 when they have over $150 mil owed or just signed for upwards of $200 mil. Not happening.
That’s not happening.
that’s what everyone said to me when I said they were going to sign Tex, CC and AJ.
That example is not comparable. They NEEDED pitching and a 1st baseman. Yanks don’t need a 1st baseman anymore… yet somehow they still need pitching. smh
true but I think anything is possible. especially since cashman might be done after this year. if they steinbrenner boys take over GM duties it could be madness. I think they would easily justify it being that it is Pujols.
Let me guess, you’re not from anywhere near New York. Sorry bro, but you sound like someone who doesn’t have a clue about NY sports.
hahahaha ok BRO.
i said anything is possible. I didn’t say that is what I thought was going to happen.
you sounds like someone who goes around claiming they are from new york and accusing other people of not being from new york, when in reality you live in the pit stain that is new jersey.
why dont you try and counter my ideas with why it wouldn’t happen instead of trashing my NY fandom. quality post right there BRO
Because I’ve read your previous posts and concluded that you lack the baseball intellect to derive real possibilities? Yeah, I’ll go with that. But if you insist…
anything is possible – Yes, I agree. Why do people say this? It’s the most overused caveat in the known world. Be a man. Cowards hide behind such statements.
cashman might be done after this year – Very doubtful.
Steinbrenners take over GM duties – No.
Happy? And just for the record, I grew up in Astoria and live in the LES now. And I’ll say it again. You don’t have a clue about NY sports. So much so that I’m borderline offended!
people say it because it is true, especially when concerning the Yankees.
cashman might be done after this year – Very doubtful. – I said might be done which implies doubt. I do not think he will be done but there have been reports stating that he may move on from the Yankees organization.
Steinbrenners take over GM duties – No. – No? really no, ok just because you said so? it’s not like they have stepped over Cashman before…cough cough, Soriano, Cough. obviously they have a similar knack for power control like their father.
yes, they may hire another GM but its not unlikely it could be a puppet GM.
As for being a Man, how do I do that now? puff out my chest and expose my internet muscles like you are? thanks, I’m good.
btw, I really dont care where you live. Just because you live in NY doesnt make your opion more valid. it is still your opinion.
I might throw some whacky ideas out there from time to time but mostly it is just playing devils advocate. So try not to get too offended.
Levine has his head up his @ss but even he wouldn’t think it was wise to sign AP and move anyone to 3B or LF.
This is not a video game….
maybe you havent been paying attention to Yankees transactions for the past 10 years
How could I not? The Yankees are always being talked about, shoot this is the one time they have NO SHOT at a player and they seem to be involved in this, Yankee fans have this belief that after they sign a player to a ridiculous sum they can just flip them to another team to get a better player, There was a saying people that weren’t Yankee fans used to say a lot….our team is not here to serve the needs of the Yankees.
Stop waving candy that can’t be had in front of crying babies.
No one likes to play arm chair GM with a budget 😉
Hello
Hi.
this is awkward
Pretend you don’t see him…
I’m scared..who is Bob…? and WHY IS HE HOPPIN’!?
I lol’d
What a great post chain!
Agreed. Greatest there’s been in a while.
Best post I’ve seen in a while. Hilarious!
I was told by a close source of the Cardinals that he agreed to terms on a extension last night and they are going to wait to announce it when Albert shows up in Jupiter.
Its supposably a 7 year 28 million with incentives to reach 30 and a option for 8.
Im sure this is a rumor or BS but I did hear it from a credible source and I hope he is correct.
I hope you’re right. That seems reasonable to me.
Your source will be wrong if he’s not as credible as Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal…
Rosenthal is sort of a low bar…
At least he does a reasonable job of trying to be accurate. Unlike that slob from New York, whatever his name is.
ESPN radio just said the Cards offered 8 years/200 million which was quickly turned down.
Cards: “Hey Albert, how about 8 years/200 mill…..”
Pujols (interrupts mid-sentence): “No.”
rightfully so.
I heard the stickler part was the 99 cents at the end of the contract, Pujols wants even money and doesn’t like loose change.
where did you hear this? who told you? how do they know? how close to the cards are they? can it be proved?
So a quick question. If Pujols signs a deal with St Louis, does he then forfeit his 5/10 rights for blocking trades? or can St. Louis, just trade him once he signs, if there is not a no-trade clause?
how does that make any sense at all first of all the only time 10/5 rights are changed is when a player elects free agency or if they lift the 10/5 to be traded….10/5 dont go away for signing an extension if it did most people would never get 10/5 rights…and his new contract would more than likely have a no trade clause written into it
“Pujols is not looking for a miraculous deal.”
So the Cardinals are just being cheap? Like I said before: if an extension isn’t signed, I’ll be interested in hearing what the final offer was.
Buster Onely is about to announce whether or not he will being playing 1st base for the Cardinals in 2012.
Isn’t Olney a bit small for a baseball player?
David Eckstein taps you on the shin to say hello. Wave down to him… hey David!
Pedroia says hi
Doesn’t Olney make both of those guys look gigantic? Isn’t Olney somewhere around Elijah Wood sized?
Slash Star Wars, short to be a stormtrooper reference.
Teixeira has a full no-trade clause so I can’t imagine he’s going anywhere. The Yankees are going to have a logjam at DH in the next few seasons as it is. And how did the Cardinals let it come to this? Why did they not sign (or at least try to sign) him to an extension last year or the year before? @Wonderboy — you mention that Pujols has made a lot of money already, but the fact is based on his performance, he’s been taking “the hometown discount” his entire career. Pujols has always outperformed his contract and the $89 million he’s made thusfar pales in comparison to the $270 or so in monetized wins he’s been worth to the Cardinals. Their lack of foresight is matched only by the Yankees’ in terms of their starting rotation.
You cant say that Pujols has gave STL a “hometown discount” just because he outperformed his worth of his past contract. He was worth 100mil when he signed 100mil. He agreed that he was worth 100mil the last time an all he did was prove he was better. Thats not a discount for the Cards thats a surplus.
Pujols signed for 7/$100 mil (avg $15 mil per) years after Arod ($25mil), Manny ($20 mil), Jeter ($18.9 mil), Giambi ($17 mil), Bonds ($18 mil) and Piazza ($15 mil). The precedent was laid out that he traded security over getting paid his market value. Now he wants his “cheddar”
Think of AP and the Cards like a hollywood marriage. Like Angelina Jolie choose Billy Bob for comfort, so did AP with his $100 mil deal. Then she grew, matured and had a few good movies underneath her (MVP’s in his case) and he wants his Brad Pitt (no hideo nomo). Cards can either step up to the plate or prepare to go hunting for a replacement. Say hello to Carlos Pena aka baseball’s Kathy Griffin.
of the better posts I’ve ever read on this website.
makes…..so…..much…….sense…..
You deserve an award, perhaps an oscar would be fitting.
(Still laughing at the clever use of “no hideo nomo” hahaah)
Thanks ECB. I had to be clever…(the man is watching…shhhhhh).
Whats getting lost in all this drama is Prince Fielder. He’s slated to be a free agent at seasons end, and while he’s no Pujols, He’s good enough to keep Pujols price tag down on the open market.
Why? Pujols price tag wouldn’t change even with Babe Ruth and Ted Williams on the open market.
There’s a mixed history on that.
Sometimes, yes, multiple high-end players drive down the price.
But it’s not completely unheard that the price for one of the them (probably Prince in this case) actually rises, because everyone who missed out on the first guy is desperate to get the remaining one, so they don’t walk away with nothing.
Nah – Fielder will be lucky to get 5 years at $22 million per.
I don’t think the Cardinals are trying to undervalue Pujols’ contract. They’re trying to get a deal that makes sense for them. There becomes a point where it’s just not financially logical to give someone that type of money.
I’m not sure I understand what Pujols’ stance is. He’s said for years that he wants to play on a competitive team but he should know as well as anyone that the Cards won’t be competitive if they give him 30 mill a year.
This is the end….My only friend, the end.
yay a doors reference.
Pujols agent blows, he botched this thing from the beginning.
players control their agents, not the other way around..
if the cards gave Al a deal he wanted he could have easily have informed his agent to take it
The only way his agent would’ve botched this was if he advised Pujols to sign a below market deal that was later trumped by Agonz or Fielder. Cards still have a chance to sign him, it’s just going to be a lot more difficult and much more drawn out. The only way this “worst case scenario” could be worse was if Pujols had Boras as his agent.
“The sides have not exchanged proposals in the last four days or so and there’s still a significant gap on annual salary.”
You have to wonder then why the deadline was moved at all if the Cardinals didn’t plan on offering him a contract today. To me the Cardinals have looked afraid to make a move throughout these negotiation.
Pujols in another jersey is a pretty weird thought for me.
Has anyone brought up the fact that Pujols owns a rather popular restaurant in St. Louis called ‘Pujols 5’? Won’t business for that restaurant suffer if he does not sign with the Cardinals?
I mean, Edmonds has a restaurant here too that is still popular, but it wasn’t his choice to leave…
with 300 million dollars I’m sure he can handle the loss of that restaurant pretty handedly
Pujols 5? Like Jackson 5?
Ya I dont think hes concerned with his restaurant.. Even if he walks it will stay open
Im sure Pujols has interest in the restaurant, but most of these places are put together by partners who come to a deal with the man and use his name to market the place, I would be shocked if he had more than 15% interest in that place
The Cards will crush their fan base if the don’t get this done. Realiticlly how many millions is enough? Albert you’re not saving lives or putting yours on the line, It’s a game. Another reason to call agent/lawyers sharks
$300M is the answer to this. $300M. We also would have accepted “More than $300M”.
By the way, what time is CDT? I thought Central Daylight Time is reserved for summer months. Shouldn’t that deadline by CST?
This is a trainwreck for the Cards. I want to turn away, but I can’t..
Welcome to the 2012 chicago cubs Mr. Pujols
I think if it comes down to Chicago offering him 30 mil for 10 years and the Cards offer 27 for 8 he will end up taking the Cards offer. People of Chicago, I wouldnt get too excited about Albert, if its a bidding war between the cub Cards Im pretty sure the Cards will do all they can to keep him away from the division rival.
Or you know what? Do get excited about him, so when that day comes all your little cubbie hearts will be broken.
Meh, the Cubs get Pujols is a great outcome. The Cubs effectively raise the price of Pujols and hamstring a division rival (with much more frugal purse-strings) is pretty good, too.
The Cubs don’t lose in this situation. The Cards do either way.
Pujols will not make winners out of the Cubs. The Cubs will make a loser out of Pujols. XD
Meh. Beat that dead horse. And then I’ll say why don’t you “take a nap” at a stop light like your manager. And you’ll say “win a world series this century.” And I’ll say “passively allow a roider to destroy records.” And you’ll say “you, too.” And I’ll say “hope that nick punto thing works out for you at 3rd.”
So let’s give that up and agree that Pujols was a great Cardinal, and will continue to be great on any team he signs with. And if that team is the Cardinals, you better pray that Duncan can continue to turn pitchers around, cause you’re going to need a budget staff cause you won’t be able to afford Wainwright, Carpenter, or Garcia after they hit free agency or arbitration, respectively.
First lets not not be fooled that Fielder will be down Pujols value. Fielder will more likely end up in the AL and be a DH. To compare him and Pujols in contracts is foolish. Pujols is a once in a generation player. Look at his stats the first ten years in MLB history–1st HR,2nd runs,4th rbi,5th OPS,2nd WAR. There will be a bidding war and I am not sure of all the teams who might get involved, but I will take one team that could Cubs. They have new ownership and seem to have an attitude of winning instead of what is the bottom line. They will have the money and most of it will come from players that are replaceable. Contracts expiring 2011/12 in millions 2011 Aram 14.6 (16 CO 2 BO) Fukodome 13.5 Silva 11.5 (12 MO 2BO) Pena 10.125 Grabow 4.8 Samadrzia 3 2012 Byrd 6.5 Marshall. They could also shed 14 million if Dempster declines his player option (unlikely) and 18 million if Zambrano doesnt meet criteris for his vesting year.
Ok, and then how much will fall off the next 6 years to make sense of this and where will you get the other position players making league minimum that will actually contend and play to his caliber? Pujols didn’t take the Cards to the NLCS every year so you can’t say he alone will make your team a shoo in to the playoffs let alone a chance at the World Series.
stay out my head. haha
“The Lerner’s are the richest owners in baseball. Clearly their commitment is to winning after this offseason, not pinching pennies. I wouldnt be surprised in the next 3-5 years if the Nats reach top 5 in payroll in the whole league”.
stay out my head. haha
dude, seriously… download a new browser.
Ya he should. I used to use internet Explorer but it didn’t reply my response the right way, try downloading Mozilla Firefox.
And of course that’s assuming Boras doesn’t convince Levine to re-up Tex for 10 year deal. 🙂
d@mn you disqus.
on that note, I’m pretty sure notsureifsrs got banned from the site
which totally blows, he was the funniest poster
all his comments have been blocked out..
Hmm, I wonder why? He was funny (and probably still is). Sarcastic and opinionated, yeah, but I never saw him write ban-worthy stuff.
who knows… I like that the mods get involved and don’t let people get nasty or carried away. but I also feel they should be more leniant to people who are good contributors to the discussion..
Notsureifsrs was funny but also knew what he was talking about a lot of the time
I agree. By now it is easy to know who the regulars are opposed to those who come on to spew some garbage.
Yeah I noticed that he did too. Wonder why.
I got him banned so I could have exclusive rights to sarcasm and humor on MLBTR.
big shoes to fill!
Already bought the socks to put in them.
Did he seriously get banned? Well he is smart enough to make a notsureifsrs2
no they ban your IP address so that wont work.
wait what?! I was not aware. I’ll look into it…
thanks while your at it can you get my home IP address off the ban list (moonraker45)
I’m having shoulder surgery and won’t be at work for a while!
check your email
What? He was banned? For what?
He was banned right around the same time Charlie Sheen went into “rehab”. I thought it was just a coincidence but now….
That made me actually LOL. Notsureif is WAY smarter than Charlie Sheen, though.
Recreational drugs have the opposit effect on Cheen compared to others. WHile others become less intelligent, the higher Sheen gets the higher his intelligence grows. Thus the correlation:
Sheen uses a virtualy endless amount of drugs = Notsosure demonstrates an endless supply of wit. I rest my case.
And….time’s up. Any chance this the last we hear about this for next 8 months?
So pujols isnt a cardinal at the end of this year. The cardinals are such babys were talking about Albert Pujols here the babe Ruth of are generation the cards might not get another phenom like this they should of just gave him what he wanted!!!
The rangers are going to lock him up at the end of the season so all y’all that are saying he is going to the cubs,cards,yanks,etc. Should shut up
Rangers are going to be the last club to get Pujols. I forgot they were even a team until last year.
CLAW! <—- thats for you buddy
You should take the ‘h’ out of your last name
And change Trevor to Trailer.
There are two “H”s in his name…
the first one
11:11… oh! I get it! A wish.
11:11… Oh! I get it… A wish….
Part of me says that the Cards Front Office botched this one but part of me says that maybe this isnt so bad. Dont get me wrong, Pujols has given his heart and soul to this franchise and every fan knows that. I would love to c him stay in St. Louis, but not at 30 million/10 yrs. Im not sure i want a 41 yr. old 1B making 30 million, even if it is Albert. However, as a Cards fan, i believe this is gonna b a HUGE distraction the entire year. Its not the fact of Pujols walking away that scares me, its him walking away and all we get is 2 draft picks. Im gonna go out on a limb and say that NO 2 draft picks in the upcoming draft are gonna b worth Pujols. So if he has to leave, i would much rather the Cards trade him during Spring Training or at the trade deadline. Yesterday on MLBNetwork they were saying how the Yankees could offer Teixeira and company for Pujols. Personally, i wouldnt mind trading Pujols to someone like the Braves for guys like Heyward, Hanson, Freeman, Minor, Kimbrel, etc. Some sort of package of them would b easier to swallow Pujols leaving St. Louis. Also, how ironic would it be if an ex Cards player in Pujols helped the rival Cubs win their first WS in over 100 yrs.
Pujols already said he wouldn’t allow a trade. The Braves wouldn’t give up all of their cheap, young players for a guy they knew they couldn’t afford to resign, either.
Why would a team with a lower payroll, over $15 mil less this year, trade for a player making $16 mil that they have zero chance of re-signing??? Let alone give up top prospects. Pujols for K Kawakami and N McClouth?? Braves probably listen…
You can’t trade him, nor will he allow a trade because he’s got no interest in leaving. This is a just a game, he knows it, the Cardinals know it, they have no reason to pay him close to what he wants, so he’ll take them to free agency to get it out of them. Plus, they don’t know what he’s really worth to begin with on the open market. He’s not going anywhere and they (the cardinals and Pujols) know this, that’s why nothing is discussed everything is behind closed doors and nobody knows anything about whats going on. Becuase this entire thing is a chess match between Pujols and the Cardinals, in the end, both sides win, they get him for life, he gets his money (plus he gets to be a Cardinal for life, which is better than money)
I know he said he’d veto any trade, but let’s say the Cards are out of it by the deadline. Think he’ll waive it then? I know it’s not likely, I’m just talking hypothetical.
Pujols has already peaked, good luck to any team that gives in to his demands to pay for his decline years.
Decline years are 4-5 years away, this is what many good talent evaluators deem “prime” years, he isnt 35, and even at 35, decline usually means a drop in 5-10 home runs and 10-20 runs so he will be good for what 25-30 hrs and 90 rbi and only hit what 3.10? yeah whoever signs Pujols certainly WILL enjoy his “decline years”
Pujols needs to stay in St Louis. how much money does one man need? what is this guy scodge Mc Duck, he needs to go swimming in gold coins? show some class Albert.
First of all Pujols is entitled to make as much as the market will bear.
It also seems at best short sighted or at worst hypocritical of a Mets fan to admonish Pujols about money when you have Johan Santana making $22MM this year on your team.
Remember that he wanted a hugh contract from the Twins and made them trade him for some mediocre prospects in order that he receive the big contract from the Mets.
When Johan finally comes around in June, why don’t pose the same question to him, concidering what he’s given your team the last few seasons?
don’t wag your finger at me, buddy. The post is about Albert Pujols not Santana, don’t presume to disect a person from a screen name, especially when your’s is “slopeboy”, should I lecture you for being at least tasteless if your asain, or worse yet a bigot? I think all athletes are overpaid, but these mega contracts are obscene.
can you comprehend the difference between 100 or 120 million dollars? how would that change your lifestyle? what would you do differently? I would have more respect for a player if he changed teams for something of substance like a desire to live in a certain area…like anywhere besides Minnesota (half joking), but hey I’m just voicing my opinion I’m sorry I’m not a capitalistic zealot who wants to be stroked by the free hand of the market.
Obviously my post went way over your head. I can tell that you’re not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I truly have to admit I was surprised by your asinine ramblings. My point is that Santana did the exact thing that Pujols is attempting to do with his contract situation. Possibly you’re not intelligent enough to see it or you dismiss it because Santana is on the team you root for and follow. But there is no difference between either action.
As for my ‘tasteless screen name’, it comes from where I live, Park Slope, sometimes referred to as ‘The Slope,. I’ve lived most of my life here, hence the screen name Slopeboy. The fact that you would quickly come to the conclusion that I’m asian or am a bigot seems to illustrate how low on the intelligence pole you reside. Or what lurks in your heart.
The one thing you seemed to have stumbled onto that is correct is that all athletes are overpaid, but that is the reality of life,deal with it! As for you not being a capitalst zealot that smacks of a schoolboy who lives with his parents and has no real concept of what holding down a job entails.That will change when you grow up and have provide for yourself.
Maybe the Cards should show some class and pay him! He has been way out performing his contract for the last ten years….
I wouldn’t say out performing, but I would say Justifying it.
Yes, if you go to google earth, he is actually constructing the tower now for the gold coins to be dumped in, and he is making the $ sign out of diamonds.
Think he’ll go for daily swims in his gold coins like Scrooge McDuck?
Give him a break. He needs to buy a larger necklace to wear during games.
I am not sure of many things I have read in these posts. I do not believe Albert has peaked, maybe three years from now, but not now. I do not believe his agent or the Cards have botched this. I know I try to compare this to the AROD 10 yr 300mil, but that is not fair.
The AROD signing is ridiculous and the Yanks can DH AROD for the last 4-5 years if they have to. No other team can be expected to compete with a stupid contract. No matter how Good Albert is, how can you justify paying him past age 39 in any scenario that includes 25-30 mil?. Except for Bonds and steroids, no player has been particularly effective past age 39. I think some guy named Ted Williams might be an exception, but how could the Cards possibly justify such an expenditure that handcuffs them financially.
Be very very careful. You making too much sense for many of the posters on this site. You’re opening yourself to a frenzy of attacks. Beware my friend.
thanks for the heads up, put my armor on…just in case.
while it was a good post, I disagree that you feel the Cards would be handcuffed by the terms.. They are top 5 in baseball in attendance and aren’t top 10 in payroll..
Your right about the Cards attendance. Their revenue is like 9th or tenth and their payroll is about 12-13th. I was not specifically saying they cannot support 30 million, but rather that supporting a 30 million dollar under performing contract can and would impact their ability to replace that person whilst paying that amount. Not everyone can afford to pay Mike Lowell 12.5 mil, and then sign Adrian Beltre for 10 mil (Red Sox) to play the same position….except maybe the Yankees. So if Albert is having any injury or performance issues in his late 30’s I do not think the cards can replace him quality wise with that salary… I could be wrong though.
Pujols would be hard to replace, but if they emphasize the farm system and draft picks its not out of the realm of possibility to continue to surround him with cheap talent
wow i cant believe buster olney would bring up the pujols for howard thing again after he got slammed last year for it
I’m surprised there hasn’t been much talk of the dark horse Blue Jays.
They’ll certainly be able to afford him next year and beyond with what the franchise keeps promising. If they are indeed aiming for that 2012 and beyond mark signing Pujols would be conducive to that.
Just imagine a Pujols/Bautista batting lineup. The Jays would be total contenders if that were to happen.
The biggest hitch to this plan though is how much Pujols really likes Toronto.
I think the Jay’s have Joey Votto in their sights. They’ll go with stop gaps until they can have Votto for a paultry $20M/yr.
Except he’s not a free agent until 2014…that’s a lot of stop gaps.
Well, 1-3. Not really a lot.
If adam lind emerges as a capable 1B the Jays won’t have anyone in their sites
But would they go with capable over future hall of famer?
Joey Votto is a future hall of famer all of a sudden?
Oops, I was still advocating for Pujols.
lol well for pujols yes, adam lind would get moved.
Hopefully just back to DH
Yeah I have been talking about dark horse teams forever with this thread, Blue Jays are a great dark horse team, that is why i liked your comment, there are a lot of teams that have been saving their pennies for that one player, and Pujols certainly is that player, Pujols hitting behind Bautista would be filthy…
Going to the Giants. They love making this type of deal and will be able to defer the money until after Zito’s contract is off the books. Not saying it’s a great move for them, but with that staff and lack of first base it makes sense they pull the trigger.
I would say zero chance, not the Giants, the fact that they cold deffer Pujols’ contract until the Zito fail comes off the books.
fox has a TV deal with the MLB that gives a portion of those profits to each team but not every team has a TV deal at alll the ones i can think of are the yankees with what is YSN(or something like that) the whitesox with comcast and the cubs with WGN those are TV/team deals FOX is an MLB deal
The Yanks made their own TV station because they wanted ALL the money, if every team could do what they did they would, but the Yankees had everything to gain by doing that. and WGN pays good money to both Chicago teams.
Red Sox have NESN
same argument different faces…it used to be the bosox WERE getting adrian now its going to be cubs fans coming out of no where with no just cause saying the cubs WILL get Albert
But us Sox fans were right 🙂
Tenth highest salary for best player? Hmm.
19-21/yr is an insult from the Cardinals; The years don’t matter at that price.
Totally agree…..If this is true I gotta say Cards front office has basically no chance and they knew it. Why would the best player in the games settle for tenth best salary.
I don’t really believe that rumor… Cards would surely pony up more than that.
Wasn’t it just yesterday that another ‘respected’ beat writer had the contract at over $200 million? So much speculation and so little confirmation! It’s really laughable to see these beat writers scramble on what should be one of the biggest stories of the offseason — but they can’t get the goods!
Both could be true. 10/210 is 21 per season
Sure, except it’s believed that the Cards didn’t want to go to 10 years…
I might be able to understand this being one of the initial offers, but certainly not the final one. Maybe they sent Pujols and company a few packages to choose from, or rather to choose from which to start negotiating — a 6 year $170 million contract (Higher AAV) or a $10 year $210 million contract (10 years)…
Another interesting thought. Mo said in the interview that the Cards extended their initial offers around the first of the year… They’ve been negotiating for six weeks. How many offers do you think were exchanged?
I’d hope at 21 per season they’d go ten years. If not, they were farther away than any of us thought. I mean a 8/168 is kind of a joke. Prince is gonna make that in cheeseburgers. Howard makes 25 AAV.
Probably lots of offers, but that a 21 AAV, even as a starting point is insulting a bit to Pujols wanting 10/300. You gotta at least start closer to Howard AAV of 25 and 7 years.
Well like I said, it’s a starting point. I think unless Pujols got 10/300 from the Cards he was going to hit the free market. I mean… why not? The guy has more than earned the right to see what he is worth on the open market. The Cards did the smart thing by giving him an offer to consider, but one that wasn’t going to stretch their budget too much. If they would have put up a larger figure, say 10/275, Lozano probably would have shopped that during the offseason as a starting point and gone up from there. Now that they’re at whatever they’re at (considerably lower), the ‘opening bid’, if you will, is lower.
$19-21M annual salary? The Cards are insane…Crawford is going to make $20M annual salary…Werth is going to make $18…Jeter is going to make $17M…Vernon Wells makes $23…Howard makes $25M…Texeira makes $22M.
Any offer less than $25M/season and 8 years just isn’t going to cut it.
Can’t wait to see Albert Pujols in a Cubs uniform next year. I knew their was a reason why Jim Hendry gave all those horrible contracts to players. Aramis Ramirez, Kosuke Fukudome, Carlos Silva, Carlos Pena
The tenth highest annual salary? That’s a slap in the face to him. I would almost be insulted. He is the best player in the league and shows no signs of slowing down. I am one that thinks that salaries are way way too high right now, but if anyones deserves a huge contract it would be Pujols without a question.
$18-21M ?? Really ?? I knew that the Holliday signing would hurt… Can’t help that players have leeches for agents. What players have represented themselves recently? Didn’t McGwire negotiate an extension on his own?
Next years 1B for STL Carlos Pena, RF Jose Bautista, and new closer Matt Capps.
Next years 1B for CHICubs Albert Pujols.
That’s Preposterous!
19-21 million?!?! The Cardinals should be embarrassed. Good luck after that insulting offer.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOMETOWN DISCOUNT?!
That is yet another “source” saying that, people. I’m sure the Cardinals weren’t ignorant enough to offer $2-$4 million more than Holliday is making. Before you all start jumping to conclusions and bashing one of the best organizations in baseball, consider this came from a source.
My condolences to all the Cardinals fan…
It is unknown which teams will be in on bidding and how high they will go. He may want to play for a contender. Most teams won’t be in on the bidding. Signing a big free agent is a big gamble. There is a greater chance of injury and his performance could decline at the end of the contract. If too much of your payroll goes to start players and you have a bad supporting cast, all the good they do is undone by the bad supporting case. It is still a team sport.
This whole situation has “LeBron” written all over it…
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from a source that St. Louis’ offer would have given Pujols about the tenth-highest annual salary in the game, which translates to about $19-21MM (Twitter links). The exact length of the offer is unknown.
If this is true….. EPIC FAIL!!!!
J*@*@# F*@#@# C(@#T! That is absurd. How on earth can someone think about paying Pujols the same amount of money as Carlos Lee? C’mon, I like Pujols as much as the next guy, but let’s get crazy!
Who’s to say Rosenthal has any idea what he’s talking about? if there one thing that I can say about this ordeal and the media’s handling of it from the begging is that they’ve been wrong on just about every account. so what’s to say this is any different? The sports media and the Ken Rosenthals of the world are interested in breaking the story first, if its right or not is secondary. So far, most of the things the media has claimed in this have been wrong. If you can’t name a source, its not worth trusting.
Well there’s some question about AP’s age since he was born in the Dominican. If he’s actually 34 and not 31 as the Cards indicate, I’m not inclined to do a ten year deal with him.
Cardinals fans are learning today they really aren’t all that special, and that their god does not care about the local fans any more than any other professional athlete does.
Musial is our god Then Hornsby and Gibson, not Pujols (Hasn’t earned it yet), and yes, we are that special, Pujols will realized that eventually, as did everybody else that’s ever played here. Next spring training, Albert will still be a Cardinal, and he will end up not taking the highest offer he was given. bank on it. Its happened before it will happen again.
Yeah, I’m sure he’s just going to magically realize how “special” you Cardinals fans are and sign some generous below market contract, after two off-seasons in a row where a deal couldn’t get done.
I think he’ll be playing in Chicago in 2012.
It won’t be below market value, but it won’t be the highest bid, we are special, ask anybody in baseball, especially the other guys that believe it and did the same thing such as McGwire, Carpenter, Holliday and Edmonds. The reason they can’t get this done is because neither side knows Pujols’ value, the only way to determine that is free agency. The Cardinals aren’t going to give him 30 million dollars for 10 years and Pujols isn’t going to accept any contract the Cardinals give him.
The notion that he’d play in Chicago is absurd, He’s the leader of the St. Louis Cardinals, and there arch rival is the Chicago Cubs. He’s identified with the Cardinals and the Cardinals identify with him, he’s the face of the franchise. He’s not going to throw everything he’s got going in St. Louis to go play with Chicago. There is no reason what so ever to believe he’s leaving St. Louis, he’s made his home here, runs a charity here, opened a resturant here and is the biggest celebrity in the city. He’s always maintained that he wants to be here, and play his entire career here and there’s no reason to believe other wise. He just needs to find the appropriate value.
No reason? How about the fact that he hasn’t re-signed yet? They’ve tried for two off seasons to extend him, and he hasn’t done it. I think you are being delusional.
He’s not a free agent yet either. I know many people forget this while they are fantasizing about what Albert looks like wearing a cubs or Red Sox jersey, but he’s still a Cardinal for the entire season, and has yet to demand a trade. Do you think Albert Pujols is the first player in the history of baseball to go into a season without a contract for the next season? And then what do you sign a player like that for? do you think the Cardinals are just going to say “30 million is what you want per season, okay, here’s a contract until your 42 years old”. and do you think Albert says, “I want to be a Cardinal for life, but I’ll just sign any contract you give me?”. When the Cardinals are going to make an investment such as this, and Albert is going to invest himself in the last contract of his career, they want to make sure they get it right, Albert doesn’t want to play for nothing, and the Cardinals don’t want to pay him more than they can afford, so you let the market dictate the price and go from there, Just because everybody thinks the cubs will offer 34 million a season for 10 years (which sounds stupid enough to be true from the cubs) doesnt’ mean that’s what the market value is, they’ve yet to offer it, everybody ust assumes that they’ll do it, and everybody also assumes that Pujols will automatically ditch everything he’s got going for him in S. Louis and sign for the highest possible amount. that type of thinking is delusional. If you go into the store and they are selling bread for 30 dollars a loaf do you just buy it because you need bread? that would be incredibly stupid wouldn’t it. I’m 100% sure that Pujols has no intention of leaving St. Louis. and until you can give me a reason why he should. I’ll maintain what I’ve said.
1) You actually have no idea what Pujols’ intentions are, or what he’s thinking.
Not to be like that, but when you say you’re “100% sure,” you do sound pretty arrogant.
I also realize this isn’t a reason why he should leave as you asked for, I just personally don’t appreciate when people speak for others, especially when it comes to athletes, because everyone other than the athlete can merely speculate as to what they’re thinking. My gut says he stays in St. Louis, but you shouldn’t speak in absolutes.
This is coming from a Brewers fan? Why are the Brewers special again?
This has nothing to do with the Brewers, and I never claimed they were special. The Cardinals and their fans have carried this holier than thou sort of attitude for the past few years. You guys thought Albert Pujols was going to be loyal and stay, but he’s showing he’s just like any other player. No amount of “prestige” or “fan adulation” is going to keep him in St. Louis after 2011. He’s going to be gone to the highest bidder, which clearly won’t be the Cardinals.
You do realize that Pujols is still on the Cardinals for 2011…right? How do Cardinal fans act holier than thou? Have you met all the cardinal fans? Stupid comment from INvader. Sounds like a Brewers fan that is jealous of the Cardinals and their recent success. Let me guess, the Giants fans now act holier than though now too??
Yes, I understand he’s still a Cardinal for one more season. What is so hard to grasp?
You seem to think the cardinal fans look foolish because Pujols didnt sign today. My point was he is still a cardinal for 1 more year and still have the possibility of signing him this year and next offseason. So why does that make the cardinal fans “not special”?
Also, you didnt answer how do the cardinal fans act “holier than though”
You’re doing it right now. Cardinals fans (at least the ones online) have been acting like they’re so special after winning the World Series a few years back. The sense of entitlement some of you show is really ridiculous.
The Cardinals team and fans itself likes to preach about doing things “the right way” and “playing the game the right way.” This is especially true under Tony LaRussa (when he isn’t asleep behind the wheel). Yet Pujols watches his homers longer than anyone, Yadier Molina is a punk, and the whole team tries to tell other players to show “class”. Unreal.
Do the Brewer fans post on internet message boards represent all Brewer fans?
If the Brewers have been as successful as the Cardinals in recent history, do you think you would still have this distain towards the Cardinals? The answer is NO. I personally do not feel Cardinal fans act any different than other team’s fans. Are you biased just against the Cardinals? Or do you dislike other teams that are consistently successful?
It has nothing to do with disdain because of success. Yes, I understand the Cardinals have won championships and the Brewers haven’t. It’s disdain because of the hypocritical and entitled attitude displayed by the team and their fans.
Are the Cardinals that only team that acts this way? If the Brewers made the playoffs year in and year out, then you wouldnt give a cr@p what the cardinals said or did.
Also, who are these fans that act this way? Do people who post on Brewer message boards represent all the Brewer fans?
We were special before the World Series, we became special when the Owners of the Cleveland Spiders (Who were also the owners of the St. Louis Browns, who eventually became the Cardinals) were so convinced that St. Louis was a great baseball city that they gutted the Spiders and sent Bobby Wallace, Jesse Burkett and Cy Young (among others) to St. Louis. (You think Cleveland had it bad when LeBron left, it was worse in 1899). We were special when we beat the New York Yankees in the 1926 World Series, and we were special in the 9 other world series we’ve won. Pujols watches his home runs longer than anybody because he’s that good, Molina is the best defensive catcher in baseball. Complain all you want, but when it comes to classless, our players don’t run around the bases with there shirts untucked, and then all fall down when fatboy hits a walk off home run, but that’s alright, the Brew Crew will have more class once your first baseman leaves.
Invader, I would bet you 1,000 dollars that Pujols will resign with the Cardinals, and the deal will be less in the end than the highest bidder.
Just because in Milwaukee the head cases like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder will sign for the highest amount possible, doesn’t mean the same applies in St. Louis. Things are different down here, that’s why players sign here for less than they could get all the time.
We’re looking at an owners’ lockout before 2012 as it is. No telling how long it will be. I look at it that it could be for a very long time as the majority owners will be pushing for expanded revenue sharing (mainly that the local TV revenues are included with the national) and The Players’ Union doesn’t budge. The Cardinals are telling Pujols we’ll check back with you after the next bargaining agreement. What club wouldn’t with the majority expecting the salary inflation corrected from MLB’s current bad “King-of-Beers” business model?! The Yankees are Anheuser Busch (Inbev) and the Red Sox MillerCoors (SAB) as MLB has allowed that rivalry and entertainment value dictate the business interest of the game. Lest we forget, it’s the owners as The Board of
Directors, Mr. Commissioner!! Now you see why Selig’s stepping down? The system has panzied him all along, he’s forseen this conflict coming, and refuses to put up with it anymore
Anyone else think it’s sad that ONE offer and it was made way back in January? What kind of “negotiating” were they doing leading up to this?
Why are the Cardinals going to just say “30 million? okay” when they have nobody else bidding against them. Seems like the Cardinals tried to put a good offer out there that would have been close enough to the terms presented by team Pujols for the Cardinals to feel comfortable with. They had no reason to throw everything out on the table at this point, like I said below, Pujols’ value isn’t going to go up, so he could have an off year, hitting less than 30 home runs, driving in less than 100 runs or hitting less than .300 this year would make any team skeptical of paying him what he wants, its just a number or stat I know, but he’s never gone below those numbers before, so what if he did this year? or what if he got hurt? all things that make his value go down. They (the cardinals) will still have plenty of room to negotiate when he hits free agency, but they are bidding against nobody right now, so why throw everything out on the table?
They didn’t give more than one offer to him. I didn’t say they had to offer 30M, but why not try to work something out together, before they have to deal with other offers.
Because it was probably obvious to both sides at that point that the game they were going to play was to go into free agency, see what other teams are offering and then talk about what the Cardinals are going to pay him. I think the entire point of this episode was to see if the Cardinals were going to come anywhere close to what they wanted, and the Cardinals simply weren’t going to play that game at this point. So they both realized that this chapter was over and it was time to move on. Pujols is taking a bigger gamble than the Cardinals are here, like I said, his value can only go down,
Well, that’s a pretty interesting gamble. There is a very good chance that the offers in free agency will be much bigger than what the Cards are willing to match.
I don’t think its a matter of the Cardinals having to match it, its a matter of finding out what it is, I’ve been critical of this entire process because its very agitating to watch people on MLB Network and ESPN who don’t even care about the Cardinals most of the time talk about Pujols going to the Cubs, or the Mets or the Red Sox. But Albert has stated all along that its not about the money, he wants to finish his career here and I don’t think he’s making any of that up. I just believe that he doesn’t want to play for nothing, he is somewhat obligated to sign a fair contract to satisfy the MLBPA and his peers, but in the end, he’s going to resign here at the right price. The Cardinals knew this was the case and didn’t try to throw a deal together at the last second. I’m pretty sure that both sides have an agreement that they just aren’t going to talk about publicly. but in the end, Cardinal for life.
I’d have to agree with everything I’ve read of yours on this issue so far. As you’ve already said, it makes zero sense for the Cardinals to offer Pujols right now what they think they might have to pay come FA. It simply makes no sense for the Cardinals to do it now and it makes perfect sense for them to wait, assuming they know Pujols genuinely wants to end his career in St. Louis as he’s said on many occasions. The Cardinals won’t be paying him $300 MM, but I’m sure they have a number in mind that they won’t go above, and to even go to that number right now before seeing what other clubs will offer and what Pujols’ value on the FA market is, could only end poorly for the Cards. At best, they would’ve paid what they will have to eventually, but in all likelihood, they would’ve had to pay severely more to extend him now, and they may know they can definitely get him when the time comes around.
Certainly, but then the Cards can decide whether or not they can afford those price tags, rather than succumbing to his 10/300 demands (which everyone knows the Cards couldn’t afford)…
nobody would offer that, 30 million dollars to a guy that’s 42 years old? Not even Boston or New York would throw money away like that. As a Cardinals fan, you’ll remember the slump Pujols went into when the brought in Holliday from Oakland, and the slump he had last year (I didn’t think he was even going to get .300/30/100 last season at one point. Teams are going to have to weight all that, as well as his elbow problems when it comes to making a bid, and those question marks are going to make any team consider paying a guy 30 million dollars for 2 years. Its that classic case of putting your money where your mouth is, nobody will go that much for that long even on Pujols, esepcially after the Alex Rodriguez contract. The Cardinals will be fine, they’ll get a discount, but still have to put themselves in the ballpark. All will be fine.
Mo said in the interview today that they presented an offer around the first of the year and then negotiated from there. There were a lot of different proposals sent back and forth I imagine. So maybe just one formal ‘offer’ but certainly 6 weeks worth of negotiation results in scores of proposals and options… And Mo and DeWitt said as much in the interview.
Why bid before the market has a chance to set itself? Especially when Pujols was set on testing the market anyway (if he didn’t get his 10/300, which everyone knows the Cards can’t afford)….
He won’t get that, but the other question is do we really know what his terms are? I’ve not heard for sure what they are asking for, this 300 million or 30 for 10 is all speculative, I don’t know for sure that Pujols ask for that, but again, I’m not sure they ask anything, I think the Cardinals made a half hearted attempt to see if they at least get closer to a figure, but in the end, both sides really have no idea.
He’ll sign with the Cardinals, before its all said and done. Even if he goes into free agency, the Cardinals will be able to match any offer, some reports (which may be totally false, because everything leading up to this point has been coming out of the media) say that it wasn’t the length of the contract after all that was the issue but the total dollar amount. The Cardinals aren’t going to give a guy 30 million dollars 9 months before they have to give him that. Much can happen between then and now, but Pujols’ value IS NOT going to to go up not matter what he does this season, his value can only go down due to not performing as he has in the past or injury. There is no reason to assume that he’s going to leave the situation he’s got for something else at this point. As agitating as this whole process has become, mostly because Pujols has said he was never in it for the money. I know that St. Louis has the ability to match whatever offer they need to to retain him, plus any hometown discount that Pujols gives to St. Louis would come into play as a free agent not the day before he reports to spring training. But like I said before, throwing 30 million dollars a season at him now would be stupid if it turns out that later on down the road, no team is willing to pay him more than 28 million a season.
Mozeliak was asked if the Cards would issue a blanket statement saying they would match any FA offer, and he said no. Of course it’s good business to place a value on a player and not exceed that level. I think that’s what the Cards will do. And hopefully the market for Pujols doesn’t get too crazy come next year.
But like everyone’s been saying… it only takes one crazy GM…
It would be much easier for them to just come out and say we are going to work out a deal eventually we just have to find out what the value is first, but then you don’t get a good value, nobody will take Pujols seriously on the free agent market if they know he’s going back to St. Louis anyway. Plus, if the Cubs knew that was the case, why not just run the bid up trying to get force the Cardinals to spend more? This thing is more of an act that anything, but you can tell because they are all terrible actors. The PR nightmare that this has become for the Cardinals and Pujols is going to weigh on the team. I’m not going to be surprised one bit if they end up getting a deal done before he reaches free agency simply because of the distraction and the fact that its alienating lots of fans, players, managers and owners. They may just say enough with this, and hammer out something just to get it done with..
I guess you’re bucking for Rondo? LBJ IS the best player in the NBA but also the biggest and most clueless jerk. To his defense, he was willing to take less money to go to Miami though.
I’m predicting Tony LaRussa will retire after this season.
Yes, and Pujols will probably play a huge role in installing the manager of his choice (Jose Oquendo) in the captains chair during his negotiations following the 2011 World Series.
No offense, but I doubt it’s Jose. I like the guy a lot and think he’s a great coach, but signs would point a different direction. Every time LaRussa gets ejected from a game, Joe Pettini (Bench Coach) takes over, not Oquendo. Also, Oquendo has been interviewed for positions elsewhere, and not gotten them (wasn’t even a finalist this past offseason for the Mets). Discouraging signs to say the least.
I agree, but I tend to believe that Albert would put Jose as a front runner.
Pujols won’t have any say because he will be a free agent and too busy negotiating with other teams.
That’s funny I think we already established he wasn’t leaving, but at least if he does leave, we’ll have a chance at taking the Brewers first baseman… but will probably pass, Fielder doesn’t have enough class to play for the Cardinals.
That’s fine. Most Brewers fans accepted long ago that Fielder would leave after this year. I wouldn’t want to see Milwaukee lock him up to a $150 million+ deal (or whatever hypothetical figure), anyway. The difference ist hat you’re still in denial that Albert Pujols is going to remain loyal when it’s obvious he’s going to be gone after this coming season.
LeBron has the ability to score and dominate the game in that manner just as much as Wade does. What LeBron does at a MUCH higher level is he makes lesser talented teams better. He is a better distributor. He demands a double and sometimes triple team and when that happens he makes the right pass to the right teammate for an easy basket. He also is a much better rebounder than Wade and much more adept to handle physical play. While Wade is a great “on the ball defender” so is LBJ, AND LBJ can also guard the teams best scorer be it their PG, SG, SF or PF. Wade can NOT make those claims.
Forget about scoring for a second (which is about equall):
LBJ: 27.7 PPG, 7 RB, 7 ASST
DW: 25 PP, 5 RB, 6 ASST
LBJ can play any position on the court except C on any given night. Easily the best and I don’t even like the guy.
If Mozeliak is foolish enough to refuse to consider any trade offers, he may well wind up having a 2012 supplemental 1st round draft pick and the Cubs’ 2012 2nd round pick to show for Pujols (an almost certain awful outcome, barring some miraculous good fortune had with one of those draft picks). While Pujols does have 10 and 5 trade veto rights, it remains part of Mozeliak’s job description to gauge Pujols’ trade value and as such he has to seriously participate in those types of discussions with other GMs to get his answer. As such, I can only assume that what he’s saying is what he feels he has to say in this situation to avoid offending Pujols.
baseballplayground.com/2011/02/17/albert-pujols-to…
good opinion on the topic…
Its all good……………. Pujols will sign with the BoSox or Cubbies for 10-$325, and completely blow his elbow out in 2012-ST.
I would completely ROFLMAO if this happened, but honestly, he’s not superman. (he’s close though.)
Between his balky elbow, endomorphic body-type, and the possibility (ahem,) of Pujols being a bit more aged than the official report, those are 3 pretty big strikes to me.
Stay away Cardinals, stay away. They are doing the damn right thing by not going all in on Pujols.
If/when Pujols goes down…….. destroying his elbow or a sudden freefall-decline, he can cripple his (new) club financially for decades. So if he isn’t going to be a Cardinal, please go be a Cub. I’ll take my chances and ROFLMAO. He doesn’t strike me as one to age well.
If any team gives Pujols a 10 year contract it should be nullified by Selig. In fact, the Yankees should be fined for 5 years due to the contract they gave Rodriguez.
Collusion will work if only the Yankees would play.
Steinbrenners need to fire Cashman and hire Friedman – that organization needs to develop opposed to buy.