A year ago it was the Rangers and Cubs. Now, the Mets and Dodgers have ownership issues, as ESPN.com's Buster Olney explains in his latest blog entry. Here are the details…
- Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has “serious” financial problems, according to Olney. The day-to-day costs of running a team could soon create more of a need for cash for McCourt, who has looked for investors, but has not shown any interest in selling off much of the team.
- MLB is expected to let the Dodgers ownership situation play out on its own, writes Olney.
- The Dodgers’ ownership issues appear to be “much more immediate” than those of the Mets, but the Mets have significant financial obligations in a number of areas. For more on the Madoff/Wilpon/Mets mess, read Howard Megdal's latest for MLBTR.
- Both the Mets and Dodgers have been mentioned as hypothetical landing spots for Albert Pujols, who will hit free agency if he doesn’t sign an extension by the time Spring Training starts. One rival executive suggested to Olney that the Cubs could become the top bidder for Pujols if he hits the open market. "I think their ownership is gearing up for that," the executive said.
Rick Garcia
Pujols will be a Cardinal
Chuck345
The ones that work in the church?
gunsnascar
lmao
CooperMurray16
That would be so sick if the cubs could get pujols!!!
Go cubs!
The_BiRDS
Cubs get Pujols.. they will once again look great… On paper. Lets no forget the cubs are cursed and if that happens Pujols will prob hit .212 with 70RBIs and 20 HRs
Don Howell
he will blow out his arm for sure if he goes to the sCrUBS!
The_BiRDS
If Albert goes to the cubs Ill find him and blow out his arm
The_Silver_Stacker
I would love to see that happen and the controversy it would bring
Kevin
The Cubs have tight purse strings right now…what in the world would make them willing to sign a $100+ million contract?
gunsnascar
after 2011 season the cubs have several high pay player comming off of the books
ramirez,pena,grabow,fukudome,silva,and several others maybe soriano starts playing or atleast hitting like a star again (I know thats a stretch)and trade him
so the cubs certainly afford pujols so why not
jayrig5
After this season, $5 mil for Silva, $10 mil for Pena, and $14 mil for Kosuke come off the books. None of them will be re-signed. (Grabow’s $4.7 mil comes off as well, and maybe Samardzija’s $3, if they don’t have a place for him.) There’s the money for Pujols. You’re basically trading your 4th outfielder, a borderline 5th starter, and your existing, 34 year-old .196 hitting 1B for Albert Pujols. Which is a better deal? A lot of people have focused on Aramis not coming back as the means to sign a big-money first baseman, but I highly doubt that happens, barring a catastrophic year for him. If he stays healthy (and his injuries have been freak ones) and returns to around his career averages, his contract is a bargain. Especially considering next years crop of free agents, and the Cubs lack of an in-system replacement. (Sorry Vitters.)
To me, the unlikely part of the scenario is that Pujols goes anywhere but St. Louis. But, if you’re asking me to handicap other teams he could go to, I’d say the Cubs are absolutely a possibility. (If not him, they’ll probably look at Fielder. I’d personally rather have Pujols, even with the age difference.)
petrie000
the Cubs are going to throw a lot of money at a first baseman next year irregardless, since they need somebody to play there and they need somebody with power. If he’s available Pujols makes perfect sense on just about every level in spite of his price tag.
plus the owners are richer than jesus and know how much the presence of a player like Pujols helps the bottom line. i don’t think the Cardinals will let him walk, but if he does the Cubs will undoubtedly throw a ton of money at him.
adieuordie
I’m richer than Jesus too. That doesn’t mean I can afford Pujols.
Joe Soukup
I think it is entirely possible for the Cubs to get Pujols! Did anybody think that Lebron would go to Miami? I think there is a 50-50 chance of it happening if the Feb 16th deadline passes without an extension.
start_wearing_purple
I may not know a lot about the NBA, but I remember every other article on ESPN for the last year was “where will LeBron sign.” As I recall, odds were good on Miami or New York.
For Pujols, I’m betting 75-25 he stays with the Cards.
Lunchbox45
I don’t remember much of him rumored for Miami
I remember Knicks, Nets and Bulls but Miami was kind of out of no where
Chuck345
Not until the last week before his decision where nearly every ESPN analyst predicted Miami as favorites.
gunsnascar
pujols wont be a met they are in enough money troubles allready without him
the cubs have been either gearing up for pujols fielder or gonzales and worse case scenerio they extend pena
Bob Busser
Throw the Mets and Dodgers out… I seriously doubt their money problems will be gone that quick. I see either the Cubs or Angels as a landing place for Pujols IF he becomes a free agent.
vtadave
Only reason the Dodgers are still mentioned as possible destinations is around the hopes and prayers of Dodgers fans everywhere for 2012:
An ownership change.
Infield Fly
I don’t know….maybe the MLB should just go ahead and have a “bad ownership swap meet.” That way Fred Wilpon could finally own the Dodgers, and Frank McCourt….well, he could just get the hell out of L.A. already :p
Lunchbox45
Albert will fix the McCourt’s marriage and go 3/4 with 2 HR’s later on in the day and bring the bird that Randy Johnson hit with a fastball back to life.
start_wearing_purple
Afterwards he’ll part the red sea, heal the lepers, and turn water into wine. That said, Jesus must have been a hit at parties.
Dave Pomerantz
You’re mixing metaphors there, dude. Moses parted the Red Sea, not Jesus.
start_wearing_purple
I know, but the last sentence was more meant to reference the water into wine.
Cubbie
THIS IS SO FREAKING AWESOME FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jxavier
If I were the Cubs I wouldnt go for Pujols. Hes 32 and wants a 10 year deal. How much longer will Pujols be Pujols? Go for Prince Fielder, 27 and just entering his prime for not as much Cash.
Lunchbox45
LOL
Does the X stand for Xceptionally dumb?
Ben_Cherington
But Prince is younger…duh!!! 🙂
Guest 7373
No it’s not. Fielder’s younger and the Cubs have many, many more holes to fill than a power threat. Besides, I don’t want to see Puljos signed on to carry a team, and with the current state of the Cubs, that’s exactly what he’d be asked to do.
disgustedcubfan
I hate to agree with you. If Pujols were a Cub next year, he would get 250 walks.
Guest 7368
He would be an exceptionally good player on a very average team. He’s needs to either stay with the Cards or head to the AL, where neither the Cards nor the Cubs have to face him.
guydavis
What about the current state of the Cards?
Guest 7356
What about them? I’ve been watching Cubs-Cards games for 25 years. The Cubs organization is no where close to a well managed, well-run organization that St Louis is.
guydavis
Only Cubs-Cards games?
Guest 7355
You’re trying to come up with some feeble argument with me. Give it a rest. The Cards have always had a more developed organization from day one…and I’m a Cubs fan. And yes I watch mostly Cubs-Cards games because I’m Cubs fan and enjoy the rivalry. Other the making a moronic statement, what’s your point exactly????
jasonk
Stand-up comedy – not your strong suit. 🙂
In what world, even given their ages, does a GM choose Fielder over Pujols?
vtadave
So Moses did that all on his own?
vtadave
Uh Discus…I hit reply to Dave Pomerantz’s post.
John Walters
“MLB is expected to let the Dodgers ownership situation play out on its own.” Yeah, because having financially-crippled franchises in America’s two biggest markets isn’t a big deal at all. It’s not nearly as bad as, oh, letting Mark Cuban join the club.
Seriously, Commissioner Bud is happy to let the McCourt embarrassment drag on and on, just like he lets Jeffrey Loria do God-knows-what with the Marlins forever and ever, but he draws the line at letting somebody in the Owners’ Club who might say bad things about MLB management.
jb226 2
I don’t know if anybody has the answer, but what recourse, if any, would MLB have other than trying to pressure an owner to sell? With literally hundreds of millions of dollars at stake I doubt the owners would ever have allowed the commissioner any sort of power to essentially seize a team. Short of pressuring a sale or maybe offering to buy the team itself, is there anything MLB can do other than “let the […] ownership situation play out on its own?”
Ct Rich Spinelli
ehh i wouldnt count the mets or dodgers out yet. texas was in the same spot last year and they made a huge offer to cliff lee (although they didnt get him) and a team like the mets has a LOT of money coming off the books after this season, ESP if they were to trade reyes.
I am Urban Legend
yeah but the Mets also have a capable 1B who is good defensively and will be cheap for the next 3-5 years. If Ike regresses + the mets have new ownership, then MAYBE they take a peek at Pujols
Dirty
i just wanna see him hit the free agency… and dont count out the red sox yet either.
just never know… Adrian Gonzalez isnt locked up… if albert is gonna be a free agent maybe the sox wont give gonzalez an extension so they can fish for pujols.
Lunchbox45
If they gave up 3 of their better prospects for 1 year of Adrian Gonzalez thats pretty rough
I am Urban Legend
If u trade A-Gonz for 2 good prospects then its almost a wash.
I think with A-Gonz low salary he can be traded to a few teams pushing for the playoffs.
Lunchbox45
but then you are losing a vital piece in a year many are predicting the Sox to be a WS threat
Muggi
There’s no way the Sox take that kind of gamble. AGon is in-house, if they’re giving a 1B a long-term deal, it’s going to be him. The only way they get in on Pujols is if AGon refuses to sign an extension.
Guest 7374
The Red Sox would be very foolish to pass on the BEST PLAYER in the game. If Agon gets them to the World Series this year, he’ll be worth the prospects and the 1 year rental. The Red Sox have the funds (see Carl Crawford) and in a bidding war, they’ll win no problem. On the flip side, Puljos just needs to realize how much St Louis fans love him and sign for less years with Cards. Then we don’t talk about these things.
Muggi
No, in a bidding war they wouldn’t win “no problem”. Yes, they won on Crawford…they lost on Teixeira, and it’s the exact attitude of your above post that Sox fans had about him. Nothing is predetermined, and there’s a ton of teams that have 30m+ in room this offseason (and DON’T have half their starting lineup going FA, as the Sox do).
If you think Theo would let a player of Adrian’s caliber walk just for a CHANCE to sign Pujols, you’re a fool.
CooperMurray16
I just don’t see anyway that the sox get into the pujols discussion. They just got Gonzalez and there’s no way they’re gonna use all their money to go get another great 1st baseman.
disgustedcubfan
I doubt the Red Sox want to screw around and maybe end up with neither of them.
I think they’ll sign Gonzalez, but refuse to give him a no trade clause.
That would leave the door open to make a run at Pujols.
Ben_Cherington
I just see Pujols going to the American League if he gets a 10 yr deal. At least he can be a DH at the age of 41 and not be a terrible defender in the field. Plus DHing part time will allow him to play the field longer into his career and be an overall more productive player in the latter years of his contract.
Lunchbox45
no smiley face?
Infield Fly
:))
Ben_Cherington
I wasnt being mean…it only applies to a smart a$$ reply! 🙂
The_BiRDS
ALL RIGHT! Egypt prevails! The leader finally steps down.
Now, moving along with the headlines…
“Pujols Cardinals reach agreement”
then
“Football will live in 2011, players and owners agree on terms”
then
“Cavs loose their 30th straight”
then….
Lunchbox45
you woke up?
Chuck345
“‘Melo to the Knicks…”
bleedDODGERblue
C’mon Frank! Put your pride aside and sell the team already!
Infield Fly
….And then contact Fred Wilpon in NY and convince him to do the same.
Now THAT would be Amazin’!!
bigmel 2
The Mets get Pujols!!! ROFLMAO Are you kidding me???? As a Met fan I expect Delgado to get a contract not Pujols.
Craig Cutler
I swear big time free agents only go to the Cubs because they think if they win they will never be forgotten. “I was on the Cubs when they broke the 100 year plus streak.” Once that ever happened, the thrill would be gone. All that would be left is a crumbling ball park, two faced fans, a crappy broadcast team, etc. Hardly any big free agent would probably go there.
Guest 7367
I don’t know if I go that far. The Mets seem to be outpacing the Cubs in that regard in their current state.
gunsnascar
you must be a cardinal, met or dodger fan to be that salty.
Maybe you are right but after the streak ends and it definitly will free agents will go there because they have huge tv ,concession and merchandise money on the north side of chicago.Just a bit of info for ya also free agents by in large are mainly concerned about the biggest contract 1st and a contender 2nd.
jb226 2
Hover over his name and you have your answer: Cardinal fan.
jb226 2
“Hardly any big free agent would probably go there.”
Gosh man, are you sure you want to box yourself in with those absolutes?
therza82
Mets have a a lot of money coming off of the books at seasons end (K-Rod, Beltran, Casitllo, Reyes (who they will probably resign) if they do that and get some investors in the team then I could totally see the Mets making a run at Pujols…However, making a run at him and actually signing him is a whole different animal. One thing is for sure that Albert isn’t giving the Cards any type of hometown discount so it seems likely that he will at least test the market.