The Cardinals still don't know whether or not Albert Pujols will be playing in St. Louis past this season, and the team is making moves to prepare for either scenario, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cards are currently negotiating with the agents of Lance Berkman and Rafael Furcal in an effort to retain both players on short-term deals. Strauss adds that the team hopes Pujols' future will be decided no later than December 11th. Here's the latest on a couple other NL Central clubs:
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders which teams will pursue Prince Fielder this winter. He essentially rules out the Brewers, and runs through a few other possibilities.
- The Cubs' new GM may have some work to do on the starting rotation, but the bullpen is looking strong, writes Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- With no GM in place, the Cubs' 2012 manager is still a question mark, but Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe thinks hiring Ryne Sandberg would provide a major public relations bump for owner Tom Ricketts. Chicago would embrace Sandberg's "lunchpail mentality," says Cafardo.
I feel like the Carpenter extension signals that the Cardinals have the budget for a massive Pujols deal. Whether or not they come to terms is the real question though right?
I definitely would agree partially with that. I think it definitely shows that they still intend to keep a “win now” attitude instead of moving towards rebuilding.
I still fully believe Pujols will be back as well, but I think if they could retain Berkman and Furcal, this team would still be a potent offensive team without Pujols, with Craig, Berkman and Holliday still as true “middle of the order” type bats, and Furcal, Jay and Molina as pretty good hitters. If either Theriot or Schumaker can provide a decent bat for 2nd base, this team is still very potent even without Pujols.
Also, with Wainwright returning and Carpenter being extended, we’ve got our top 3 pitchers back on the roster next season with WW, Carp and Garcia.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that because they signed Carpenter, it’s a sure thing they’ll sign Pujols, but I would agree with the attitude that they intend to make the moves they need to in order to compete for the NL Central crown next season.
Ever since I realized that the tooth fairy wasn’t real, I’ve learned to question ALL pending or reported financial transactions until the check clears the bank. That’s why, after making MY Pujols predictions on December 12, 2010 (10 years @ 23.5MM on a declining and graduated scale with deferred partial payments beginning after year four), I’ve studiously avoided any conjecture about the negotiations at all…knowing that whether it’s the “learned solons” in the media, or the guy behind the counter at Burger King, each of us knows exactly as much and as little as the other. Having said that, though, I do feel that John Mozeliak and Bill DeWitt both know that the deal keeping Albert in St. Louis for his entire career IS going to get done…now it’s just a matter of how many zeros go into the final figure. Mozeliak is merely going about the business of improving the club player by player, just as any GM does…and isn’t worried about Pujols in the least.
Chances are 50/50 at best…. AP already stated this negotiation is out of his control.
Please cite time and place. I have NEVER heard Albert Pujols state in any interview, at any time, that “…this negotiation is out of (my) control.” I have many times, however, heard him say “I am not going to talk about it” (negotiations) once Spring Training starts…or the Cardinals season is over. There’s a world of difference. The ONLY thing we know for sure is that prior to the start of Spring Training, there were negotiations. But that’s all…no numbers, no contract lengths. Only, as both sides have confirmed…”There were negotiations” and that a contract was not forthcoming. Anything else, whether you, me, or some guy from the P-D, Sports Illustrated, ESPN…(especially ESPN) or even Major League Trade Rumors is just that…a rumor…and as the season is still on-going neither side is talking.
And “Chances are 50-50 at best…” My, my, how authoritative! And how absolutely conjectural and unsubstantiated! But I WILL admit that calling the outcome 50-50 is a superb way of covering/hedging/waffling your bets. I do have a real problem with the “at best” part of your assertion though…SAYS WHO?
I use words professionally, so I guess I tend to be very careful with how they are employed…I wish others were as careful.
Your a dork!!! He said it publicy less than 3 days ago.
Where did he say those exact words and to whom? Until I actually hear Pujols SAY “…this negotiation is out of (my) control”, I’ll continue to question it (the point of my original post)…NOT what someone says he said, but what he actually said. If I hear it said by Albert, I’ll apologize…Not until. Because IF he used those words, as you insist, he would be admitting that negotiations were ongoing during this season, something I’ve not heard from anyone.
By the way, what exactly is a “dork”, anyway? Is that one of those really heavy insults like, “you’re a nebbish”? Or, my personal favorite, “You’re a wus?” Oh no, take my eyes, but don’t call me a wus…or a dork!
A dork is a whales penis. Not sure why your post made you a whales penis, but in fact, that’s what it is.
Well, doggone…you learn something new every day…Thanks, 16. Personally, though, I think I’d rather be an oosik.
I’d include Lohse as one of our “top” pitchers, making it a “top 4” starting staff.
Lohse is awesome half of the time. A very solid 4th or 5th starter I guess. I’d like to see Wainwright, Carpenter, Jackson, Garcia, Lohse as the rotation next year. Jackson will be expensive, but I think the Phillies have proven good starting pitching is worth paying for. Westbrook has been worthless lately.
Yea, because Edwin Jackson is just as good as the Phillies pitchers…
Where in my comment did I say Edwin Jackson is as good as any of the Phillies starters? I just said the Phillies proved that it is worth it to spend money on good starting pitching. Don’t put words in my mouth. And in my opinion he has a better upside than Roy Oswalt or Vance Worley. Maybe even Cole Hamels.
I think you may be selling Lohse a bit short, Kendall, saying he’s “awesome half the time. He’s got the most wins on the club; I believe he’s third in strikeouts; He’s second in ERA @ 3.62 to 3.59…and his WHIP of 1.18 leads the next best number of 1.31 substantially. I don’t place a tremendous amount of faith in numbers, granted, but these seem to indicate that Lohse is quite a bit better than awesome “half the time”.
As for your 2012 rotation, I have absolutely NO problem with it as I, too, prefer Jackson starting over Westcott. The only thing I can think of that I’d even think of changing would be if, somehow, Mark Buehrle were to be added to the staff. And, unfortunately, I see no way that this will happen. Our startrs are pretty much set, contractually, through next season.
Well, a lot of Lohse’s solid numbers came from his awesome first half. His second half numbers haven’t been so good. Maybe a better description would be solid starter that can at times be dominant and at times be terrible.
Sandberg for field manager and the heck with any BUMPS for the tom ricketts family.
Agree guns – add Hahn as GM and Gillick as Pres
that would work because I hate crane kenny but gillick is a old man that will soon be done being in baseball.
Hahn is my 2nd choice for GM behind Beene either 1 would be great for the cubs.
Ryne Sandberg should be able to do a good job managing the Cubs. after all, he has done well so far managing minor league teams.
Now THAT made me laugh out loud!
Prince Fielder**** will be wearing ANGEL RED next season. Bank on it!!!
Will that make LA fans stay until the game is over?
Then Tony Reagins will turn around and trade him to AA’s BlueJays for a hotdog and Brian Tallet. Bank on it!!!
Quade’s exit should be a foregone conclusion. He is deer-in-headlights terrible. Should have pursued Girardi last year, but now Sandberg is the right choice. Do it now!
The new Cubs Dream Team management:
Sandberg-manager
Epstien-G.M.
Gillick- President
Crane Kenney- gone
Ricketts- step aside and let your new guys go to work
I didn’t want Sandberg hired last off-season because I knew how bad the Cubs would be this year. I hope they clean house of veteran baggage (Ramirez, Soriano, and Zambrano) and get Sandberg in there to coach some young guys (with veterans like Johnson, Pena and Byrd, who have great attitudes). If Cubs fans can accept a few bumpy years before getting a decent team, Sandberg will be successful. Especially if the new GM avoids Pujols and Fielder and their big contracts. Soriano and Zambrano taught the Cubs about the dangers of big contracts. The last piece for me would be whether LaHair could play 3B. He looked good in his call-up, if he can’t do 3B, then I would let Pena go.
You’re wrong on a Couple things.
1.) Pujols and Fielder are nothing like Zambrano and Soriano.
2.) LaHair is a 1B/RF/LF guy pretty much another Micah Hoffpauir. Also, he’s only played 13 games lets see how he does IF he makes the team next year.
1) Maybe not, but $100 Million is a lot to be on the hook for if there are no guarantees.
2) I’m all for taking inexpensive risks in rebuilding.