11:20pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that the dollar amount on the Marlins' nine-year offer to Pujols is believed to be "well below" what the Cardinals offered prior to the season.
7:56pm: We already know that the Marlins have made Albert Pujols a contract offer and that the Cardinals met with his agent today in Milwaukee, but Yahoo's Tim Brown says those are just two of at least three teams "actively jockeying" for Pujols' services. While Brown is unsure of the identity of the third team, he guesses it could be the Rangers or Cubs.
The list of suitors for Pujols figures to grow before the slugger eventually makes a decision. According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link), the Cards plan to stay under the radar in the bidding, and say that nothing is imminent between the two sides (Twitter link).
wrestlingcritic
If the Rangers land him, watch the f*@k out
Onetimeaccount
If the -insert team name here- watch the f*@k out.
fixed
dylanp5030
This statement does not include the Astros.
Now fixed
The_BiRDS
I heard the 3rd team is the Osaka Tigers of Fujimura
Brad426
Think of all the 20-16 games.
David McCutcheon
They need pitching, badly. They can’t win every game 16-7.
Onetimeaccount
Why not? The RedSox went that route last season and look wha.. oh.
Yeah, pitching is essential also.
wrestlingcritic
The Red Sox did have pitching. Unfortuantely, they also had a keg, an XBOX, and KFC on speed dial
Charles Phillip DeBay II
My new favourite pair of posts of all time. Thank you.
User 4245925809
Someone else that knows little about the history of the game..
Ok.. School is in session ONCE again…..
Want to see teams with little pitching and BEASTLY offense? Look up Boston teams (pick a year) from 1973-1979.. THOSE are teams with 1..team rotations, other than the ’75 WS runner up team..
There was either El Tiante, or Dennis Eckersley (1 year) as the consistent starter, with Bill Lee as the passable #2.
School is dismissed..Again…
Blue or CONKZILLA
It’s the Rays, they’ve been saving up since he was a rookie.
Silence
I think the Blue Jays sneak on him or Fielder
jayswin2012
if puljols begins to eat oreos cookies without the fillings .. watch the F%Ck OUt!
Madman2TX
That’s supposing that Nolan Ryan has been blowing smoke about Moreland having the first base job and about pitching being the main goal. Considering that the Rangers are going to have to pay to keep guys like Hamilton, it would be a major shocker if they offered an A-Rod contract to either Pujols or Fielder.
jjs91
They should let hamilton leave, someone that injury prone doesnt deserve the money he’ll get.
John McFadin
I’m a huge Ranger’s fan and wholeheartedly agree with letting Hamilton walk away after the 2012 season. Just collect that first round draft pick and move on.
kunshack
The Ranger’s payroll was $92MM last season, with Napoli in arbitration and Wilson a free agent and has expressed resigning him, The Rangers are going to have an increased payroll as it is. How much are they going to pay Albert. I also feel the Rangers will have reluctancy in signing another long-term ARod deal. Not only that, but it would have to be a significant amount more than the Cards are offering for Albert to leave StL.
Andy_B
If the Rangers signed Pujols that means they would pass on Wilson save about 15 million which would go towards signing Albert. It’s definitely doable for them, but I still think signing pitching is their top priority.
Kayrall
what
Cheeseballs
Probably meant Hamilton
Andy_B
Meant Wilson sorry
Shu13
IF they sign Albert they would pass on Albert?????did you mean pass on CJ?
I could see them really be forced to move Young or possibly Kinsler if they do sign Pujols….clear payroll and open a spot in the line up….
John McFadin
Kinsler doesn’t make enough and is way too good for his salary to trade. And if they did, they would be trading 2 years of an elite, cost-controlled second baseman. I would like to see what kind of haul they could get for that.
j6takish
Pitching for the Rangers isn’t as big of a concern as it would seem. They had one of the more well rounded staffs in the league. Sure they didn’t have a “true ace” but every starter 1-5 put up 3-5 WAR seasons and were all pretty durable. Colby is gonna be Colby, but I expect big steps forward for Dutch and Harrison
Ben-Dessa Anderton
I agree. That staff was young and grew a ton with the playoff exposure like they had never seen before. Perez I think will be a big part of this season as well, maybe midseason.
KyleB
Perez will not be ready until 2013 at the earliest.
Shu13
W/ the possibility of losing their ACE (CJ)….pitching is more of a priority then a 1B considering they have Nap/Moreland/Young to fill the 1b/DH roll and add Josh to the DH roll when recovering from a strain or injury that he regularly gets…
Ben-Dessa Anderton
I do not expect Hamilton around that much longer but hey I have been wrong many times.
inleylandwetrust
Oh boy. The “Mystery Team” is back for another offseason!!
jljr222
And we wouldn’t have it any other way…
TXHC
Always assume the mystery team is Philadelphia. Cliff Lee? Nnamdi Asomugah?
Blue or CONKZILLA
The Rays
Ian_Smell
They have to sign him. Remember, no case too hard, no case too tough.
Sam Pittman
I can’t really see the Rangers getting too involved with Pujols after the A-Rod debacle and multiple team execs/coaches talking about how they aren’t worried about Moreland.
With that being said, if the Rangers somehow get Pujols that would be one of the best days of my life.
jjs91
They have a farm system now, if they had that when arod was there they would’ve been a dynasty.
Ben-Dessa Anderton
I think everyone forgets they had total garbage outside of the best player in baseball at that time.
jjs91
They also forget how much park cost them.
Steven
It would be pretty epic if we got him, but it would mean saying goodbye to Hamilton after 2012, or trading him which I hate but the injuries suck and he is my favorite player. We gotta lock up Nap and Cruz as well.
Tom Hicks was the only reason we threw all that money at A-Rod, people advised him against it but he did it anyway plus that team is completely gone basically. New owners, killer farm system, new coach and a new team.
I would MUCH rather get an ace over a huge bat but I wont complain if we get him, or Fielder, who is younger.
KyleB
I’d rather lock up Hamilton for more money than worrying about Cruz.
Ben-Dessa Anderton
Moreland can play RF which would allow for a trade of somone like Cruz.
unvme7
Moreland as an everyday rightfielder? no way…
bobbybaseball
Moreland cannot play RF. He can barely play 1B.
KyleB
Moreland was an outfielder until we converted him. If you don’t truly know about the Rangers don’t pretend to please.
rememberthecoop
There is a difference between being able to play outfield and being good at it. If you truly don’t understand the difference don’t pretend to please.
slider32
No way!
the_show
I don’t think it is the Cubs…signing Pujols makes no sense for them
Andy_B
it makes some sense, substantially weaken the best team in the division and make yourself better. But it doesn’t make sense for Pujols as the cubs are probably 3 or 4 years away from a good team.
Zach Hippie Minas
I really don’t think the Cubs signing him would be smart, if HGH testing comes to MLB, Pujols could turn from “superstar” to Below Average Joe, anyway he’ll be too old for the money he’d make at the contract’s end. I personally would pass on a steroid using cheat.
firealyellon
One of the dumber things ever written on mlbtr
Zach Hippie Minas
One year he’s an average player and of average size, over one off season, he bulks up more than is possible without chemical enhancement, and turns into a “superstar.” Also look at La Russa’s former players he managed, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, both of whom admitted to using steroids, so it wouldn’t be suprising at all to see Pujols be busted in the future.
sourbob
Yeah, I think we should be suspicious of all young prospects who improve from year to year. Either you pop out of the womb playing every day in the majors, or you’re doping. This whole “development” thing is a sham.
sourbob
And until MLB comes up with a reliable system for detecting witchcraft, there’s no way to be sure he isn’t a witch.
I say we burn him at the stake, just to be sure.
stewie75
now i’m going to burn him at a stake and you get to take the rap on it.
Blue or CONKZILLA
Don’t mess with Jobu
Ryan Knox
Pujols signing with the Cubs doesn’t make much sense for him.
Andy_B
The old mystery team, an agents best friend. Regardless of whether or not this is true, I would take this to mean that the reports that Pujols deal is done as bogus.
Jay
I have heard Alberta wants to play in a warm weather place.Miami and Texas i think have a great chance to get Queen Alberta
inleylandwetrust
Queen Alberta? Really?
Cheeseballs
Another depressed Nyjer Morgan fan
Jay
Tony Plush would kick his a** and you know it.When Alberta leaves the Cardinals dont worry you guys will turn on him.I will be shocked if he comes back to St.Louis
Andy_B
dumbest comment of the month
vtadave
“Month” was being nice.
Rocky
You do realize you’re singing the praises of a weak hitting mediocre outfielder who names himself after a child’s toy over the single greatest player in the game today right?
Jay
Tony Plush is a good guy who did get the game winning hit agaisnt the D Backs.Pujols was the best player in baseball but those days are history.Alberta is all about Alberta and he will backstab the Cardinals fans in a few weeks
Brian G
You’ve never heard the old saying about letting people assume you’re fool instead of opening your mouth and confirming it, have you?
likeitis
Considering the upcoming free agency, his slow start, and his injury the guy put up amazing numbers…and by they way didn’t he just join Babe and Reggie in some kinda club?
WildBill49
“Tony Plus”h is an overrated pile of dung who after a fight with “Alberta,” would be forced to unbutton his shirt to defacate since Pujols would kick his ass so hard.
david
NLCS.
NYPOTENCE
Why the hell do you think Queen and swapping his gender is fit for Pujols??? If you are trying to make someone laugh I am sorry to say that your humor needs some work, just saying you know.
WrigleyTerror37
Theo and Nolan sitting at the meetings, while Brown walks in…
Brown: Say are one of you two the 3rd team in on Pujols?
(Theo and Nolan look at each other)
Theo: Nose goes! (touches noes)
Nolan: …….
Andy_B
The one thing about the Rangers is that when they made their offer to Cliff Lee, it was said their payroll was stretched to the limits with their final offer and include a ton of deferred money. The fact that not only would they have to pony up 200 million to sign Pujols but significantly go over that number to lure him away from St Louis tends to lend away from that possibility.
Jon Stark
another deep postseason run probably brought in a bunch of extra revenue. Also wasn’t there a media deal in the works?
Andy_B
Post season run doesn’t do as much as people think, at least not enough to justify 200 million. The TV deal is big but doesn’t kick in for like 3 or 4 years I don’t think.
Ben-Dessa Anderton
media deal I think is still 2 yrs off.
unvme7
Correct, the media deal doesnt kick in for a while. While the postseason is nice, MLB gets a huge chunk of all of that.
mister_rob
Clearly, the mystery team is the Pirates
Joe Schroeder
And the 3rd team is- Dan Lozano. Tim Brown is on his payroll.
Nookster
We’re all smart baseball fans here right? Can we all not agree that “winning” the Albert Sweepstakes puts *any* team in a serious financial hole (read: Mauer Twins) and sacrifices the future of the team. His #’s have declined, and I hope we’re not attributing the Cards WS win solely to his being on the team. Smart teams will stay the eff away.
Andy_B
Not everyone here is, see the Nyger Morgan guy above.
However I think St Louis would be in worse financial shape if they don’t sign Pujols than if they keep them. The cardinals own projections are that their ticket sales would fall by 400,000.
I also think a lot of his decline this year had to do with him pressing to try to have a bigger year. By all accounts his bat speed hasn’t slowed. Also with his work ethic I trust him to out perform Prince Fielder over the life of their deals.
Dave 32
*citation needed.
The Cardinals will sell out when they win and they won’t win they lose. That’s been historical St. Louis for decades. Losing Pujols won’t turn St. Louis into a loser (in theory) and attendance won’t suffer a major drop at home.
On the road, that’s a different story. People did come just to see Pujols when the Cardinals came into town and maybe that affects some things but even then 400k isn’t 30 million in revenue. It will be a net gain if they don’t sign him by that logic.
Ryan Knox
If they don’t sign Pujols, that will rewrite the book on St. Louis Baseball, we’ve never had anything like this happen before, especially when they’ve been telling us all along that they wanted to keep him here as a Cardinal for his entire career. Should Pujols walk it will leave a sour taste in the mouths of many fans.
Dave 32
Maybe, I don’t know how much I agree. I think it depends mostly on where he signs and how much the Cardinals offered him. Then it’s up to how well he performs if he leaves. Sour grapes or not, if he goes to Chicago and hits .250 with 25 HR’s next year for 30m/year, a lot of people won’t exactly be too pissed that the Cardinals let him walk, especially if they offered him 25 or 28/year and he went somewhere else for what is basically not a lot of money when you get down to it.
All hypothetical, but as a lifelong Cards fan I’m not going to be too pissed as long as they made a solid effort and he decided he was worth more than the team should realistically offer a guy who’s 31.
Ryan Knox
It agitates me more than anything that we have to go this route, its almost as if we are being punished for a crime that we didn’t commit, what more could we possibly do for Albert? Why does it always have to come down to dollar amounts, when no matter what the dollar amount is in the end, its more money in a season than most of us would make in a lifetime. He already owns a successful business, rakes in money off endorsements and could sell his autograph on roll of toilet paper for 150 dollars a roll. Yet this is going to come down to what? 4 or 5 million dollars a season? Is playing for Chicago, Miami or Washington really 5 million dollars a year better than playing in St. Louis…
Onetimeaccount
Smart teams will stay away? If you have the money to spend then spend it.
Youre basically saying only dumb teams sign a guy who’s career stats are
328/420/617/1.037 and averages over 40hrs/126 rbi’s a season
Nookster
Not even Pujols’ mom thinks his next 10 yrs will be the same as the last 10, making more money than he ever did, a chronic injury or natural decline and it’s disaster. The Kemp contract I agree with, he’s on the upswing. Look at Manny toward the end, look at Andruw, there’s lot of red flags to heed.
Onetimeaccount
Yeah I dont think it’s really in anyones best interest to even sign him to 8 years, but that isnt to say he shouldnt be payed.
IHateJoeBuck
You did not just compare Andruw Jones to Albert Pujols.
sourbob
It’s true. There’s no similarity at all. Jones aged, whereas Pujols sleeps in a special Dick Clark hyperbaric chamber and will be 31 forever.
Also, he craps gumballs.
kunshack
I don’t disagree, however a great deal of Cards fans will be very upset. Bottom line, he puts butts in the seats! If the Cards sign him it may be difficult to remain competitive without significantly increasing the payroll in the future, however the Cards have a very strong farm system.
Ryan Knox
As Cardinal fans we know the reason ticket prices are what they are is so that we can have a competitive team, Cardinals fans would probably even accept higher prices in order to keep Pujols around, if he leaves, we all know ticket prices aren’t going to go down. We’ve always been loyal to the team, but this would change everything, and I’d lose my confidence in ownership. I think St. Louis Baseball is more than just the current team, there’s a generational and historic aspect to it that is engrained in the fan base, Iconic players, don’t end their careers on other teams, Gibson, Musial, Brock, Ozzie, Schoendienst all ended their careers in St. Louis, they are Cardinals for life and aren’t associated with any other team. Letting Pujols walk after 11 years of one of the greatest careers ever, and see him reach all his milestones like 3,000 hits, 500, 600 or even 700 home runs with another team would be stabbing St. Louis in their hearts, when we’ve never not supported the team no matter how much prices go up. The Cardinals would have to take a loss on it in the end.
Andy_B
Bowden had an interesting point on this? Who are Pujols contemporaries? The two he listed were Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. I think there are a few others that come to mind, but the point is the people you compare Pujols to are the exception to the rule, and are the type of players who played well into their late thirties.
The one most obvious exception is Ken Griffy Jr. who just fell off completely after the age of 31, but with Pujols’ work ethic, and overall talent, I feel more comfortable about giving Pujols a nine year at his age than any other player in the majors.
ArchRivals
Are you honestly comparing Albert Pujols to Andruw Jones? Their work ethic isn’t even in the same hemisphere. That being said, yes it is very important that whoever lands El Hombre pays for what he will do and not for what he has done. IMO what he will do is put up excellent numbers for 4-5 more years and slowly decline thereafter. I also know that whoever signs him will sell a lot of tickets, Pujols merchandise, and witness numerous milestones, some of which may have never been seen before. To me, that equates to what the Cardinals have offered, or more.
cedarandstone
Ted Williams has good career stats too – doesn’t mean teams should be lining up to sign him to 9 year deals.
Onetimeaccount
“I don’t read comments under the comments that I reply to”
Mike
This happens every single year in free agency, it’s the nature of the beast. The most hyped veteran with a track record of playing great baseball gets a ridiculously large contract. I’m not a huge fan of Pujols, but I will not deny his talent and while I agree to some extent that his contract is going to put a damper on whichever team signs him, he’s still Albert Pujols and whoever gets him is getting arguably the best offensive player in baseball. Not only will smart teams get in on the bidding for his services, but the marketing value in Pujols alone is worth a fortune. He’s going to sell merchandise and he’s going to bring people to the ballpark.
Dave 32
Haven’t we debunked the “list of suitors could grow” thing by now? Who else logically needs Pujols for the money he’s asking AND can afford it, AND has any realistic shot at winning a World Series in the next few years?
Pretty small list, and I think the only team left that could fit the bill is the Angels since the Dodgers are kinda boned right now and I just don’t see any other MLB teams that would have the cash to make things happen.
Ryan Knox
How did the Scott Boras Mystery team get into these negotiations, he’s not even Pujols’ agent.
kunshack
Setting the market for Prince
Ryan Knox
Good Point, should have seen that one coming, Scott Boras works in mysterious ways
bobbybaseball
No way the Cubs are in on Pujols. Theo & Co. are too smart to give a 30-who-knows-what old player eight years. Plus, they know they aren’t going to win next year.
baseball52
Pujols went to high school in America. We know how old he is.
rememberthecoop
But he was born in a country whose birth certificates are questionable, to say the least.
baseball52
Considering all the stringent standardized testing and such, they know how old he is.
Ryan Knox
The Cubs should know that every year, but next year is always the year.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Theo smart? Carl Crawford is all I have to say.
bomberj11
The article should be renamed “All 30 Teams In on Albert Pujols…Only a Few Can Afford Him”
mo2119
Mariners are one of them… in my dreams
slider32
I think the mystery team could be the Nats, they have a rich owner and a team on the rise. I still have Albert staying with the Cards.
Ryan Knox
I was waiting for somebody to say them, I think you might be right, nobody else even makes sense, Texas doesn’t need to upgrade their lineup, they need to upgrade their pitching staff especially if they lose 2 ace pitchers in 2 years. The Cubs don’t make sense either, unless they are trying to jack up the bid to make the Cardinals pay more, but I can’t believe realistically they’d be pulling that kind of stunt. Los Angeles Angels may be involved, but they seem more interested in pitching as well.
stewie75
You know, I kinda wouldn’t mind if it were the Cubs. you steal the best player of our generation from our biggest rival. F these guys. It’s not like we’ve got a stud 1B anyways. All these bloated contracts are melting off year by year. It’s not like he’s just a power hitter, his average will prob increase as he gets older and can’t mash like he used to. The Yankees would do it, Red Sox would do it, we should at least be investigating, working to drive up the price for the Cards.
Brian G
I’m pretty sure his .328 career avg won’t go UP as he ages and eventually loses bat speed. I’m also positive that since Albert prefers winning to losing he’d avoid the Cubs like the plague.
stewie75
yeah… i’m pretty sure he’d still be able to hit .330 in a few years, at least your team better hope so considering you’re offering him a 9 year contract- no?
Brian G
Nothing you just said defends your position that the Cubs should try to sign/drive up the price on Pujols and that his average will increase as he ages. Just a reminder, the word “increase” is the exact word you used.
I’m sure you’re right though, I mean it’s not like Albert’s career average has come down from .330 to .328 during his age 30 and 31 seasons. It’s also not troubling at all that his age 31 season was the first one he failed to hit .300. Most likely he’ll be hitting .450 by the time he’s 40, right?
stewie75
WILL INCREASE or WILL PROB INCREASE? But what do I know- I’m just the person who wrote it… wasn’t aware I had to defend anything either, I missed the point though? You’re saying we shouldn’t work to try and drive the price up for the cards? Tell me how NOT sniffing around and trying to stick it to our rivals at the very least is a GOOD move? But you’re right, we’ll just not even look into it or use our high payroll as a, you know- advantage.
Hey- everybody, just so you know, Pujols is getting way worse and as such, the only team that can seriously bid on him is the Cards, so stay away, they’re doing us other teams a favor by picking up this sap. Thanks for biting that bullet for the rest of us, guys.
Cheeseballs
It keeps getting lower and lower.
BLEACHER_CREATURD
Why in the hell would they offer him less money. They would have to be insane to that. If they did, they probably just pissed him off. He flew down to talk to them, and they’re going to insult him, and waste his time like that? Sounds a little odd to me…
Eric Champion
He was on his way back from the DR plus he has Family in Miami so it was just a stop off on his way back to STL
ludafish
It would make sense the Marlins offer was less than 200mil. I dont see anyone giving Pujols 9/225 cause i dont think any teams have the money that need first basemen. So i figured he would take the 9/225 in a heartbeat…
NYBravosFan10
Ok, I truly apologize for this, but I am not taking the Marlins seriously. I understand that they feel that they are being serious, but I’m not so sure that they are making appropriately competitive offers.
geauxbraves2000
I don’t think anyone is going to outbid the Cardinals by enough $$ and years to matter.
Anything over 5 years is going to be an resource hogging contract for the team that does sign him…..Alfonso Soriano anyone?
Pujols is one of the best players to ever play the game and will probably be top of the line for a few more seasons. After that he will just be another untradeable contract. Pass.
Guest 6080
I am a cubs fan and I was so happy when we got Soriano coming off a beast of a season. But comparing Soriano to Pujols is retarded.
Cheeseballs
The Cardinals don’t want to trade him. They want to see the milestones, and make a ton of money off them.
Eric Champion
People kill me with the “Let Albert Walk” comments. Thats like saying Let Stan The Man walk that is the same stupidity it takes to say Let Albert Walk.
JohnS
Its not the same… free agency has changed the dynamics of owning a baseball team. Big Market teams have set the bar with outrageous payrolls that small markets may or may not afford. It really is that simple.
BLEACHER_CREATURD
I hope all clubs start realizing the steroid era is over (hopefully), and that these insane contracts need to come back to earth. People do age you know? Albert is a human.
meinhardt1992
so no one thinks the cubs will get pujols
Bluebirdz 2
Not because I think they will acquire him but because they’re in in everyone, one of those 3 teams has gotta be the jays
Bluebirdz 2
Not because I think they will acquire him but because they’re in in everyone, one of those 3 teams has gotta be the jays