Bob Nightengale has a fantastic story up at USA Today that provides a timeline of the negotiations involving Albert Pujols and a handful of clubs at the Winter Meetings. The must-read piece includes word that Pujols' contract could be worth as much as $280MM with incentives. Here are the other highlights:
- When Dodgers manager Don Mattingly spoke to Pujols last weekend, he sensed Pujols wasn't entirely happy with the Cardinals: "You could just sense something was wrong. He was getting frustrated by it."
- The Marlins were "relentless," increasing their offer to Pujols multiple times until it reached $275MM. They expected to leave Dallas having signed Pujols, but never offered the no-trade clause he wanted.
- A mystery team (not the Angels) stepped in on Monday and offered Pujols ten years and $225MM. This mystery club "refuses to be publicly identified," writes Nightengale.
- On Tuesday, the Cardinals offered a nine-year, $210MM deal with a tenth-year vesting option. At around this time, the Marlins were eliminated from the mix (whether by Pujols or the team), narrowing the decision to the Cards and the mystery team.
- Late Tuesday, Angels GM Jerry Dipoto called agent Dan Lozano to talk Pujols. Early Wednesday morning, the Halos offered a ten-year deal worth about $250MM.
- As of Wednesday night, Lozano expected Pujols to mull the decision for a few days, but the slugger called him early this morning to accept the Angels' offer.
I just want to know who the mystery team was!!!
Again all he wanted was a no trade Clause but i got people telling me no it was for the money..If Cards offered a no trade clause he would still be a Cardinal
Thanks for 11 awesome years Albert. Enjoy LA and we’ll see ya when you’re ready for the hall.
For the Cardinals, it’s time for a fresh start. A new manager, a new face of the franchise, a new time. Still a lot of work to be done to keep the team on top. I have faith we’ll still be right in the hunt for years to come.
Great post. It’s nice to see posts from some of the real Cards fans rather than posts like JT made earlier since St. Louis is supposed to be among the best cities for baseball fans.
I’m a life long Cardinal fan for over 50 years. My first baseball game I got to see Stan Musial play. I wish Albert the best and want to thank him for the many years of enjoyment he gave this Cards fan. While it hurts to see him gone, in the end it will be for the best for the Cardinal organization, they could not have fielded a competitive team and paid him his worth. The Cards will be just fine and I look forward to seeing more world championships for them in my lifetime.
The worst thing to happen to us so far is Allen Craig’s knee, Pujols committing treason just freed up 20 million dollars or so.
I sincerely hope you aren’t saying Holliday will be the new face of the franchise. If so, we’re screwed.
What in my post indicated Holliday being the face of the franchise?
Nothing–that’s why I said “I hope you aren’t implying Holliday is the guy.” Don’t be so defensive.
David Freese. Duh!
Wainwright. As an outsider is who I’d consider to be the guy I think of when I think of the Cardinals now.
David Freese. Duh!
That was a good read. Very informative.
I just love how he went on and on about playing for a winner, wanting to be in the WS, so what does he do? He signs with the club that traded the would-be WS MVP for a bag of balls, then paid for the bag of balls, and played a guy who hit below the Mendoza line almost every day… Doesn’t seem to fit.
You don’t think the Angels are contenders? They’ve got just as much a shot to win the AL West next year as the Cards do of winning the NL Central.
as of today, they probably have better
Lmao. The Angels have a better chance of a WS next year than the Cards do. The Cards just got hot at the right time. There were plenty of teams that were better than the cards over 162 games, just not at the right time… I know that’s all that matters, but they were not the best team overall.
I was trying to be generous to the Cards to offend people less. :/
#11 doesn’t care what you think. Everyone wrote the Cards off last year when Wainwright went down. I have no problem with everyone doing the same because Pujols is gone.
Ok? It’s not like either of them is a lock to make it to the playoffs next year.
Most people counted them out because they didn’t think the Braves would be as bad as they were down the stretch and the Cardinals were coming off a disappointing season.
I think if Wainwright stayed healthy, they probably would’ve won that division.
Idk can you definitively say there’s a team that’s better than them in that division?
The Reds maybe the best team but their pitching is inconsistent.
The Cardinals were a playoff contender going into Spring Training, but they lost their ace. They did have some luck with the Braves getting decimated by injuries (Jurjens, Hanson notably) but really, if Wainwright doesn’t get hurt, they probably win the division.
The Cardinals have got hot at the right time 11 times….. every team that wins a World Series is hot at the right time. LOL
Yeah, and the past two times they have been arguably the worst teams to ever win it all. PERIOD.
The Cardinals have got hot at the right time 11 times….. every team that wins a World Series is hot at the right time. LOL
It would make sense if the mystery team was a small-market team like my Indians. They have a glaring hole at first and a need for a right-handed power bat and it makes sense that they wouldn’t want anyone to know they had made an offer. That way, they don’t have to explain how they have money for Pujols, but no money to offer anyone else.
The fact that Tim left off this post is that the Mystery Team had an established first baseman already in the back of their Mystery Machine, who was consuming a large amount of Scooby Snacks.
Come to think of it, you do kinda look like an older version of Shaggy…
Actually, I’m Fred. This profile pic cuts off my ascot, so I understand your confusion.
Actually, I’m Fred. This profile pic cuts off my ascot, so I understand your confusion.
Come to think of it, you do kinda look like an older version of Shaggy…
Smooth move, St. Louis management
lolz
The question is, what team would want to be anonymous, and why?
I’m still going with the Montreal Expos or Washington Redskins
I’m going with the Seattle Pilots or Washington Senators
I’m still going with the Montreal Expos or Washington Redskins
Call me crazy, but I have a suspicion that the Rangers may have been the mystery team.
Crazy
The mystery has to be the Toronto Blue Jays. AA is sneaky like that and would not show his hands to the media and rumour mills.
Rasmus is not a loss at all. The Cards do have Matt Adams and he will be up in a couple of years, probably by 2013 now. Colby has always been expendable.
Rasmus is not a loss at all. The Cards do have Matt Adams and he will be up in a couple of years, probably by 2013 now. Colby has always been expendable.
The mystery team was the Mariners.
The mystery team was the Mariners.
i can see that
As a Cardinals fan, I hold nothing against the job that Mozeliak and the rest of the front office did in an attempt to retain Albert. They still offered him 9 years for a guaranteed $210 million, or an annual rate of over $23 million. He had the no trade because of his 10-5 rights. Even that deal would have been a very risky one because of his age and declining statistics, so I can’t blame Cards brass for not going further. In the end, he took about $2 million more per year to be in LA, and if that extra money is worth skipping out on St. Louis and losing his place with Stan the Man and other legends, then that is his call. Clearly, the money is what mattered to him. I understand that the game is a business, but I am angered by the fact that his entire career, he spoke so highly of the St. Louis fans and the organization, and then can leave in the fashion that he did.
try 43 mil more in guaranteed money. why would he want to be the 4th best paid 1b in the game, when he clearly is the best.
The problem I had is why did they let it get to this point? They should’ve offered him $210 million last off season.
when they asked lozano about an extension a few years ago they said arod’s deal was the starting point. what makes you think he would ve accepted 210?
Why did they save their best offer until the final moments of the negotiations?
The problem I had is why did they let it get to this point? They should’ve offered him $210 million last off season.
As a Cardinals fan, I hold nothing against the job that Mozeliak and the rest of the front office did in an attempt to retain Albert. They still offered him 9 years for a guaranteed $210 million, or an annual rate of over $23 million. He had the no trade because of his 10-5 rights. Even that deal would have been a very risky one because of his age and declining statistics, so I can’t blame Cards brass for not going further. In the end, he took about $2 million more per year to be in LA, and if that extra money is worth skipping out on St. Louis and losing his place with Stan the Man and other legends, then that is his call. Clearly, the money is what mattered to him. I understand that the game is a business, but I am angered by the fact that his entire career, he spoke so highly of the St. Louis fans and the organization, and then can leave in the fashion that he did.
“Mystery team” with 225mil to pony up for Pujols? It was definitely a team in the bottom 5 in payroll who always tells their fans they have no money. They don’t want to be ratted out.
.300/40/120 is worth a quarter of a BILLION? How much is enough and when are fans going to see that they’re the ones paying for it? Absolutely crazy.
They’re going to pay for it anyway. You think teams wouldn’t be charging $40 bucks a seat regardless of player salaries?
That s*it cray
So you are saying we should stop going to games to watch a sport we love? How are the “fans” supposed to stop the owners from paying these players soooo much? TV revenue also helps fund these players…so that means stop watching on TV too?
IIWII….the fans have no control unless we stop watching something we love to watch….
I always wondered if perhaps the Giants were involved in this, I can see them making a big push to land a guy like Pujols, especially if they feel like they are going to have to fight the Athletics over San Jose.
I always wondered if perhaps the Giants were involved in this, I can see them making a big push to land a guy like Pujols, especially if they feel like they are going to have to fight the Athletics over San Jose.
How does this anonymity thing work? Do the reporter know which team?
the mystery team must be one with an established 1B so they don’t want to offend him , don’t think its the cubs. I don’t think its the redsox either, they have not had enough time with Valentine to plan that far ahead to offer that much money. Could be the Yankees or Phillies. I wouldn’t count the Mets out either, they may not want it to get out after letting Reyes go, I feel the Mets really didn’t like Reyes in terms of value/injury; they are reported to be shopping Davis which is odd for a team that wants young stars with no big contracts
Mystery team could also be one in on the Fielder negotiations not wanting their offer to Pujols to leak so that it doesn’t taint the negotiations with Boros.
the mystery team must be one with an established 1B so they don’t want to offend him , don’t think its the cubs. I don’t think its the redsox either, they have not had enough time with Valentine to plan that far ahead to offer that much money. Could be the Yankees or Phillies. I wouldn’t count the Mets out either, they may not want it to get out after letting Reyes go, I feel the Mets really didn’t like Reyes in terms of value/injury; they are reported to be shopping Davis which is odd for a team that wants young stars with no big contracts
Pujols didn’t go for the money though. He left STL because the black balled him by not making him a 1st priority. Which is totally understandable.
But the Angels? Total business men. #1 Pujols is the best. #2, LA is like Miami, Hispanics. They get Pujols there, more people will come and spend their money. Lots of fans, and the Hispanics that like Pujols and have a reason to watch their team. #3 When (And I say when, because it will happen) When LAA wins another WS, all that money they owe Pujols will be nothing to them. They will pay up and enjoy it because 1 WS win is worth more than anything. And then 2 or 3 is beyond.
They gave Pujols everything he wanted because the Angels Front Office knows that just him being there everyday will pay for itself. And then winning will be more profit than we can imagine.
All in all. GREAT MOVE. The Angels DID NOT OVER PAY, AT ALL. Pujols deserves that money and the Angels will get their monies worth from him.
Black balled him…. you must be nuts. He was treated like God. He did whatever he wanted for 11 years. You obviously don’t know anything about Cardinal baseball. Stick to the Braves ….
Yep
That’s why they waited until the last second to try to seriously bring him back.
They thought “Oh well, AP will never leave us. Lets wait until December to get him to come back” And AP did not like that.
Everyone in St. Louis knew he might not come back. And nobody expects the front office to pay him 254 million $$$$. NOBODY!!! Not sure where you are getting your information. But you need to find a better source.
They knew signing Pujols was going to be an issue when they committed big money to Matt Holliday. They had 2 years to work out a deal.
They didn’t make their best offer until they were forced too.
Pujols wanted 300 Million last year… We don’t spend like the Phillies. I wish we did, but we don’t. Albert is gone because he wanted to leave. Its really that simple.
It isn’t. He left because he didn’t feel like the Cardinals were serious about him. Which they weren’t according to numerous sources and a fair amount of speculation.
EVERY report we heard this off season was that the Cardinals were refusing to up their original offer, an offer that was well below their final offer.
We’ll find out when he has his press conference.
Their best efforts to sign him should’ve been last off season, not as one final hope.
Do I know they have limitiations? Yes. Everybody has limitations, even the Phillies, but the problem I have with this whole process was the fact that they didn’t give their best offer until it became clear that he was preparing to leave.
Nobody cares if poor Albert’s feelings got hurt. Tony is not here to hold his hand anymore. He was treated like royalty. BY EVERYONE!!! If every good Cardinal ran for more money,,, we would not have 11 World Championships. And yes, it really is that simple.
To be honest, I think St. Louis is bumming more about losing Tony LaRussa.
Black balled him…. you must be nuts. He was treated like God. He did whatever he wanted for 11 years. You obviously don’t know anything about Cardinal baseball. Stick to the Braves ….
Pujols didn’t go for the money though. He left STL because the black balled him by not making him a 1st priority. Which is totally understandable.
But the Angels? Total business men. #1 Pujols is the best. #2, LA is like Miami, Hispanics. They get Pujols there, more people will come and spend their money. Lots of fans, and the Hispanics that like Pujols and have a reason to watch their team. #3 When (And I say when, because it will happen) When LAA wins another WS, all that money they owe Pujols will be nothing to them. They will pay up and enjoy it because 1 WS win is worth more than anything. And then 2 or 3 is beyond.
They gave Pujols everything he wanted because the Angels Front Office knows that just him being there everyday will pay for itself. And then winning will be more profit than we can imagine.
All in all. GREAT MOVE. The Angels DID NOT OVER PAY, AT ALL. Pujols deserves that money and the Angels will get their monies worth from him.
I bet the mystery team was the Yankees. They just don’t want it to be known after the fact. That might piss Tex off.
I bet the mystery team was the Yankees. They just don’t want it to be known after the fact. That might piss Tex off.
I’m sure we’ll regret this in about 5 years but if Albert can help bring a championship or 2 then it might be worth it. I’m still giddy though and can’t wait for April.
As crazy as it might sound, I bet the mystery team was the Reds. The mystery had “an established first baseman”, that being Votto. There’s been so much speculation that he will be gone in two years, not to mention Rosenthal reporting last week that some minority owners wanted to trade him.
Jocketty also attempted to trade Votto at the deadline for Bautista unknowlingly. The rumors didn’t surface until way past the deadline. There’s also alot of former ties with Pujols in the Reds organization. Castellini is former investor in the Cards, and Joe and Thomas Williams are former part owners of the Cardinals.
I could see Castellini and Co. taking Votto preferring not to sign a longer extension as an indication he plans to go elsewhere in two years (which is fine). Therefore attempting to bring in Pujols so they can trade Votto for whomever at peak value without having to deplete a good portion of the farm in a trade. The mystery team “refuses to be publicly identified” for Votto’s sake, seeing as how he was almost traded once out of nowhere, as well as Jocketty being a mystery himself. No idea where the money would from I have no idea. Just a thought.
Wouldn’t it be smarter just to pay Votto instead of comitting $225 million to a 31 year old future hall of famer?
While yes, you’d get prospects, you’d also be hamstringing the organization whereas with Votto, you’d probably get more value.
Not dismissing your idea, just saying there’s some flaws in the logic.
It would definately more sense to just pay Votto, but as I pointed out minority owners want to trade him I’m assuming because their not anticipating him resigning after two years. The whole mystery team not wanting to be publicy revealed, and already having an established first basemen, and the former ties to Pujols in the Reds ownership group is what made me think maybe.
DeWitt & Mozeliak are kicking themselves. Signing Holliday instead of Pujols, what a joke. At the same time, 10 years is suicide. A more favorable deal would’ve been 5-6 years, 26-28 mil. a year.
any reason why it wasn’t the Rangers?
i hope i’m not overlooking something, and i usually don’t jump to irrational conclusions, but i just have that gut feeling
“people from other teams want to play in st. louis and they re jealous that we re in st. louis because the fans are unbelievable. so why would you want to leave a place like st. louis and go somewhere else and make 3 or 4 more million a year? its not about the money. i already got my money. its about winning and thats it. its about accomplishing my goal and my goal is to try to win.” albert pujols 2009.
i dont care where the guy plays but if you look up irony in the dictionary i assume it looks something like this statement…
The mystery team was the Phillies. Makes a ton of sense
Philly would have had to have a trade for Howard already in place or a desire to eat a ton of money on his contract. They would have been trading from a position of weakness since every team would know they’d need to dump Howard or else they’re stuck with two firstbasemen making a combined $45 million. Makes no sense.
Speculation, but I think the mystery team was the Mariners. Think they were going after either Fielder or Pujols and didn’t want their offer to leak to Boros. Also, Jack Z plays things pretty close to the vest. There is an interview with him by Geoff Baker posted on Baker’s blog where, after told of the news Pujols signed with Anaheim he asks, “That’s been confirmed?” Then has this look like someone just kicked him in the nads.
Please, people, Please. Understand that the author of this article was Lazano’s mouthpiece all week. Everything Lazano wanted out in the media went through Nightengale. The reward for being Lazano’s puppet was the “inside scoop” on the negotiations. However the “inside scoop” that you read here is all Lazano still, running damage control for his boy Albert. Example #1: It was reported that the AP camp told Miami they “were out” of the negotiations BEFORE ANAHEIM was in the picture. So, they had offers from the Cards (9 for $210-220) and the mystery team (10 for $220ish) and the “$275 million from Miami” and were flat out told “youre out” by Team Albert??? Please. Example 2: It was reported after Miami was told to hit the road that they felt “it would take $40 million more than STL’s offer to get him to leave”. Why in the world would Miami say that, again BEFORE ANAHEIM was ever in the picture, if they had an offer $60 mil more than STL offer? Please. All spin, all garbage, all BS to make AP not about the money, “look I turned down $275 from Miami….”
And yes I’m a Cards fan. However its a business and I hold no ill will to the Team or the player here. I will not stand for puff pieces and agent spin being sold as fact from a reporter who obviously was used as a puppet all week. It’s trash journalism at its best, at least put Lazano’s name on it Nightengale, he wrote the article. That’s journalism 101….
was a good story