The Cardinals “have had increased conversations” with Albert Pujols, reports Katie Woo of The Athletic, who also says that “interest is growing in bringing back the former Cardinal for the 2022 season.”
Just two weeks ago, it was reported that the Cardinals were considering such a move. But club chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. seemed to throw some cold water on that idea, saying “we’ve got most of our club pretty well set.” However, it seems the club may have warmed to the idea of bringing Pujols back to where he started his career and had his best seasons.
Pujols was drafted by the Cardinals in 1999 and made his MLB debut with the club in 2001. Over 11 seasons from 2001 through 2011, he hit 445 home runs and put up an incredible .328/.420/.617 for a wRC+ of 167. He was a key reason why the club was a continual competitor in that time, making the postseason in 7 of those 11 seasons and winning the World Series in 2006 and 2011. Based on that otherworldly run of success, he was signed by the Angels to a ten-year, $254MM deal covering the 2012-2021 seasons. Pujols continued to hit at a level above the league average for the first five years of that deal, though a few notches below what he did as a Cardinal. From there, things only got worse, as he hit just .242/.291/.406 from 2017 to 2020, producing a wRC+ of just 84. After 24 games last year, with just a few months remaining on the contract, the Angels released him. Surprisingly, he was picked up by the Dodgers, who planned to limit the veteran slugger to a bench/platoon role, primarily facing lefties. The strategy worked out fine enough, as Pujols hit .254/.299/.460 as a Dodger, a wRC+ of 101.
As per Woo’s report, the Cardinals would be considering a reunion with Pujols to implement his skills in a similar manner to how the Dodgers did last year. She notes that the club has traditionally shied away from platoon strategies in the past, but new manager Oliver Marmol is planning on changing that. Paul Goldschmidt is firmly entrenched as the club’s regular first baseman, meaning Pujols would be in the mix for DH/pinch-hitting duties, alongside Corey Dickerson, Lars Nootbaar and Juan Yepez. For Yepez, he seemed poised to make the team after a tremendous year in the minors. Between Double-A and Triple-A last year, he hit .286/.383/.586, for a wRC+ of 154. Then there’s Nolan Gorman, who also spent last year between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .279/.333/.481, wRC+ of 115. However, Woo reports that, given that Yepez is just 24 and Gorman doesn’t turn 22 until May, the club is considering a plan wherein they each spend a bit more time in the minors getting regular reps, waiting for an opportunity to open up as the season progresses.
Regardless of how the roster machinations play out, the move would surely have its biggest reverberations in the public relations department. It was in St. Louis that Pujols established himself as one of the greatest hitters of his generation and more or less guaranteed himself a future plaque in the Hall of Fame. A return to where it all started for the 42-year-old would surely be a tremendously popular storyline with Cardinals fans and baseball fans in general.
BRING HIM BACK! BRING HIM BACK! BRING HIM BACK! (Start the chant)
It’s time to take old yeller out back behind the shed and end it
I can’t stop laughing at this. Every time I read it, I laugh harder.
^this^, already had beer coming out my nose the first time….
Better dumpster diving with AARP than AAA. Wonder if it just for April when they get two extra roster players. But a first ballot hall of famer, so he can handle the jokes. At peak, was one of the best ever.
Only if I get to be yeller
Let’s go bring back Pujols back home to be with Yadi and Wainwright.
La Russa too, while you’re at it.
I’m down with Albert coming “home” for one more round, but not La Russa. He can’t handle a platoon much less a full time gig!
I’d take TLR over Matheny, or Shildt. Say what you will about La Russa but he help lead the Cardinals to two world series titles
I definitely could see that happening.
I have a lot of respect for Albert, literally a generational talent. But, I really hope the Tigers don’t do this for Miggy after his contract. You have to know when to call it. Give the man a FO role. Would most Card fans really want him as dh??
Yes
Interesting, especially when a player like Conforto is still out there
I’d still prefer to get pujols on a cheap contract
Yeah, I really root for the individual players, all the players I mean truthfully. Some of my favorite players for the longest time: Granderson, Miggy, Higginson, Boyd, and JV. But, I cannot imagine wanting a player on a nostalgia contract at a point in their careers, similar to Pujols, when I feel like it could potentially lessen the chances of winning. Michael Jordan might be the only exception out of any athlete out there.
That’s really cool you Card fans are so passionate for him. I guess I never had that 1 player as a Tiger fan where I’m like, “yes, he absolutely needs to retire as a Tiger”
If Pujols has limited playing time, primarily against left handed pitching, he can absolutely be an asset.
He did a great job for the Dodgers in 2021. More importantly, he is a tremendous presence in the clubhouse, particularly with the young players.
He made 30 million last year, he may not be as cheap as you expect
Verlander?
He’ll take a hometown deal for his final season to be in STL.
How could Detroit do this with Miguel Cabrera? He is under contract with them through 2023. They can’t “bring him back to where it all began,” since he didn’t begin in Detroit, and has hasn’t left since arriving. The only way they can do that is if they somehow trade him and then resign him for 2024, which wouldn’t make any sense as his absence would be so brief that it wouldn’t be much of an emotional comeback.
True, not the same at all. I was referring more towards the nostalgia contract.
I guess once JV is pretty close to being overdue for retirement, and if the Tigers were to bring him back. If I don’t think he’ll help the team, I don’t have that emotional attachment for wanting him to retire in a Tiger’s cap. Of course, I hope he does well wherever he goes. But, I truly wouldn’t want him in on the diamond if I think he’s going to stink. No matter where he is; much less in Comerica Park. In a coaching role or FO role? absolutely.
Bernie Williams was a career Yankee. His contract expired in 2005, and they brought him back for one year, at a much lower salary in 2006. I guess the Yankees thought he could contribute, especially if not in CF, but it was marketed as “one last year” for Bernie. I don’t know why 2005 couldn’t have been that last year.
True
Miguel will return to the Marlins for his retirement year haha.
The chance to see a non steriod user hit 700 home runs? Well there’s only been two others in history Ruth and Aaron, sign me up!!!
It’s amazing that at the age of 62 Pujols still has gas in the tank.
Wouldn’t it be cool if HR #700 were with his original team?
He runs like a three legged dog.
Won’t it be cool when his wheelchair gets stuck in the dirt as he’s heading towards first base?
That’s insulting to 3 leg dogs. They move surprisingly well.
Running has nothing to do with hitting dingers. Lot of guys with broke wheels can put one out of the park as a professional hitter, it’s. DH world now man. The Machine aka Pat the Bat, Thome, Big Hurt, Piazza, Stairs, Morales, Parrish… etc etc etc dinger dinger chicken dinger.
Nice machine reference.
Somehow Pujols had three doubles last year.
Could potentially hit a few more with no defensive shift.
Quit exaggerating everyone knows he’s only 45.
He probably has grandkids considering retirement.
Juan Soto asks what’s wrong with 30 year old rookies claiming to be 18?
If he’s still game, knowing it would be in a smaller role, then why not. The level of experience he’d bring to the club is immeasurable and he’d likely get to retire a Card. It’d be a nice end to his career if nothing else.
Cardinals love nostalgia. Carrying an elderly PH vs. LHP only. Their system must really be garbage if they don’t have anyone more worthy of that roster spot. Guys morale down on the farm will be crushed if this comes to pass. Most suspect he is closer to 50 than 40.
I hitter that destroys lhp has valuable. The fact that hitter is a team legend makes it incredibly valuable.
The only thing Pujols destroys are his depends.
Dumb take, zeus.
Hey, be nice. He’s clearly just a child.
Please sign him. The Angels surely don’t need his personal service contract to start yet. BTW, not sure what services he will provide that would have a positive effect on the team.
Would love to see it, and he’d probably put another 30,000 fannies in the seats this year, if not more.
Cards can sign him cheap because he gets senior discounts on rooms and meals.
Great answer
I see GarryWally is back spounting off more stupid comments. Wonder what the 57 on his name represents?
Cheap is the magic word that gets Bill DeWallet’s attention. Albert already has more money than anyone could spend, unless he’s a Democrat. His signing would definitely bring in more revenue for Bill DeWallet. I hope they do sign him.
@Garywally57 you have to make it political, huh? Even if he signs a 24 hour contract to retire as a Cardinal, would be a heartwarming celebration for the fan base.
calling that political interjection out of left field is an insult to takes that are just slightly absurd.
My National League Team is the Cubs. Albert Pujols was definitely one of the best players I’ve ever seen. I hated him so much playing on the Cardinals and beating my Cubbies all the time. Pujols should just retire now, so he can get in the Hall Of Fame quicker. He was awesome!
Sign Pujols and give freese a call while we’re at it. One last hoorah for the old squad and them, yadi and waino all ride off into the sunset together.
Tudor pitches.
BRING HIM BACK BRING HIM BACK. Every other team in the NL Central is chanting that. The tanks almost empty and the needle is pointing at E. Move the fences in so he can hit a milestone HR on a day the winds blowing out. Can’t wait to see him get thrown out at first base from the outfield. Why not end a great career while you embarrass yourself and your original team ends up releasing you in the middle of the summer.
The only way I would be okay with this is if once Albert is signed, we move some youth (Yepez, for example) for some much needed pitching. Then next year when Albert hangs it up Walker has another season under his belt and could take over the reins.
To throw out the first pitch on opening day in STL?
They are phasing out Fredbird. New mascot=Pujols.
That’s where he belongs to end his career.
It could start a trend….In a few years we could have Freddie back in Atlanta, Mookie back in Boston, Refsnyder back in New York……
Did you just compare Freeman and Betts to Refsnyder?
Fisher to the Astros
Michael Martinez back in Philly….
I figure he is worth at least 5 million in pr and revenue. Let the man play vs lhp and pinch hit.
With 26 man rosters, possibly 28 man rosters to start the season, I wonder how many other teams are thinking about doing something like this.
In 2018-19, Seattle brought back Ichiro Suzuki, in 2019 only for their opening series in Japan. He clearly no longer belonged in the major leagues. Doing that would clearly be easier with a 28 man roster.
If MLB does allow 28 man rosters, I wonder how many teams don’t particularly feel compelled to carry that many, so why not bring back one of their legends? Then again, nobody did this during all those years when teams could have had 40 players in September. Few teams came anywhere near having 40 players on their active roster. I wonder if any MLB team will just go with 27 players.
Yeah, I like the Ichiro comp. bring in Albert for, say, the first homestand and then let him walk or something like that.
The Dodgers sort of did this with expanded 40-man rosters back in the day. For 2 or 3 years they would move Manny Mota from 1B coach to be a pinch hitter in September. Not totally sentimental; he could still slap a single.
Been a Cardinal fan for 55 years. This would be an epic move. One of the greatest of all time coming home. A story for the ages. It would boast the moral of the team and the city would be electric with excitement.
As always, we await developments.
I would have more concerns about the 40 man roster than the 28. They could easily fit him on a 28 man roster. I’m going to guess that Reyes gets moved to the 60 day DL. I was really hoping that Yepez would get a legitimate shot to play this year, but that could still happen. I say go ahead an sign him, the re-union tour with Yadi and Waino will be worth it.
Reyes hit the 60-day DL on Friday so they could add Aaron Brooks to the 40-man roster, so it would mean someone else has to be optioned or DL’ed.
Flaherty likely opens the season on the 60-day IL with Reyes. After that how the roster is performing would solve the rest
The team is likely able to contend for a WC spot this year and they’re seriously tinkering with this? It would be a huge waste of a roster spot. This situation calls for a one day signing and retirement. And quite frankly, I’m not convinced Pujols is all that popular outside of St. Louis.
the Dodgers were contending for a title last season and more than considered it.
That’s true, though I don’t think most people thought that was a good idea either. Do you think it would be wise for them to sign him?
I think Scott Rolen is still available too
The problems the Cardinals really face are different than any other team that might sign him…once signed he can’t be released, so unless he’s injured, you have to carry him for the duration of the season. That might be just want Cardinals fans want. But, it’s not entirely without risk iff his performance is poor.
I feel Baseball needs the Albert/Yadi/Waino farewell tour. While maybe not quite the same impact as Genesis’ farewell concert Albert is just about as old as Phil Collins…
Nostalgia doesn’t win games and fans playing arm chair accountant trying to assume how much money signing him would bring in are being ridiculously presumptious. Don’t you think that if signing Albert guaranteed a certain amount of ticket sales every team would be in on him? Or is this some accounting secret only certain fans know?
Albert doesn’t hinder the Cardinals from winning games or making the playoffs. The Cards are not likely to have a miracle run like they had last season and any thing that adds motivation like trying to send three franchise icons off on a winner cannot possibly hurt
If they want to go on a run (I expect them to be competitive) they should focus on good players that improve the team. Pujols is unlikely to do that.
Hitting lefties .294 with pop wins ball games. Used strategically, it’s a good baseball move…at the right price.
That’s a fair point but carrying a guy solely to be a PH/DH vs lefties (who will most likely be pulled as soon as he enters) is gonna be a stretch to make worthwhile. Used strategically? Sounds like code for: if we twist ourselves into a pretzel we’ll find some value.
As long as we are doing reunions, can we please bring back Walt Jockety?
IMO Pujols is done! If Cardinals sign him it’s just a publicity stunt, as I don’t see how he makes the Cardinals better. However the Cardinals probably would be interested if he signs for close to the minimum with some performance bonuses included in the contract. With Dewitt and Mozeliak it’s always about the money! Mozeliak wasted around $38 on his brilliant 2 year extension of Matt Carpenter so if he can add to to ticket revenue he will!
Bring him back for one big series and let Cardinal fans pay him the tribute he deserves for his many years of great play!
I just can’t picture Pujols in a Cardinals uniform…
Cardinals opening day is like old timers day
I’m a brewers fan and hate the cardinals but I welcome to see pujols back I have lots of respect for the guy
A real problem arises if he doesn’t contribute at all and the Cardinals face having to release him if he doesn’t want to retire. If they bring him back how could they cut him loose.
That’s a good point you make. Sometimes we all forget that these baseball players are humans, with families as well.
Right, it would be terrible PR but there is no way they can guarantee him a roster spot all year as he barely belongs in the league now.
Does he have 21 bombs left in that bat?
He probably does but he’ll be getting on base only 29% of the time and incapable of playing the field so, likely below replacement level anyhow.
Lots of negativity comments here. Unbelievable to me. No respect for the greatest player of this generation. They would be not one negative thing that could happen by bringing him and the great Cardinal fans back together for one last season. And I think I speak for the thousands of Cardinal fans all over this country.
He’s at the end of his career. Plenty of better players to fill that spot more effectively. It’s called legitimate criticism of a move, not “negativity “. I doubt Albert’s feelings are hurt by this so what are you worried about? Every roster spot must be filled efficiently according to scouting and analytics. You wanna throw that spot away for nostalgia? Expect legitimate criticism.
Cosmos, Themed has never once processed common sense logic. Dont bother. One of the lower quality cub trollers on here.
Yea I mean it’s a great story and all, but the Cardinals want to compete. Pujols will more than likely sign a one-day contract to retire a Cardinal, but this is a different story entirely. There’s reason to criticize or cast doubt.
Lars Nootbar. Shouldn’t he be a hockey player? What an epic name.
No, he’s the mascot for a candy bar.
I’d love to see Albert back in StL! My only worry is what kind of negative impact he could bring to the team. I think it’s great for the city, the fans. But def not what’s best for that clubhouse. Adding a Cardinal legend with his experience can be a positive as well. I think the team really needs to sit down with Pujols and see where his heads out. If I remember last season it was him saying he wanted to start not be a platoon guy. I just don’t want any distractions to be brought in when the chemistry is already great IMO don’t forget Cardinals have the youngest Manager and this is his first year at the helm.
I’d love to see him on opening day with the Birds on the Bat but only because he’s a legend I grew up watching and the exciting memories comes back just thinking about it. 11 in 11
It would be fantastic for the clubhouse. Most of the guys would be in aw of his presence!
I find it somewhat amusing how Cardinal fans on here and other social platforms raked Angel fans and Angel management for signing Pujols to a 10 year contract. And now that he’s a FA those same Card fans are pining for his return.
There’s a big difference between signing a guy for $250 million/10 years and $1 million/1 year. Everyone knew that the contract was gonna hurt in the last 4-5 years.
Tdat-True but Card fans wanted everyone to know that AP was washed up from day 1.. Although Albert didn’t put up the crazy numbers he did the Cards. He had some decent years and was great clubhouse leader. Again Card fans would have you believe differently. And he got the Angels a billlion dollar TV deal. Everyone knew that couple of years were going to be overpay. That’s a given
Was he worth the 250 million? Even if he signed for 1 million now he would be worth 250 million to Cards fans now and his teammates.
Ok I’m pretty certain cardinal fans weren’t saying he was washed up once he signed. It was his play and injuries that had people saying that…in year one.
Cardinals need to do something to bring the fans in. There were no big moves this off-season.
Albert taught Arte the Art of signing bad long term contracts , became a master !!!
I’ve got 10 Grandchildren under the age of 10 and they’ve only seen Albert as a Cardinal in old World Series highlights or on you tube. I’d love for them to see him wear the Birds on the Bat one more time!
When I heard that Rosters will expand from 26 to 28 players in April, I though that it would be perfect for Cardinals to sign Pujols for April and then have him retire on May 1, 2022. Still sounds like the best plan for both. HOF get the party started.
My guess is he’ll be released by May he was a great player key to that was