Pujols Free Agency

[pdga#7648]

Who needs loyalty if you're gonna get 5 or more million a year.

what is 5 million dollars a year to someone with hundreds of millions?  greed will only get you hated in this world. Ask LeBron

[pdga#7648]

This is the best player of all time and he's been a bargain to date. Pay the man what he's worth. If he goes to the open market he will be paid like it.

[/quote]

so, you would pay him 30 million for 10 years, but not have enough money to put guys around him to win a World Series? you would have a bunch of double A kids playing at a level their not ready for, just to sign 1 guy? again, don't make much sense

[CEValkyrie]

This is the best player of all time and he's been a bargain to date. Pay the man what he's worth. If he goes to the open market he will be paid like it.

so, you would pay him 30 million for 10 years, but not have enough money to put guys around him to win a World Series? you would have a bunch of double A kids playing at a level their not ready for, just to sign 1 guy? again, don't make much sense


[/quote]

Simple solution. Expand the payroll from 95 mil to 125 mil. Cheap asses.

[pdga#7648]

sorry, The Cardinals wont be bullied into doing that. They will let him test the market. If he walks, he walks. We need pitching now with him on the team. If he leaves, that means Carp and Wainwright are there until they retire, and Garcia is a stud. So go spend 30 mil on 3 players, 1 all star pitcher, 1 bull pen specialist, and a 1st baseman, and we would still compete for that division. remeber how Weak it is?
It's this simple. if he knew he was going to want that much money, why not half way thru his 7yr deal, after a World Series win, ask to renegotiate his contract, and go Huge then? The owners would have leaped out of their seats for 10 yrs at 300 mil at 27 yrs old. But at 31, to ask for 10 years is asking too much. why not settle on the 8 yr deal with 2 yr option? for something between 19.2, and 23.4 Million( thats from espn.com) If you meant what you have told Stl fans for the last 5 years, when saying I love it here, and want to retire a Cardinal, that offer should have been fine.
At a time when the economy is where it is, how does he expect normal fans to attend these games, when if he signed for 30 a year, ticket prices, beer, hot dogs, everything will go up in price. I understand he knows he is the best ever, and wants paid like it, but anyway ya cut it, 30 mil a year is more than A-rods 27.5. 6 yrs @ 180 mil is 30 a year. resign after that and call it a career.
Laugh it up now guys, cause today does suck more than the Superbowl loss.
If he does leave, at least the Cardinals got his best years. I will always say he was the best I ever saw play. But it's the name on the Front of that jersey, not the back that I root for.

[Dan Michler]

what is 5 million dollars a year to someone with hundreds of millions?  greed will only get you hated in this world. Ask LeBron

Fact check:  LeBron was not greedy, he was just an asshole.  Nobody could have paid him as much as the Cavs.  He took less money to go play with Wade.


Listen Doug, I'm sorry you are finding out the hard way that pro sports is a business.  Pujols will never be as loyal to the Cardinals organization as much as the Cardinal fans are.  Its the same for every team.  Pujols didn't grow up a Cardinal fan.  It wasn't his lifelong dream to play in St.Louis, Missouri.  Its just where he ended up.  I'm sure he's greatful for the good years he's had, but don't think for one second that he'll just take whatever the Cardinals put on the table and be happy.  Its not fair to expect that of him.  You know why?  Because what if Pujols fractures his hip this year and his career is in jeopardy.  Do you think the Cardinals are going to be loyal to Albert and still give him the contract he deserved based on the career he's had?  Hell no!  They'll kick his ass to the curb like any other organization would.  Willie Mays didn't retire a Giant.  Brett Favre and Vince Lombardi didn't retire as Packers.  Ron Santo played for the White Sox.  Jerry Rice didn't retire a 49er.  And I could go on.  Its a business.  We are rooting for laundry.


I still think at some point the Cardinals are going to fear the fan backlash and give him more money.  He may to go free agency, but he ends up with the Cardinals.  My prediction is 8 years $230M.  The thought of him in a Cubs uniform is fantastic, but the Cubs may be gun-shy when it comes to pulling the trigger on another Soriano-like deal.  I still think Prince Fielder is a more likely target for the Cubs next year.

[pdga#7648]

I understand all of that Dan. and I too believe he will be a Cardinal, but they both knew this day was coming 2 years ago, and they couldn't get it done by Alberts deadline?? cmon. he thinks it wont be a disrtaction this season, he is wrong. maybe he wont answer questions, but the rest of the team will have to all freakin year.  I know the fans will give him the respect he deserves, I just hope Dewitt sees what he means to the city of St. Louis, not just the team.

[pdga#7648]

This is the best player of all time and he's been a bargain to date. Pay the man what he's worth. If he goes to the open market he will be paid like it.

so, you would pay him 30 million for 10 years, but not have enough money to put guys around him to win a World Series? you would have a bunch of double A kids playing at a level their not ready for, just to sign 1 guy? again, don't make much sense

Simple solution. Expand the payroll from 95 mil to 125 mil. Cheap asses.
[/quote]


Brett, they are not cheap, just because they don't like to pick up players overblown contracts. like Dan has stated, it's a business from the owners stand point as well as Alberts. raise the payroll means, raise everything else as well. then they go from selling out, to plenty of empty seats. they just built a new stadium, cant add more seats.
and St. Louis is a small midwestern city. not the bright lights of a New York, Boston, Los Angeles or even Chicago for that matter.

[Dan Michler]

Agree with almost everything Wilbon says in this article that just went up on ESPN.com.  Winning 1 World Series would be worth overpaying a 39,40,41 year old Pujols.  In fact, its not even debatable for Cubs fans.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=wilbon/110218

[Mike Clark]

I had a thought on this last week. So supposedly Pujols wants 30mil/10yr. We all know that the last 5 years of that deal are not going to be worth it. If The Cubs or anyone else really wants Pujols, and who in their right minds wouldn't, why not offer him 40mil/5yr. He will makes 2/3 the money in 1/2 the time. With the extra the 5 years of interest earned it might be close to the same. That makes him the highest paid by far. Probably the highest paid player for the entire deal. There is no way he can turn that down even if he loses 100mil at the end of the deal. The teams saves 100mil in the deal. I would have to think that a team like the Cubs could put together a marketing plan that could justify that kind of money for Pujols. Agreed with winning 1 World Series is worth ever penny of the deal. Could imagine his endorsements deals if he won a WS with the Cubs? He might make 300mil on that alone.

[Dan Michler]

I'm not convinced that Pujols won't still be a top 5 player in 6 years.  Bonds had the greatest statistical 4 year stretch in the history of the game from ages 36-39.  With the way player's take care of themselves today (including whatever illegal chemicals are going into their bodies), its not uncommon for a player's prime to extend into their late 30's.  Just looking at Pujols, its clear he takes extermely good care of his body.  I don't see him breaking down any time soon.

[Chainmeister]

I'm not convinced that Pujols won't still be a top 5 player in 6 years.  Bonds had the greatest statistical 4 year stretch in the history of the game from ages 36-39.  With the way player's take care of themselves today (including whatever illegal chemicals are going into their bodies), its not uncommon for a player's prime to extend into their late 30's.  Just looking at Pujols, its clear he takes extermely good care of his body.  I don't see him breaking down any time soon.

Dan, I agree that Pujols may be a good bet to still be a top player for a while to come. However, Bonds is a poor reason  to be encouraged. The only question regarding Bonds' longevity in baseball is whether it was the clear or the cream that helped Bonds drink from the Fountain of Youth.

[pdga#7648]

Bonds was a cheater, Pujols is not. Huge difference. Bonds was great because of the PED's. Pujols has been the most tested the last 2 years, and passed with flying colors. I would say he is pure, even if he wore a Cubs uniform. Just watch his eyes every at bat. Dude is A #1 at watching the ball all the way to the bat!  But to think his numbers wont start to drop in the next 4-5 years, is probably wrong. even Machines wear out!


But if anyone cares for my 2 cents.  He will try the market then take less money to stay in St. Louis, as some sort of spot for him in the organization will be free in 8 years. He will make money off of the Cardinals organization for life! No other teams offer, will outweigh that one.  He stays a Cardinal, so quit hoping for a miracle from the Cubs. when have they ever came through?

[Bruce Brakel]

Its a business.  We are rooting for laundry.

Or as Jerry Seinfeld put it, "So what you're really rooting for here is a color scheme."

Go Blue.

[CEValkyrie]

It will be interesting to see what happens with this Wainwright injury. If he needs Tommy John surgery and misses the next 2 years you have to figure AP5's stock just went up. It's a win win for Cubs fans. I'm hoping Pujols has a smoking hot year but the deadbirds miss the playoffs again.

[pdga#7648]

wake up Brett, it's 6:30 pm and your sleeping? dreaming for sure

[CEValkyrie]

Tommy John surgery needed. Pujols stock just went up to 31 million a year 

[CEValkyrie]

Carpenter pulling a hammy today. Wow. I didn't think Pujols stock to rise more.

[Chainmeister]

Carpenter pulling a hammy today. Wow. I didn't think Pujols stock to rise more.

I must be naive.  I don't get why Pujols stock seems to rise every time a Cardinal pitcher is injured. It seems to me that his value would drop.  The Cardinals need pitching. They cannot mortgage their future and be unable to pay for pitching.  I guess the reasoning is that the fans will not let them lose Pujols given the other hits they have taken.  I'm sorry, again, I must be naive. However, this seems like Cubbie thinking.  "Oh, no, you can't lose Albert now!"  As I mentioned before, unless you are the Yankees, you have to prioritize your resource and put a well rounded team on the field. 

[CEValkyrie]

I look at it this way. You might be able to survive without Pujols if your stud 1/2 pitchers are going to be around. Wainwright would be lucky to see the mound next season. Carpenter is probably gone especially if this injury hampers him for any period of time. I'm guessing he won't be back.

So now you lose your 1/2 studs. If you let your best ever to play the game STUD go you have another enormous hole to fill. There is no way you can recover from those 3 losses. You can pay fill in the blank, Prince Fielder, etc... X amount of dollars and hope he fills that gap. Why not nut up and pay Pujols the money. Right now the Cardinals insurance of 2 stud pitchers isn't looking so good. I believe his value has gone up. I have a feeling he's going to have another MONSTER year.

[Chainmeister]

I agree with everything you say about Pujols.  He is the rare player who is even better than everybody says he is.  He is both ferocious and disciplined at the plate- a lethal combination.I still wonder whether his price is so high that you can obtain multiple players, multiple very good players, for his asking price.  Baseball is a sport that is won by great teams.Is Pjuols worth 1/3 of your payroll?  Also, the Cards are in such trouble that they have lots of holes to fill.  If this plays out they have Pujols and a triple A pitching staff.  Put yourself behind the bench of any opponent.  Walk Albert, beat up on the rest of the team and go home with a W. This should be a good scenario for a Cubs fan.. They have decent pitching that is certainly better than the decimated Cardinal pitching staff. If Quade tells himself that he will not let Pujols beat him and that he could care less how badly he gets booed he will beat the Cards more often than not.