Pujols Watch

[Dan Michler]

Sabathia joined the $25M/year club yesterday.

Some of the other biggest current contracts that I'm sure Albert has studied closely:
Arod 10 yr/$275M  ($27.5M/yr)
Teixeira 8yr/$180M  ($22.5M/yr)
Mauer 8yr/$184M   ($23M/yr)

Albert just finished out an 8yr/$111M contract without a single public complaint, so I'd say he's done all he needs to prove his loyalty.  The man has 3 MVP's and is a 4-time MVP runner-up.  I think $25M+/yr for 8 years will get the job done.  If the Cardinals front office throws out anything less, I think its a slap in the face.  If the Twins can do $184M for Mauer, the Cardinals have to do $200M+ for Albert.  The X-factor is some team wanting to make splash for some immediate fan support (say the Marlins or Dodgers) and offering up a ridiculous contract, lets say 8yr/$300M.  How does a man leave that kind of cash on the table?

The big concern I'd have over making him a big offer if I was anybody but the Cardinals is his huge dip in production last year.  http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml  He was usually rock solid around a .430 on base% for his career.  Thats incredible!  This year it dipped all the way down to .366%.  Thats Aramis Ramirez! (.361 in 2011)  5 times he's slugged over .650%.  Last season he slugged a career worst .541%.  Maybe it was a down year?

[CEValkyrie]

The Yankess have spend some hard core cash. I thought CC might be headed out of town but I thought wrong.

[pdga#7648]

so? does someone make him an offer in the morning?

[Dan Michler]

so? does someone make him an offer in the morning?

If he's wants the bidding process to play out, his agent will probably wait for the baseball winter meetings, where the major free agent signings usually take place.  That is December 5-8.

[stpitner]

Pujols is supposedly meeting with the Marlins within the next couple of days to let them "woo" him towards their side.  What, did LeBron call him or something?

I'm sure they just want to make it a huge bidding war to have teams tripping over themselves to pick up a player that is going to have an albatross of a contract in less than 5 years.  You would think his agent was Scott Boras or something...

[Dan Michler]

Pujols is supposedly meeting with the Marlins within the next couple of days to let them "woo" him towards their side.  What, did LeBron call him or something?

The Marlins are looking to make a big splash in free agency, probably someone with latin-american roots, to help immediately fill their new ballpark that opens next season.  Unless they make an absolutely ridiculous offer, I can't possibly see Pujols going there.  Jose Reyes is probably more likely for them.  They could move the defense-challenged Hanley Ramirez to 2B or the OF.

[pdga#7648]

he's on vacation, writing this off to the IRS as a job interview  
Noway he signs in Florida. They say their payroll is $57MIL now and wont go over $80MIL.  good luck Marlins!

[Dan Michler]

he's on vacation, writing this off to the IRS as a job interview 
Noway he signs in Florida. They say their payroll is $57MIL now and wont go over $80MIL.  good luck Marlins!

the key there Doug is that it was $57M last year.  They don't have $57M committed for next season, there is alot more than $23M available to spend on the offseason even if $80M is the cap.  Either way, I don't think you should be too worried about the Marlins actually signing him.  I'm sure Pujols' agent is interested in using the Marlins offer to try to jack up some offers from other teams though.

[pdga#7648]

The Cardinals will be hard pressed to re-sign him now I think.
Cardinals just announced their new Manager as Mike Matheny. don't really know how to feel about it? thought for sure Jose was going to get it.  oh well, going to be interesting.

[Dan Michler]

The Cardinals will be hard pressed to re-sign him now I think.

I think thats a bit of an overreaction.  Do you know something about the Pujols/Matheny past relationship that makes you think Albert wouldn't want to play for him?  I'm pretty sure managerial situations are a distant second to $$$$$$$ when it comes to the factors Albert is weighing in making his decision.

[pdga#7648]

Dan, the Cardinals already said he was not going to get any more than the 9 year 210 MIL offer they gave him. That's 23.3 MIL a year.  Or do you think they will give him that 210 but maybe just 7-8 years to make him  30 MIL?  Sources say Miami's offer was nowhere near even considering, so 1 down. 

No, I don't know about there relationship, but I think AP will want to play for somebody that has proven he can win. All Matheny ever proved was he could play catcher.  I will give the man his fair chance, but wont be very confident in him managing a win like Tony could, with or without AP. 

[pdga#7648]

get your hopes up Cubbie fans. they contacted Pujols's agent about talking about a contract.  I think it's just Theo's move to up the Cardinals price. Making them pay top dollar for him.

[stpitner]

why not toss your hat in the ring if you have the cash to do it?  It would be stupid to not at least make an offer.

[CEValkyrie]

Marlins made an offer. This is starting to get interesting. I still can't believe the Cards let it get to this point.

[pdga#7648]

10 years at 225 million.  barely more than he turned down from St. Louis, 9 years 200 million.  He wont go to Miami people. Why would he want to play in front of 7,600 fans at home games?   
I'm suprised only 3 teams made an offer to him yesterday, Cards, Cubs and Marlins!  if it's just those 3 in the running, I'm not worried. He will be a Cardinal!

[Dan Michler]

10 years at 225 million.  barely more than he turned down from St. Louis, 9 years 200 million.  He wont go to Miami people. Why would he want to play in front of 7,600 fans at home games?  
I'm suprised only 3 teams made an offer to him yesterday, Cards, Cubs and Marlins!  if it's just those 3 in the running, I'm not worried. He will be a Cardinal!

Actually thats $25MM dollars more, or 13%.  That is not "barely" more, even if it is over the course of 1 more year.  Pujols may give a hometown discount to St.Louis, but I bet it won't be a 13% discount.

I don't know what Miami's attendance projects to be next season, but I guarantee it will be up quite a bit from last season.  Historically, when any team opens a new ballpark their attendance sees an immediate spike in the next couple years.  If you factor in an offseason where they add Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols, and Heath Bell?  I'm pretty sure that would eliminate any worry of poor attendance in Miami next season.  They showed up in droves when LeBron and Bosh came to town.  Miami is no joke if they do get Pujols.  You're talking about a serious contender for years to come with a ton of young talent including Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Reyes, Bell, Hanley Ramirez, Mike Stanton, Gaby Sanchez.

If St.Louis is going to sign him, they will have to come up on their offer, which I believe they ultimately will.  But don't count out the possibility of Miami throwing out a ridiculous offer if they've decided they NEED Pujols to fill this new stadium.  Anything is possible at this point with the Marlins.  I think they locked up Reyes and Bell so quickly to make this offer more attractive for Pujols.  The next couple days should be interesting.

[CEValkyrie]

One thing that I did not consider. I caught this on MLB network last night and they were talking about Florida state taxes. I didn't cach the exact details but that could make a huge difference with that big of difference.

[pdga#7648]

Marlins are offering him 22.5 M a year.  Cardinals offered him 22.2M per year.   not that much of a difference Dan. $300,000 a year. I don't think that gets him to sign in Florida. No matter who they signed already.   Cardinals have a contending team already, Miami still has to try to buy one!

[Tom McManus]

One thing that I did not consider. I caught this on MLB network last night and they were talking about Florida state taxes. I didn't cach the exact details but that could make a huge difference with that big of difference.

Florida and Texas don't have any state income tax.

[tacimala]

So then Florida is offering him 22.5mm per year and St. Louis is essentially offering him ~15mm with an interest free high five loan to the government of just under 8mm a year.