The Albert Pujols Watch Thread

[Northside_slugger]

How stunned would the baseball world be if this happened....

Potential stunner: The St. Louis Post Dispatch's Jeff Gordon has a theory that's worth considering. He believes that the Royals — of all teams — would be a likely destination for Albert Pujols if he reaches free agency.

Consider the factors.

Kansas City, where Pujols attended Maple Woods Community College, is a second home for him and his wife, Dee Dee. The Royals appear to have such a deep stable of elite prospects they could mature into a version of the 2008-10 Rays by 2012 or '13, a young team capable of a sustained run. And they have such a stripped-down payroll they could give Pujols $30 million a year without straining before at least 2015, when guys like Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Montgomery and Aaron Crow could be becoming big-ticket items.

The clock continues to tick loudly on Pujols' deadline for the Cardinals to sign him to a contract extension. He could report to Jupiter, Fla., as early as Wednesday and has said he won't negotiate a contract after he has started his spring training. That could change, but it appears the Cardinals waited too long to try to lock up baseball's best hitter.

Link- Michael Young: Unwanted with Texas Rangers, Michael Young is a good fit for many teams - chicagotribune.com

 

[DewsSox79]

As I have heard that KC would be the destination as well, I have also heard the rumblings that STL may try to trade him to KC in order to get some high level prospects back instead of losing him completley.

Even though the sox would have to face KC and Pujols, I would love to see a small market bottom of the barrel team get put on the map again.

 

[Northside_slugger]

Assuming Pujols is worth 10 years 300 mill to someone, what type of contract will Prince Fielder be looking for?

Pujols has all the leverage in the world, because, he is an animal.

Prince Fielder, not so much.

From the LA Times-

9. As Prince Fielder takes what will almost certainly be his final spring swings with the Milwaukee Brewers, he has to be rooting for Albert Pujols to sign a contract extension with the St. Louis Cardinals rather than head into free agency with him next fall. The market for Fielder could be surprisingly limited, with several big-bucks teams probably unavailable to drive up the market. The Boston Red Sox have Gonzalez at first base; the New York Yankees have Mark Teixeira; the Philadelphia Phillies have Ryan Howard; and the Detroit Tigers have Cabrera. Also, Angels owner Arte Moreno prefers to avoid Scott Boras, the agent for Fielder.

Link- Cactus League 2011: 10 Cactus League story lines to watch - latimes.com

To even further break this down, as someone mentioned for Pujols, Mets and Dodgers may not be fits, because of their current ownership problems. Madoff issue with the Mets is HURTING them big time and it could really hurt them for next several years. Wilbon is trying to get a minority owner to buy 20% of team to add stability, but nobody will ever pay that kind of money and have only 20% say. If this Madoff thing does get worse, Wilbon may need to sell, and that would take years before he gives in and sells/finds an owner. Just look at Mets off-season signings thus far, ALL for very little money.

Dodgers are in a similar situation, no scandal, but owners are going through a divorce. Divorces take years to resolve, cost a lot of money and god only knows what someone will have to pay. Dodgers have not been active this off-season either, and it could only get worse. I think it'd be a miracle if they were out of the woods and willing to pay up big money for a Fielder or a Pujols by next winter.

So, Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals (assuming Pujols does not re-sign) have to be the favorites for Prince. One or two other teams could also make a play but when Pujols signs with a team, they're automatically out of the market for him. And if Pujols leaves Cards, La Russa may leave too, and they may rebuild, and go a total opposite direction from Prince.

 

[JCM]

 

[AddisonStation]

Give us one in pin stripes

 

[JCM]

i was trying to find a good one in pinstripes but had no match for the resources i was using.

 

[AddisonStation]

i was trying to find a good one in pinstripes but had no match for the resources i was using.

Damn sexy non the less. Thanks man!

 

[IvyPickin87]

pooholes wont be in cubbie blue sorry fellas i wish it was true want him bad but will not happen. I say lets hope for fat ass fielder.

 

[AddisonStation]

pooholes wont be in cubbie blue sorry fellas i wish it was true want him bad but will not happen. I say lets hope for fat ass fielder.

I still believe he'll be a card but if he stays true to his demands i have to think the cubs would be the favorite to sign him.

 

[IvyPickin87]

I still believe he'll be a card but if he stays true to his demands i have to think the cubs would be the favorite to sign him.

I think the cubs would be in best postion to do so but i see him going to the yanks, angels or dodgers personally if he hits the open market which i doubt he does.

 

[AddisonStation]

I think the cubs would be in best postion to do so but i see him going to the yanks, angels or dodgers personally if he hits the open market which i doubt he does.

Dodgers aren't doing shit til the McCourt divorce is over. Always gotts worry about the yanks but at least he'd be out of the NLC. Plus we've got a boat load of money off the books next off season

 

[IvyPickin87]

Dodgers aren't doing shit til the McCourt divorce is over. Always gotts worry about the yanks but at least he'd be out of the NLC. Plus we've got a boat load of money off the books next off season

I'm a cub fan im not going to get my hopes up. waste of time

 

[AddisonStation]

I'm a cub fan im not going to get my hopes up. waste of time

You're nuts.. I think Pujols to the cubs is slim but i mostly hope he leaves the division and that is definitely possible.

 

[IvyPickin87]

You're nuts.. I think Pujols to the cubs is slim but i mostly hope he leaves the division and that is definitely possible.

he is gonna be a yankee if he is not a card, sure they have tex, but doucheholes he played LF for a lil while 3B too so he can play the OF and when arod or tex needs a day off blammo throw them in the dh and he can take thier spot.

 

[AddisonStation]

he is gonna be a yankee if he is not a card, sure they have tex, but doucheholes he played LF for a lil while 3B too so he can play the OF and when arod or tex needs a day off blammo throw them in the dh and he can take thier spot.

Ya but I don't think the Yankees endless payroll will be so endless if Pujols truly wants ten years. Ten years is a bad idea for whoever gives it to him except for the cubs IMO we'd have 4 or 5 years to contend.

 

[Jntg4]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post typically covers New York's baseball teams, but in today's column he acknowledges that many of the sport's biggest stories are taking place outside of the Big Apple. His number one story to watch as Spring Training gets underway? Albert Pujols' contract negotiations with the Cardinals. An AL executive told Sherman that the Cards' nightmare scenario involves not only failing to extend Pujols, but seeing him end up in a Cubs uniform in 2012. The three-time MVP winner "would be to the Cubs what [Barry] Bonds was to the Giants, but with a nicer face and nine games a year at Busch Stadium," said the exec. Here are the rest of the latest stories on the negotiations:

:cubs:

Pujols has turned down the latest offer from the club and unless a dramatic change is made, he will announce Tuesday that he's shutting down contract talks for the rest of the season, a person close to Pujols told Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

Tuesday? Even earlier than the last cut. Wow.

St. Louis GM John Mozeliak declined comment on whether the team has made a formal offer to Pujols. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears that no official offer was on the table as of early last week, with the club "expected to present a bid" closer to Pujols' deadline.

Are they idiots?

Whether or not an agreement is reached, the Cardinals plan to publicly address the negotiations on Wednesday, Strauss adds.

I need to see this and the fan reaction.

Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch views the Spring Training deadline as merely the "first checkpoint" in extension discussions, calling it "essentially bogus."

That's just feeding STL fans.

A GM for a larger-market team weighed in on the topic while talking to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe: "[The Cardinals] should stick to a number that makes sense for them, and if it’s not good enough, then you walk away." However, the GM went on to say that he thinks a deal will get done. "They probably have to do it," he said. "Because not doing it would create chaos and possible loss of revenue."

:yep:

 

[Captain Obvious]

Tuesday? Even earlier than the last cut. Wow.

How do you figure? He is reporting Wednesday, therefore he would stop negotiations Tuesday.

 

[Jntg4]

How do you figure? He is reporting Wednesday, therefore he would stop negotiations Tuesday.

Eh, I figured he'd let the agents work through the night before he reports. If he announces it is over Tuesday, that doesn't happen.

 

[The Bandit]

If he comes to Chicago i will never let my father live it down hes a die hard Cards fan

 

[DewsSox79]

Ya but I don't think the Yankees endless payroll will be so endless if Pujols truly wants ten years. Ten years is a bad idea for whoever gives it to him except for the cubs IMO we'd have 4 or 5 years to contend.

that is too funny of a comment. anybody else would be bad but the cubs would be good. too funny