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Heyman On Pujols, Holliday, Acta, Cubs

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [September 25, 2009 at 2:44pm CST]

The Cardinals want to lock up Albert Pujols, but Jon Heyman of SI.com wonders if they can keep him and Matt Holliday. One GM says there's "no chance" the team can keep the two stars, despite owner Bill DeWitt's goal to "lock up both of them." Here are more details on the Cardinals' superstars, along with the rest of Heyman's rumors:

Heyman says it's illogical to expect Pujols to demand anything less than $30MM per season.
Holliday is "thought to be interested" in a deal comparable to Mark Teixeira's $180MM pact. No doubt Holliday would have interest in that kind of deal, but would any team consider it? (I doubt it.)
There are many reasons it makes sense for the Cards to try to lock up Holliday and Pujols. As Heyman says, such an attempt would show manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and the fan base that the team wants to win at all costs.
Heyman hears that the Astros will interview former Nats manager Manny Acta for their managerial opening.
Indians GM Mark Shapiro is facing pressure to fire manager Eric Wedge, especially now that the club has lost 11 straight.
Not surprisingly, two GMs consider Alfonso Soriano untradeable. He has $90MM remaining on his contract.
The Cubs would have to eat a "decent chunk" of Carlos Zambrano's contract if they decide to trade him. A trade doesn't seem likely, however.
If the Cubs deal Milton Bradley, Heyman considers the Padres a logical fit.
Execs around the league expect Roy Halladay to be on the trade market again this winter.

Comments

I wouldn't mind 180MM dollars.

Posted by: B3NG4L | September 25, 2009 at 02:46 PM

Why would the padres want to take on that kind of contract, they are in rebuilding mode

Posted by: RMB915 | September 25, 2009 at 02:50 PM

As a Padres fan, I do see the fit between Bradley and the Padres. One, we need to find CF, not a Corner outfielder. I assume this means that the cubs would pick up most of the contract owed to him, but with a young team that the Padres are going to field is the right person to mentor them. I wouldnt mind his OBP in the lineup, especially in front of Adrian, but the Padres have enough corner players, we still lack up the middle players.

Posted by: AirmanSD | September 25, 2009 at 03:01 PM

*I do NOT see a fit*

Posted by: AirmanSD | September 25, 2009 at 03:02 PM

"As Heyman says, such an attempt would show manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan and the fan base that the team wants to win at all costs."

It does not matter with Duncan. He is all but gone.

Posted by: studio179 | September 25, 2009 at 03:02 PM

How is Holliday expecting Texiera money? He's not nearly as good defensively at his own position!

Posted by: Qabalist | September 25, 2009 at 03:02 PM

Why cant john haymen just get fired so we dont hav to read his posts

Posted by: RMB915 | September 25, 2009 at 03:12 PM

Heyman is a fool. NO TEAM WILL GIVE A $30 MILLION CONTRACT... NO TEAM. Pujols is a great player but not worth a new level in salary. So he plays at this level a few more seasons and then starts declining. So you are locked into 3 or 4 years with no salary flexibility. Holliday is NOT worth $180 either. He is not the hitter outside of Coors. Whoever signs Holliday will regret it, makes it a good choice for the Mets.

Posted by: stryker | September 25, 2009 at 03:32 PM

Why would the padres want to take on that kind of contract, they are in rebuilding mode

The Cubs would pay at least 3/4rth of the contract, and Bradley was a fan favorite when he was a Pad he was so clutch down the stretch if only not for that 1 meltdown.

Posted by: Pads/Angels fan | September 25, 2009 at 03:54 PM

Ummm ... yes he is worth $30m. According to Fangraphs his value has been $31m, $40m, and $37m (so far) over the past 3 years. Since 2003 his WAR has never been below 7.7. He is remarkably durable and has improved his game (even though there is so little room for improvement).

If the Cards can't afford to 8-10 years @ $25m-28m they could go in strong at 4/$120m + MVP/WS bonuses. That would raise the annual cost but limit the long-term risk.

Posted by: bjsguess | September 25, 2009 at 04:17 PM

Holliday = 6/100-110mm if he stays in STL or COL. He is not MARK TEXERIA.

Pujols will sign for a hometown discount and won't leave STL, 10yrs/265mm. Front load it, with 2-4 seasons of 30+. With all the money that is being dumped on douchebags in the MLB, this guy deserves his cut. He is everything you could dream of in a franchise player. There is nobody else in the league that carries the entire game and the city of STL on his back the way this guy does. There is no GM out there that would not be begging for this guy. I love seeing guys try to defend that Pujols is not worth the 30mm contract, ridiculous. Teams would bend over backwards to rebuild around him. Imagine if he hit the open market!! Boston would not let this turn into a TEX situation again. Dodgers? Giants? All great fits with deep pockets. People need to use their heads and realize that with Pujols you are getting more than a player, you get potential in your organization. I have no problem defending paying Pujols

Posted by: gibson | September 25, 2009 at 04:18 PM

Um, who would seriously be surprised to see Pujols ask for $30 million per year? It's very unlikely that he will ask for less than A-Rod, who is making $27.5 on average, although I could see him agreeing to it just to remain team-friendly. But in all likelihood it will be over $30. Especially if he does the smart thing and waits one more year when the economy will likely have improved. If the Cardinals won't pay it, somebody else will.

Posted by: Christian Seehausen | September 25, 2009 at 04:24 PM

So it is recommended to wait till he turns 30 and no doubt has his best years behind him. Just like all the post steroid sluggers. So continuing to reward aging players for their past and not what they are going to bring for the rest of the contract is a good idea. That has been the way just not the smartest way to run a franchise. Since when has Pujols remained injury free? At least Arod never seemed to get hurt. I doubt franchises like Boston would offer up a 10yr/265m contract. All these teams are carrying dead weight. At some point these mice will learn not to get zapped trying to eat the cheese.

Posted by: stryker | September 25, 2009 at 08:55 PM

Pujols, dead weight? Hahaha. He'll probably still be one of the most valuable first basemen in MLB when he's forty.

Posted by: Christian Seehausen | September 25, 2009 at 09:14 PM

stryker - the problem with your argument is that he is actually getting better. And as I pointed out earlier - he has been worth $35-40m each year over the past 3 years. So, even if he regresses with age, he could still easily perform up to $30m worth of value.

I do worry about the long-term contract though. I have a feeling Pujols is more like 31-32 than 29. That's why I would go shorter duration and more money per year.

Posted by: bjsguess | September 25, 2009 at 10:50 PM

I think we can keep both of them , based on the fact that glaus and ankiel will probably not resign next year, that clears up some salary space. 4 pitchers locked up til 2011, we have the money to spend i think we can keep holliday AND pujols. plus i think if we resign holliday pujols would be willing to negotiate his signing rate because he's said all he ever cares about is winning.

Posted by: stlcardsfan | September 26, 2009 at 01:15 PM

"At least A-rod never seemed to get hurt."

Posted by: stryker

Really? So the part where he missed the first 28 games this season you must have not noticed. Or the part where he missed 25 games last season.

I don't believe that any player should be paid 30 mil a year but if you want to compare the two.

Offensive: Their averages per at bat are the same for R,RBIs,triples, and HRs. Pujols averages more hits, doubles, has a higher career BA/OBP/SLG, walks more and strikes out less. A-Rod steals more bases and that would be relevant except that he doesn't score more runs and considering that he has had better players playing both ahead of him and behind him throughout his career he should have more runs and RBIs.

Defensive: Both have won a gold glove. One of them still plays the position he won it at. One of them earned their gold glove instead of having it handed to them by the BBWAA for their offensive achievements. And the other one is A-Rod.

Intangibles: Pujols is his team's leader, he is able to hit GOOD pitching as well as bad, and hits in the postseason. A-Rod 0 for 3.

P.S. I am NOT a St. Louis fan, just a fan of the truth.

Posted by: stbailey | September 27, 2009 at 06:19 PM

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Heyman On Pujols, Holliday, Acta, Cubs

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