We heard late last night that there is "no shot" Albert Pujols will make a decision before the Winter Meetings end. Still, here's the latest on the man who has $200MM+ offers from three teams including the Cardinals, Angels, and a mystery team who would reportedly need to trade an established first baseman to clear a path for the three-time MVP:
- The Angels want both Pujols and C.J. Wilson, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Angels have offered Pujols a ten-year deal worth at least $210MM and Wilson a five-year deal worth more than $70MM, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times.
- ESPN's Buster Olney says that the Yankees are not the mystery team that's trying to set up a Pujols deal (Twitter link). That makes sense, given that Mark Teixeira has a full no-trade clause in his contract.
Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.
File this in the “DUH” catagory! lol
Einstein agrees
According to that criteria (without any regard for payroll flexibility or large market status):
Tigers
Red Sox
Phillies
Dodgers
Reds
Twins
Anyone else that needs to be on this list?
Adam Lind (jays) is just as established as Loney (dodgers)
Konerko (white sox)
LaPorta (indians)
Helton (rockies)
Tigers have Miggy and martinez at 1B and DH, would have to move one so probably not them. LAD, Frank mcCourt has his wife, so probably not them. boston has John Henry’s dislike of giving Jeffrey Loria free money everytime they go over the salary cap,and also have Ortiz for a year, Gonzalez and youk for 2+, so probably not them. Phillies have Howard’s 25m annual contract that is probably not moveable and no DH slot.
Cinci…Hmmmm Not really sure they would move Votto, but anything is possible with them. Twins if they think can get Morneau and Maeur back healthy.
Freaky pick? Texas. Have to make moves to clear space also though.
Buster Olney is obviously bored.
orioles?
It’s the Phillies…who else would it be?
Hopefully that’s sarcasm…unless you just forgot about Ryan Howard?
Hopefully your post is sarcasm.
and a mystery team who would reportedly need to trade an established first baseman to clear a path for the three-time MVP
Not entirely crazy thinking. It would explain the earlier interest in Gio:
– Sign Pujols
– Trade Hamels (who will cost $18-20 million a year to resign) for the lower-cost Gonzalez
– Trade Howard for prospects and agree to pay part of the $125 million he’s due over the next 5
Nationals – been very quiet and have a first baseman that they are committed to this year in LaRouche.
I wonder if he is considered “big name” though. He is well established
It just says established not big name
Something just tells me it’s the Cubs. That’s why Theo has made it know he’s willing to eat a good chunk of Soriano’s remaining contract.
I agree on the Cubs. I don’t think the Cubs would necessarily sign him but Theo can jack up the price and force the Cardinals to use more of their resources and Pujols can use the additional offer as leverage.
As an Angels fan, the anticipation is killing me. Wilson? Pujols? Both? Neither?? Tell C.J. to hurry up and make up his mind. The offers have been set. The ball is in his court.
Reds have an established 1B who has been rumored to be wanted in trades all off season….I think the person claiming a “mystery team” is the guy who keeps saying Votto is going to be traded…
by no means do I think that would happen…
Were the Yankees ever considered to be in it for him? Highly unlikely, so thanks for clearing everything up Buster.
We have to talk about the Yankees, don’t we?
I’m throwing the Mets, Twins, Diamondbacks, Astros, and Giants hats into the ring as the mystery third team.
I assume you are referring to the Yomiuri Giants.
I assume you are referring to the Yomiuri Giants.
I know this would make no sense considering the Twins track record and Terry Ryan’s track record, but if this non-stop speculation has any truth to it (highly unlikely) the Twins fit the speculation. Morneau has been plagued by injuries and takes in a high salary plus the fact that they will not be re-signing Kubel or Cuddyer, that’s a lot of salary space available to make this kind of move. Plus Terry Ryan loves signing older players…not to mention he could trade Morneau for pitching or prospects or both. Again, highly unlikely, but makes sense to me.
I was thinking who could/would do this last night while laying in bed. I kept on coming back to this thought. Then I woke up at 4am and thought it could be the Jays but dismissed that at 4:45. So yeah, Twins?
the Yankees arent in on anything, just letting the meetings go by…I think they want to go the trade route…I was surprised they didnt want CJ Wilson
My guess is Seattle, Washington, or Baltimore.
Not the Red Sox. Love to have him unfortunately just signed Papi.
Could trade Papi–eat some salary, put AGon in the DH slot, sign Albert.
OMG what a lineup!!!!!!!
Ells, Pedroia, Crawford, Albert, AGon, Youk, Reddick, Salty, Scutaro.
Everybody’s tied for first on Opening Day!
What happens if, while Albert (and/or his agent) is trying to squeeze every last dime that he possibly can, Albert has a serious injury that puts him out of commission for quite some time?
He just needs to take the Cardinals contract like we all know he probably will, and stop this madness. If $200M is not enough to play baseball, then he has serious problems.
A serious injury in the offseason? That’s not likely..
I think the mystery team is either the Rangers or Braves. The Braves could get a huge return by trading Freeman. And the Rangers could be trying to trade Michael Young or Mitch Moreland.
NO NO NO…It is NOT the Reds…They don’t have the money to sign Pujols, if they had money they already would have offered Votto big bucks instead of a 3 year (even though they were hoping for more, they had no means of going to 10 or something crazy). Just drop it, please. Even if Votto was traded, we wouldn’t have the money to sign Pujols or Fielder (Votto only makes 13M in 2012).
Well
Angels got their wish.
Be careful what you wish for, Angels fans…because you just got it. Enjoy it…for as long as the honeymoon lasts.
I feel horrible to Cardinals fans… But Cardinal fans can feel better in about 6 years when that contract becomes laughably excessive.
still can’t believe this
Who said it can’t be the Cubs? In fact, it was publicly established a few days ago that the Cubs WERE in on Pujols.
That makes no sense. Way to contradict yourself.
Why would they move Votto with very similar production at double the cost and 5x the commitment?
Votto? He has been better than Pujols over the last two seasons. He is at least 4 years younger. He’s under team control for 2 more years. I don’t see any advantage to dumping Votto in favor of Pujols
Votto? He has been better than Pujols over the last two seasons. He is at least 4 years younger. He’s under team control for 2 more years. I don’t see any advantage to dumping Votto in favor of Pujols
The M’s are interested in anyone that can hit the ball out of the infield.