Albert Pujols Rumors

Cafardo On Pujols, Mauer, Holliday, Damon

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a new column up, and he addresses a few topics of interest from around the majors. Some highlights.... Cafardo examines the crossroads that superstars Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer will soon face with their current clubs. He passes on this quote from one baseball official: "I think Mauer has a better chance of staying in Minnesota than Pujols in St. Louis. Mauer is from Minnesota, while you have to give Pujols an A-Rod type contract and I’m not sure the Cardinals would do it." His source thinks that the best way for the...   Continue Reading

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Pujols Hopes To Stay In St. Louis

Albert Pujols surprised many, including the Cardinals front office, when he said he wasn't "desperate" to sign a long-term deal earlier this month. Now, Pujols tells ESPN radio in St. Louis that he wants to be a Cardinal for life, he just doesn't see the need to obsess over his contract yet (transcription from Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). "You know the Cardinals need to worry about signing Matt Holliday and all the free agents," Pujols said. "There's no rush for me to sign right now, you know? But if they come tomorrow and say 'Albert, you know,...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Parker, Okajima, Kikuchi, La Russa

Links for Thursday... Bad news for D'Backs fans: top prospect Jarrod Parker is headed for Tommy John surgery. Reynolds Sports Management broke the news via their Twitter feed, check it out. Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima has dismissed agent Peter Greenberg in favor of Boston-based Joe Rosen, according to a Japanese report passed along by NPB Tracker's Ryo Shinkawa. Shinkawa takes this as a sign Okajima wants to stay with the Red Sox. He is already under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player. Yusei Kikuchi's NPB-vs.-MLB decision seems to be coming within a few days, says Patrick Newman...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Johjima, Brewers, Pujols

As the champagne chills in the Philadelphia clubhouse, here are some late-night newsbits.... Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald reports that during a conference call with Japanese press members, Kenji Johjima said that a lack of playing time was the main reason he opted out of his contract with the Mariners. He and the team cited Johjima's desire to be closer to his family in Japan as the primary reason for his leaving Seattle two days ago. Milwaukee assistant general manger Gord Ash chatted with fans on Wednesday about the Brewers' minor league prospects. Perhaps the most notable item from...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Mariners, Pujols, Indians, Lincecum

A few more evening links.... Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times says that Kenji Johjima's opt-out is "an early Christmas present" for the Mariners. Meanwhile, Rob Johnson has one surgery down and one to go, according to MLB.com's Jim Street. Johnson will battle for time behind the plate in Seattle next season, with Johjima's departure resulting in one less competitor. Speaking of offseason surgeries, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is reporting that Albert Pujols will have elbow surgery tomorrow. Breathe easy though, Cardinals fans: according to Rosenthal, Pujols expects to be fully healthy for spring training. Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Notes: Holliday, Pujols, La Russa

Some Cardinals-related Sunday morning links.... Newsday's Ken Davidoff hears from a source "in the loop" that when Matt Holliday hits free agency, the outfielder's top choices are the Yankees and the Mets. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune provides a Windy City perspective on Albert Pujols' future in St. Louis. Unsurprisingly, it's bleak, even going so far as to wonder if Pujols could someday be a Cub. I think Rogers might be jumping to conclusions a little too early. Rogers also thinks Tony La Russa ought to just sign a one-year contract with St. Louis, or even take a year...   Continue Reading

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Discussion: Mike Lowell

Daniel Barbarisi of the Providence Journal broke down the options for the Red Sox in regards to veteran Mike Lowell headed into the 2010 season. Lowell posted a .290/.337/.474 line in 484 plate appearances with Boston last season and stayed off of the disabled list following hip surgery last fall. Lowell has one year left on his Boston deal that will pay him $12MM in 2010, a price tag high enough to scare off any potential trade suitors unless the Sox were willing to cover some of the cost. There's also the added complication of Lowell's no-trade clause in his...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Pujols, Cubs, Strasburg, Wagner

Another round of links for the afternoon... The Cards were surprised to hear that Albert Pujols isn't thinking about a contract extension, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cubs have now asked the Rangers for permission to speak with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, according to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. First overall pick Stephen Strasburg makes his AFL debut tonight, according to the AP (via ESPN). Earlier in the week, the New York Post reported that Billy Wagner was leaning towards retirement. Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports this week that Wagner plans on...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Nationals, Cardinals, Rangers

Still tired from last night's NLCS? This should brighten your morning... Nationals GM Mike Rizzo describes Jim Riggleman as "a terrific in-house candidate" for the managerial position. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak expressed "surprise" over Albert Pujols' lack of urgency to sign an extension. NPB Tracker takes a look at possible acquisitions by the Hanshin Tigers, both from Japan and the United States. The Rangers will begin meetings with groups interested in purchasing the team. Carney Lansford, recently-fired hitting coach of the Giants, has some harsh departing words for San Francisco's hitters. Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks the...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Rangers, Astros

Time for your afternoon snack! Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch weighs a reader question: is it time to trade Albert Pujols? As Goold writes, "Ain’t happening, shouldn’t happen (on both sides), but it makes for fine hot-stove jabber." Still, children all of St. Louis (and many adults) rightly shudder at even the hypothetical Pujols trade. The Cardinals are looking to bring John Smoltz back, according to the Associated Press. Smoltz had a 4.26 ERA and 40/9 K/BB ratio in 38 innings with the Cardinals, so their interest is understandable. The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw worries that the...   Continue Reading

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