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, we want to lock you up,' – hey, they know that we're open to that."

Pujols, who will hit free agency two winters from now if the Cards pick up his 2011 option, repeated that he wants to be a Cardinal for life. The 29-year-old combines above-average defense with one of the most potent bats in baseball history.