According to the Associated Press, via ESPN Deportes, Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols said Wednesday that he's not interested in signing a new long-term deal this offseason. (The article is in Spanish, but we've translated some of the more telling quotes).
"I'm not desperate to sign a contract extension," Pujols said. "I still have a one year contract in 2010 with a club option for 2011. The rest I leave in God's hands."
Club chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak have expressed a desire to make Albert a "lifetime Cardinal" before he nears the free agent waters in 2012. The 29-year-old first baseman hit .327/.443/.658 this season with 47 home runs and 135 RBI, and is likely to receive his third NL MVP award this winter. Pujols left open the idea of signing an extension somewhere down the line, as long as the Cardinals stay competitive.
"Last week, the GM (Mozeliak) called me and told them to communicate with my lawyer (or agent)," he said, "but I repeat that money is not everything, it's better to have a rival team that can go into the postseason."
