Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt told Jon Heyman of SI.com that he wants to keep Albert Pujols in St. Louis for life, even though the first baseman will likely require a historic contract when he becomes a free agent, presumably after the 2011 season.
"We all have our financial limitations," DeWitt said. "It depends on how the contract is structured. We feel there's an area that could work where it would be affordable to us."
Pujols says he wants to finish his career as a Cardinal and the executives who watch him believe he's in line for big money. Some suggested Pujols could command a contract worth as much as the $275MM deal Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- The Dodgers continue to work on a one-year extension with Joe Torre. Don Mattingly appears "likely" to take over as Dodgers manager after 2011.
- The Marlins have Hank Blalock on their radar and the Rays are also in the mix.
- The Cardinals haven't ruled out making an addition and Felipe Lopez seems like a fit. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says (via Twitter) that the Cardinals are interested in Lopez, but not 'in' on him.
I know I wouldn’t be the only one to say this, but I think Hank Blalock would be a fantistic fit on the Marlins. I think Logan Morrison deserves a shot at the first base job, but Blalock could easily serve as a back up 1B/3B.
I really don’t think the Cardinals will be able to maintain their team if they keep Pujols. I just don’t see them affording any good pitching or the rest of the spots on the roster if in fact they retain Pujols. I just think that the Matt Holliday signing ruined their chances of future sucess even if Pujols and Holliday are on the same team.
Speaking of the Dodgers, I really hope that Rafael Furcal gets traded after this season because I’ll tell ya, Dee Gordon is a special special player. Really look forward to seeing him in the Big Leagues soon!
the matt holliday contract was a bit of a catch-22 decision for the cardinals. if you don’t sign holliday, pujols doesn’t think you’re attempting to make the team competitive, so he asks for more money or he walks. if you sign matt holliday to a stoopid-huge contract, it ties up money that you could be spending on pujols and/or the supporting cast.
either way, pujols is going to get an absolutely “bananas” contract and the cardinals are going to have to bump up payroll a bit, because they weren’t going to get him at $16MM per from here on out. although there were certainly more affordable left fielders this offseason, the cardinals liked what they had in holliday, and decided not to go the year-to-year patch route. so i’m cool with that.
the matt holliday contract was a bit of a catch-22 decision for the cardinals. if you don’t sign holliday, pujols doesn’t think you’re attempting to make the team competitive, so he asks for more money or he walks. if you sign matt holliday to a stoopid-huge contract, it ties up money that you could be spending on pujols and/or the supporting cast.
either way, pujols is going to get an absolutely “bananas” contract and the cardinals are going to have to bump up payroll a bit, because they weren’t going to get him at $16MM per from here on out. although there were certainly more affordable left fielders this offseason, the cardinals liked what they had in holliday, and decided not to go the year-to-year patch route. so i’m cool with that.
I think they will be fine. They actually have a scouting department that is fantastic at finding ML talent to put into the team.
And also, if the Cardinals go further into the playoffs, they can raise payroll to the 110-120 million echelon and afford both Holliday and Pujols.
I know I wouldn’t be the only one to say this, but I think Hank Blalock would be a fantistic fit on the Marlins. I think Logan Morrison deserves a shot at the first base job, but Blalock could easily serve as a back up 1B/3B.
I really don’t think the Cardinals will be able to maintain their team if they keep Pujols. I just don’t see them affording any good pitching or the rest of the spots on the roster if in fact they retain Pujols. I just think that the Matt Holliday signing ruined their chances of future sucess even if Pujols and Holliday are on the same team.
Speaking of the Dodgers, I really hope that Rafael Furcal gets traded after this season because I’ll tell ya, Dee Gordon is a special special player. Really look forward to seeing him in the Big Leagues soon!
The Cards have to do whatever it takes to keep Pujols, pay him over the next 50 years, name the stadium after him, give him a rocket car and a solid gold mansion, whatever. . .
The Cards have to do whatever it takes to keep Pujols, pay him over the next 50 years, name the stadium after him, give him a rocket car and a solid gold mansion, whatever. . .
Mattingly! I thought I told you to get rid of those side burns!
Mattingly! I thought I told you to get rid of those side burns!
Wish the cards would hurry up and sign floppy. 1yr/2mil+mutual opt with 450k buyout.
Wish the cards would hurry up and sign floppy. 1yr/2mil+mutual opt with 450k buyout.
If Pujols DOESN’T get at least the same contract as A-Rod, I will be severely disappointed. Recession be damned, he should be paid more than Rodriguez, hands down!
I hear that!!!! If they took character into consideration, he should in theory make about 10x what A-Rod does.
I still laugh at the fact that one of the regular posters on this site made a list of the ‘gentleman’ of the game. A-Rod was on the list. Probably one of the top, if not the top of the most ridiculous posts written list.
A-Rod isn’t even top-5 on his own team in the “gentleman” category!
Yankees are paying him to play baseball, not be a nice guy.
Yankees are paying him to play baseball, not be a nice guy.
A-Rod isn’t even top-5 on his own team in the “gentleman” category!
I hear that!!!! If they took character into consideration, he should in theory make about 10x what A-Rod does.
I still laugh at the fact that one of the regular posters on this site made a list of the ‘gentleman’ of the game. A-Rod was on the list. Probably one of the top, if not the top of the most ridiculous posts written list.
Considering AROD had no business ever receiving that stupid contract I am gonna disagree.
Considering AROD had no business ever receiving that stupid contract I am gonna disagree.
If Pujols DOESN’T get at least the same contract as A-Rod, I will be severely disappointed. Recession be damned, he should be paid more than Rodriguez, hands down!
“…the executives who watch him believe he’s in line for big money.”
O RLY?
“…the executives who watch him believe he’s in line for big money.”
O RLY?
haha
haha
I ask again, how is that Dayton Moore has not signed Blalock yet? I’m disappointed in him.
ha. perfect. everyone knows, the key to a successful baseball team is “accumulating talent,” regardless of how redundant that talent is. blalock would be a perfect means to this end.
ha. perfect. everyone knows, the key to a successful baseball team is “accumulating talent,” regardless of how redundant that talent is. blalock would be a perfect means to this end.
I ask again, how is that Dayton Moore has not signed Blalock yet? I’m disappointed in him.
How about we get a guy who actually has time as a manager? Bobby Valentine please!
How about we get a guy who actually has time as a manager? Bobby Valentine please!
Felipe Lopez to STL i think is the only realistic destination for him at this point. If St Louis chooses not to sign him, I only really see TB and MAYBE Seattle as decent fits, but I dont know if either would actually pursue it.
Blalock should sign with the Fish if he knows whats good for him. He has the opportunity to compete for innings at 1B and that could help him a lot going forward.
I really wonder what happens with Dye, it seems like all the likely fits have filled the need. Maybe a victory lap off the Braves bench?
makes sense, historic contract for a historic player! right?