The latest on free agent first baseman Albert Pujols, with the newest updates on top…
- The Marlins' new offer to Pujols is for ten years, tweets MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
- Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio tweets that the newest Marlins offer is the one Lozano needed to bring to the Cardinals in order to push St. Louis to up their own bid.
- The Marlins met with Pujols twice on Monday night, writes Scott Miller of CBS Sports, and boosted their nine-year offer to Pujols in the process. No decision was imminent as midnight approached, according to Miller.
- MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets that the Marlins are set to meet with Lozano on Tuesday as well.
- ESPN.com's Jayson Stark talked to a source who described Pujols' meeting with the Marlins today as "very positive, very upbeat." The club hopes to meet with Pujols again tonight to determine one way or the other if the slugger is seriously considering the Fish.
- The Cardinals view the Marlins as "a real threat" for Pujols, tweets Newsday's Ken Davidoff. Davidoff says the Cards will meet with Lozano tonight, while Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Marlins may meet with Pujols' reps again tonight as well.
- The meeting between Pujols' agent Dan Lozano and the Marlins lasted 30 minutes, tweets Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says the Marlins have strong interest in Pujols.
- The Cubs met with Lozano today, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- The Cardinals have yet to modify their January proposal to Pujols, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. That was a nine-year offer worth about $22MM per year, so only eight years remain if the offer is still valid. Strauss believes the offer included significant deferred money, as does the Marlins' current nine-year proposal. The Cubs' interest in Pujols is viewed skeptically, while the Blue Jays are "believed a potential player." The Marlins and Cardinals are expected to meet with Lozano today, writes Strauss.
I think he will take anything the cards throw at him
Then why didn’t he take their offer?
The players union encourages free agents to test free agency even if they intend to sign back with their team. Keeps salaries going up.
Agents encourage it too. Why sign the first offer you get, if someone may offer more? Even if you aren’t planning on leaving, your current team may up their offer to match it.
I agree, but that means that he isn’t just going to take whatever the cards throw at him.
boy,you are 100% right.and we the fan pay for it big time.that is the reason i do not go to any mlb games.
if that was the case he would of has signed by now
In the world of no news at all to report…….
I like the hardball approach the Cards have taken so far in this situation. Yeah, they’re risking losing him, but it’ll take a team coughing up a bunch of cash to put them out.
If he was going to take anything the cards offered he would have taken their offer before spring training. I think he is wanting the money. I hope he stays in St. Louis as long as they don’t overpay him to the point they can not compete.
You can’t really blame a guy for wanting to see how high the offers can go so you don’t settle for less than you’re worth.
I think at this point though, he has to be disappointed in the fact that no other team has even attempted to out-do the Cardinals and perhaps a little embarrassed to admit defeat and take the Cardinals offer until some team does come up with a contract he could live with, and allows the Cardinals to counter offer or match it.
I could see the Cardinals making a nominal increase so that he can save face, even if no other team makes a serious offer.
I think he intends to resign with the Cardinals, but wants them to increase their offer. He’s hoping for another team to make a legitamite bid, so that the Cardinals are forced to come up with more money.
As it stands, with Miami rumored to have offered less than St. Louis, unless the Cubs and/or Blue Jays come up with something big, the Cardinals are playing it right. They have to be concerned with fan reaction, and if Pujols leaves for LESS money, fans are going to support the team, and hate the player.
Unless everything Pujols has said so far is a lie, I believe the Cardinals will be given the opportunity to match any offer. I also think they won’t have to quite match it – maybe have just less than is offered, or same as offered but more deferred…. Unless someone makes him an obscene offer, I think he’s back with the Cardinals.
The Blue Jays have enough money to sign both ALbert AND Prince. Can you imagine those guys WITH Batista? wow thats the scariest 3-4-5 lineup in the history of baseball
But then you’re committing $100 million + to a full-time DH. Sound like sound business to you?
That’s why there is video games. Real life is much more disappointing then that.
I would probably go with the 3-4-5 of the murderer’s row. (Ruth, Gehrig, Meusel) or anyone who batted with Dimaggio and Gehrig.
Try picking three players from the same era at least.
In what respect did these players come from different eras?
Remington was talking about a 3-4-5 of Pujols/Fielder/Bautista (not necessarily in that order). Ruth played until 35, Musial didn’t start playing until 41. So that corollary isn’t feasible.
Meusel, Bob Meusel, an integral part of the ’27 Yankees. Hit .337 with 103 RBIs behind Gehrig. Not Stan Musial.
Yep I’m dumb. I should read slower.
Bob Muesel = Stan Musial???
that’s a fail.
Ruth played until 35? Musial started at 41? Please share what you are smoking.
The years Andy. 1935 and 1941. But regardless I read too fast and didn’t realize he was talking about Muesel.
Ive pretty much liked everything the cubs have done this off season.
I think the Cubs will go 5 years at $27 million with very little deferred. Could get it done.
I think Theo is smarter than that. Why pay Pujols $27m a year over the next three years when you aren’t expected to compete? Wait for Votto (who will be MUCH better than Pujols in two or three years), and give the money to him instead.
Pujols is probably smarter than that too. How much is he going to be able to get in five years? He’s already declining, and many GM’s don’t trust his reported age of 31.
Wait, Votto is going to be better than AP? We can just make these claims now?
Votto put up numbers only marginally better than Pujols this year. (OPS+ 156 v. 151) He’s three years younger, but will be turning 31 in 2014 (his first year of FA). Why would I think Votto will be better 2014 onward? He certainly has less of an established pedigree. Pujols was pretty much dynamite the second half of the season and POs. I’m not buying the decline, yet even if he is declining, why would we expect him to decline harsher than Votto?
In 2-3 years, do you think Pujols will be able to keep up with Votto?
See above post. I read jred wrong. If I were the cubs though, you don’t even know if Votto will become available or who you are betting against. So it would be some gamble to bank of Joey V. That said, I can understand the argument.
As an aside, I think the Pujols “decline” news was greatly blown out of proportion. He had a bad start, and then buried that start with almost four months of classic Pujols numbers. Last offseason, before his April and May (and June injury), people were talking about how he would probably be great for another 6-7 years. One bad start has not changed too much of that for me. I think he’ll be a total MVP-caliber force for at least 5 years.
Based on ages, I would expect Votto to have similar production in 2014 as he did this year. I would expect Pujols’s production to be worse than this year.
If they were basically the same this year, and I expect Pujols to decline and Votto remain level, who is better in 3 years? This isn’t rocket science.
I read your post wrong at first. I would probably concede that Votto will be at least as good in 2014. My point was that we have little reason to think that Votto at 31 would be better than Pujols at 31. However, your point (I see now) was based on the Cubs not being good for the next 2-3 years, which would make the first years of the contract questionable.
For the record, I agree that Votto at 31 isn’t likely to be as good as Pujols at 31. I just think he’ll be better than Pujols at 34.
Didn’t Theo also say that the Cubs were not going to go after him? Seems to me that this is just Pujols trying to jack up the price for his services.
They met with his agent. Cubs may be trying to drive his price up as well, since it would hamper the Cardinals ability to sign other players, but Theo needs to be careful that he doesn’t make an offer he’s forced to pay.
no it wouldn’t that’s only 135 million dollars
Every time somebody gets excited about the Jays signing a big FA this winter, I puke in my mouth a little. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Jays’ management could not have been more clear on their intentions re: big-name free agents this offseason.
Except with the recent changes to the CBA it may have changed the Blue Jays thinking on long term big dollar contracts.
No, it hasn’t. Fielder was at least remotely believable, a Pujols rumor is just them being absurd now.
It must be so nice for agents that the Jays don’t say anything.
So they can leak their own misleading information?
yes, because they don’t confirm or deny any rumours..
I bet you albert pujols wasn’t even written on the chalkboard at the beginning of the off season.
Blue Jays have plenty of money available in their budget. But, I doubt they will “overpay” Pujols. The other teams have to be near the limits of their budgets for Blue Jays to have a chance at signing Pujols. This scenario is not unthinkable if Yankees and Red Sox are not bidding on Pujols. After all, they are the “market makers”.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they simply kicked the tires about Pujols, just to test the market, I would be more inclined to believe the Fielder rumours, as he fits the team model of a mid 20’s player to grow with the team.
If they choose to wait for Votto, he may not be around, a comparable player is available now in Fielder, with as you said, Boston and NYY out of the mix, seems like the perfect time.
St Louis has won 2 of the last 6 World Series. The Cubs have won 2 of the last 104. Hmmm…I wonder where Albert will play?
Clearly…Seattle.
You must work for Netflix.
are you referring to those radio commercials???
COOOORRRRRECT!!!!!!
lol ok that was a bit cheesy
so funny, I hear those all the time!! I hate them so much, they make no sense..
Funny how stupid commercials no, no boarders!
Yea, I usually listen to fox sports radio while I’m working and they are on there constantly.
dbl post
I’d like to see him go to the Marlins. Though I know he’ll end up back in St Louis.
The Marlins are a major threat to The Cardinals’ Pujols?
Couldn’t help it.
Next time try harder to “help it”.
Everyone assumed, and continues to assume, the Marlins were bluffing. They clearly are not, and I think Albert will sign with them if they offer the best package. And I think the Reyes deal was essential to their bid to sign Albert. Reyes signifies the Marlins are for real, and I think Albert recognizes that. I think Albert would like the idea of a basicially a brand new team with a new stadium and new uniforms (even if they are ugly) that he can be the face of.
I put Cards/Marlins at even odds each. It all depends on who want Albert more, and all signs point to the upstart Miami Marlins.
Disagree 100 percent. Albert will be a Cardinal by X-Mas along with Furcall
I think they have to be the best package by more than a hair. Leaving St. Louis would be something big for him, especially with a special needs child. He has roots in the community, and isn’t going to leave St. Louis unless he is blown away.
Besides, much as Reyes shows that the Marlins are serious about winning, Ozzie Guillen shows that they aren’t serious about anything else. Pujols would strangle Guillen after three games – four max.
Also, the Marlins have refused to give out no-trade clauses. They are willing to sign anyone, so long as they can trade all of them away after a year or two, when they can’t afford them. You think Pujols is going to accept that? Reyes didn’t have a choice if he was going to get paid (and overpaid, in this case), but Pujols does. The Marlins offer is less than St. Louis’s already, and I doubt they are going to beat it significantly.
It’s not like he’s already the face of the Cardinals or anything…
Why would he want all ‘new’? He’s a legend with a legacy in St. Louis. In Miami he’s a legend. In STL he has it MADE. The media respects him, the fans worship him, and he’s close to being the all-time greatest Cardinal. In Miami he’s just a Star that they signed.
The fans will cheer, but it will mean nothing. They’ll hold up ‘I love you Albert’ posters, but there will be no substance. This has got to mean SOMETHING to him.
What about his teammates? Molina Is his best friend, and the overall chemistry in there is great. His family lives in the area, so he sees them often enough. Oh, and Albert generally seems to not like players that slack or are over energetic. How’s that gonna workout for Hanley, Jose Reyes, LoMo, etc. I also wonder how he’ll like Gullien? Guy’s pretty loud and energetic.
Happiness has got to play a factor somewhere.
Don’t kid yourself…today’s athlete is all about the money.
Ask LeBron James what he thinks about all of this. If you’re lucky, Pujols won’t announce his “surprising” decision via a hilarious half-hour show on ESPN.
Make it an hour, need more commercial rev
Molina’s contract is up after this year. He can join Albert in Miami next year.
this makes me sick
That most recent update is a bit misleading. There was no meeting with Pujols today, only Lozano. It may have been a very upbeat meeting but the man that ultimately will make the decision wasn’t even there.
we wont miss alberto ,,,he can go take up space in florida
Bitter?
Albert wasnt even their lol terrible update how about you update that Mo has talked to Albert personally throughout the whole process. Albert is not leaving STL unless Florida breaks the record setting contract by Aroid. But say he does leave STL then everything he has ever said about his love for the city, his love for the sport and not business, money not meaning anything in the contract negotiations, all he wants to do is compete every year will, and everything else would have been a lie and it would spit on the Cardinals org and the fans. Let me tell you no matter how much money you spend in the NL East no one is beating the Phills so if he leaves i hope he enjoyed his 2 world championships cause he wont see it again for the rest of his career in Florida.
I don’t care how much the Marlins throw at Pujols it still seems obvious that he’s going back to St. Louis. He’ll do the same thing Joe Mauer did. Mauer wasn’t a free agent but he knew that the Yankees were about to go balls to the wall to get him but he signed a loyalty-based extension anyway for less money. Pujols will be a Cardinal for life.
I really hope your right.
That less money looks like a lot right now.
So if the Marlins are serious about Albert and they dont get him I wonder if they will sign Fielder instead. Because you figure the Albert money is more than Fielder money.
Can you imagine the order?
1. Jose Reyes
2. Hanley Ramirez
3. Albert Pujols
4. Mike Stanton
It would have to be the best first four in baseball. Or am I forgetting someone?
Them or the Red Sox
Ellsbury
Pedroia
Gonzalez
Ortiz
Not necessarily in that order, they have Youkilis too who is very good.
If they do this, they could then package Sanchez for Gio Gonzalez (or another pitcher), stay right around $100 mil.
Really? they would still be around $100 million with reyes and pujols?
COT had us at around $50 before any signings. Add $9 for Bell, 17 for Reyes and 22 for Pujols. They would be a little over after they finished signing guys.
A 9 year deal.. seriously?
I hope Albert takes it. This past season proves that it isn’t one player that wins you a championship, its a team effort. I don’t want the Cardinals to be handicapped for the next decade with a 9 year contract going to an aging player. We’ve seen the best years of Pujols (possibly), and every one of his offensive numbers have declined over the past 4 years. This isn’t steroid era baseball anymore, so the natural decline is going to kick in at some point.
I like Pujols, and I appreciate what he’s done for St. Louis. But he wanted to test free agency, and continued to say “its not about the money.” Well, this news says to me, it is about the money.
Or maybe its about the years and job security…I’m sure its not only baseball players who like to have the assurance that they will have a job for the next 9 years. If the Marlins get him they are pretty much guaranteed to have great attendance for the next few years. I mean the Reyes signing already boosted their attendance greatly. The crazy part is is that the Marlins would have signed arguably the best SS and the best 1b in the MLB.
The Marlins have won two WS since ’97. If the fanbase was going to be there, it would be there already.
I appreciate the effort the owners are putting in towards signing big free agents this offseason. But, are the fans going to be there in 2013, ’14, and beyond? Especially in 5 or 6 years when Pujols and Reyes’ decline has started?
Well if they get Pujols as well and all goes well they should win another championship or two so that should help. The new stadium is also a big boost, their old one was horrific. They will also get all those bandwagon fans like the Miami Heat did when they signed the big three.
Getting Pujols + whoever doesn’t guarantee rings.
Never knew that “they should” means they will. What is guaranteed though is a boost in attendance.
Even “should” is the wrong word to use.
With Pujols and Reyes you dont think they should win a ring or two?
With Pujols and Reyes you dont think they should win a ring or two?
10 years?! 10 years?!
take it Albert.
So it is obviously clear the running joke of the Marlins being interested in everyone was quite serious. 10 years is ridiculous. Holy dang.
Wait until Albert asks for a NTC and witness the marlins reduce the offer
I hope he stays with the Cards. He’s great for their organization.
hahahaha who woulda thought before the offseason began it would be the marlins offering pujols a A-rod lvl contract?
10 Years at what 20m a year? if it’s 22-23 freaking take it. (IMO it’s too much though)
closer to 21 – 22.5 mill per season probobly.
Cards offered him 22 per year over 9. If 22.5 is all Miami offered, the Cards may increase their offer and keep him.
If its more than 23, Cards let him go, and Miami does well for three or four seasons before being hamstrung for the next seven.
Wouldn’t be the first time they won a WS, only to suck for the next five to ten years.
Everyone should have seen this coming when the new uniforms were introduced. The problem is everyone thought the “M” on the new hat meant Miami, when in fact it it stands for “Money” 🙂
I’m guessing it’s 10 yrs/ 250M offer.
I think the Marlins are better off spending money on pitching. Currently, they have Josh Johnson coming off of a major shoulder injury (not good), Nolasco (bleh), Anibal (good season last year, but need to see another), and Volstad (blah). I think it would behoove them to go after CJ Wilson, and shoot for Buerhle. Wilson, Anibal, Buerhle, JJ, Nolasco…that’s an intriguing rotation, and is pretty damn good if Johnson can stay healthy and be effective. Unless I’m missing some up and coming prospect, the rotation as of now is not interesting.
If the Marlins sign Pujols, I speculate that they will package Gaby Sanchez for a pitcher. Hopefully Gio Gonzalez.
Ok I have 2 thoughts on Pujols to Miami for 10 years…short term – the Marlins give the Braves such fits as it is so I would hate to know that we had to deal with him 18 games per year so I really don’t want this to happen…long term – considering the fact that at the end of this contract his actual age could be in the neighborhood of 42-45 I’m actually kind of hoping this does happen and he becomes a huge albatross for them…
The Marlins just stuck their middle fin up to the people constantly joking about their offers not being legitimate (if signing Reyes and Bell didn’t already do that).
Assuming the Marlins can trade for a pitcher (big assumption, I know)… Am I the only Marlins fan that doesn’t really care what happens at the end of these contracts? The team will be in GREAT shape for the next few years and will put itself in position for a potential WS run. Winning one World Series is worth the back ends of those contracts. Ask Cubs fans. I know these signings don’t guarentee anything, but it will be nice to make a run.
Pujols is done with the Cards, sorry st. louis it isn’t happening. If I knew any cards fan in person i’d bet them a case a beer a month during the basebal season that i’m right thats how confident I am.
Depends on the offer. Cards offered 9/198 prior to the season. If they up to 9/210, he’s not leaving for less than 10/230, and even that might not be enough. If Miami is stupid enough to guarantee him $23 mil a year when he’s in his 40’s, well…
I suppose that is a gamble that the Cardinals made last offseason. You always think you’ll be able to keep your superstars who have roots in the city. You can never bet that there won’t be an owner with more money than intelligence.
He’s just taking his talents to South Beach.
Wow, if this gets done, then I don’t remember the last time I was intimidated to see the Marlins on the schedule!
Albert to the Marlins -10/230 and Fielder signs with the Cubs- 8/185.
10/230 may or may not be enough. If the Cardinals bump their deal from 9/198 to 9/210, they have a higher AAV. Also, the Marlins never put in no-trade clauses, which will likely make Pujols nervous. I doubt he wants to go to Miami for one season, win a WS, then be traded to the Orioles for a backup catcher and a PTBNL
If I’m Pujols, I wouldn’t worry about a no trade clause. The only teams that would take over his contract would be contenders. Teams like the Orioles aren’t going to take on his contract. He becomes A-Rod. Also there is no state tax in Florida, so that increases the offer.
The Marlins really offer him 10yr? 200mill? 20 mill a season for the next ten years? I overheard the Marlins might also be bringin in Jose Oquendo to provide experience on Guillen’s coaching staff.
FML.
Pujols had a 5.1 war last year and is declinning i’m not saying gaby sanchez is great but he put up a 3 war is young and cheap. This would just be a bad move.
Sign Pujols and trade Sanchez for Gio and Bailey. Know you are set to win in the playoffs.Sweeten the pot with Morrison if you have to.
Thats the perfect idea, maybe not morrison though… Can’t see Morrison in an Oakland uniform. Not Bailey, they just got bell and Leo Nunez will be setup.
where are the marlins getting all of this money they had the lowest attendance in baseball for the past like 5 years. I know they are moving but does that really open up an extra 70 million dollars in free agents
I don’t think the Marlins have the cash. All of this may just be to get the Cardinals to bid against themselves.
I doubt the Cubs or Florida really have a legit desire for Albert for the numbers being thrown around. 10 years would be a disaster for whoever hands it out.
I think Miami is serious. Loria would love to sign Pujols to a ten year deal at $23 million a year. He’d only pay the first three anyhow, before trading Pujols elsewhere.
I don’t think so, but even so Pujols becomes A-Rod and will only be traded to a big market team, who is a contender. Who would that team be? There are only a handful of teams that would take his contract. Nothing to worry about.
Jeff Loria was clearly underspending until his new downtown stadium got built. He’s also the ahole who killed the Expos, so eff him.
And we all wondered why the SEC started investigating the claims that he didn’t have any money to finance that new stadium.
Phillies need to step up their game and trade Ryan Howard to St. Louis for a bag of balls while St. Louis takes on his entire contract. ON the flip side Phillies have room to sign Pujols to play in Philly for years to come. Howard is from St. Louis so it would work out perfectly for both teams. Come on Rube! Get it done! Go Phils! Why let the Marlins destroy their franchise for years to come?
Its ashame he had to tear his achilles tendon on the last play of the season or else something like this could be very realistic.
Holy balls
Your right, the marlins payroll has increased and will stay that way. Its simple right now, wait for Pujols whatever happens. If they do get him trade Gabby Sanchez for Gio Gonzalez. They will be able to afford Pujols bcz he pays for himself. attendance at marlins games is gonna go WAY frikn’ up already.