Albert Pujols’ career has come full-circle, as the Cardinals announced Monday afternoon they’d agreed to a deal to bring him back to St. Louis. The MVP Sports Group client will reportedly be guaranteed $2.5MM. St. Louis will announce a corresponding 40-man roster move later this week.
Pujols, 42, spent the first 11 years of his career with the Cardinals, playing at an unfathomable level and enshrining himself as a future Hall of Famer. In that time, he hit 445 home runs and put up an incredible .328/.420/.617 for a wRC+ of 167. He was a key reason why the club was a continual competitor in that time, making the postseason in 7 of those 11 seasons and winning the World Series in 2006 and 2011.
Based on that otherworldly run of success, he was signed by the Angels to a ten-year, $254MM deal covering the 2012-2021 seasons. Pujols continued to hit at a level above the league average for the first five years of that deal, though a few notches below what he did as a Cardinal. From there, things only got worse, as he hit just .242/.291/.406 from 2017 to 2020, producing a wRC+ of just 84. After 24 games last year, with just a few months remaining on the contract, the Angels released him. Surprisingly, he was picked up by the Dodgers, who planned to limit the veteran slugger to a bench/platoon role, primarily facing lefties. The strategy worked out fine enough, as Pujols hit .254/.299/.460 as a Dodger, a wRC+ of 101.
The earlier report from Katie Woo of The Athletic indicated that the club was interested in bringing Pujols back for a reunion, but in a similar role to the one he had with the Dodgers last year. Now that the National League will have the designated hitter this year, it will be easier for the club to implement Pujols in this way, being used as a pinch hitter or in the DH slot, trying to limit his exposure to righties. Woo noted that that the club has traditionally shied away from platoon strategies in the past, but that new manager Oliver Marmol is planning on changing that. Paul Goldschmidt is firmly entrenched as the club’s regular first baseman, meaning Pujols will be in the mix for DH/pinch-hitting duties alongside Corey Dickerson, Lars Nootbaar and Juan Yepez.
For Yepez, he seemed poised to make the team after a tremendous year in the minors. Between Double-A and Triple-A last year, he hit .286/.383/.586, for a wRC+ of 154. Then there’s Nolan Gorman, who also spent last year between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting .279/.333/.481, wRC+ of 115. However, Woo reports that, given that Yepez is just 24 and Gorman doesn’t turn 22 until May, the club is considering a plan wherein they each spend a bit more time in the minors getting regular reps, waiting for an opportunity to open up as the season progresses.
While Yepez and Gorman will surely get their opportunities down the line, the narrative of the moment is that one of this generation’s greatest hitters is returning to where he started his career and flourished. He will also reunite with Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, long-time Cardinals who were alongside Pujols for his greatest seasons, including those two World Series championships.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Pujols and the Cardinals were finalizing a one-year deal. Katie Woo of the Athletic had first reported there was “growing interest” in the organization in bringing him back. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the sides were in agreement on a one-year, $2.5MM deal.
Cool, he can play 3b on my “All Older Than Me Team.”
When you grab the first comment but this is all you can think of
Because the first comment is always so important in life
It’s actually the first response to a comment that is essential
The machine; the man is back. The great Albert Pujols is back were he belongs in St Louis. Welcome back, Woooo.
Odd considering the amount of Cards fans on here that SWORE he wasn’t coming back when I mentioned it a few weeks ago because he didn’t make sense…..lol.
@Francys01- For one day or for the whole year? Phat Albert’s messing up all his Hall Of Fame #’s.
Still doesn’t make sense.
Other than the nostalgia factor the Cardinals could certainly find a better cheaper player in their farm system. Of course fans like the move because it’s a feel good story, one that ultimately fails.
.939 OPS vs LHP last season.
Sucked in Dominican winter ball against pitchers period.
It makes sense if he platoons against lefties…and for mentoring and marketing….why not? 😉
He’ll crush lefties and you’re missing something. It’s Yadi, Wainwright, and probably Pujols last year, why not end their careers together winning a third world series.
Because winning a World Series becomes difficult if your roster is based on nostalgia rather than present ability. And Albert in no way “crushes” lefties. He’s decent against them, but really not that great. Check out the stats.
@cosmo2….
Last year, Albert had a .294 BA and .939 OPS
against lefties…that is crushing, sir.
A. He won’t “crush” lefties. With the Dodgers, he maybe “dinged” them, no more, and he sucked even worse in Dominican winter ball.
B. He takes up a roster spot that could go to better use.
C. Win the World Series!!! ???? Make me laugh. I’m a Cards fan and I give the team 50-50 odds, no better, of just making the playoffs. (My Cards season preview blog post will be up Friday.)
“Best Fans in Baseball” strike again. …
ahh, no, that’s NOT “crushing,” and I’m a Cards fan. Seriously, stuff like this is why fans of other teams dog on the “BFIB.”
I didn’t swear he was coming back, but I sure as hell HOPED that a roster spot wouldn’t be wasted on him, AND at more than the MLB minimum to boot.
That is absolutely crushing the ball against LHP. Nick Castellanos was 6th in baseball in OPS last year with exactly .939. The 5 people in front of him are bonafide crushers (Harper, Soto, Tati, Shohei and Vlad).
Who wouldn’t want someone that hits like Castellanos v LHP? .939 v LHP was absolutely elite.
You can argue he got lucky an his true talent v LHP is not a .939 OPS. That fair. Just can’t say that .939 isn’t good (unless you want to describe it as great or excellent).
Yes he does crush lefty relievers but he hits worse than a pitcher against righties. His OPS against them last year was .500 and his OPS against LH starters was only .776. At least with last years rule change where relief pitchers have to finish the inning he would be a solid pinch hitting upgrade to most of the lineup if the opposing team puts in a lefty. If that rule change never happened he would have gotten a 1 day contract. It would have been easy for teams to pitch around him.
Think again.
Soft
Could be worse man. Over on the Guardians topics, we are being asked to coddle and let grown men vent online about a name change.
It could be even way worse. Over on random articles like this one, we are being asked to coddle and let grown men get upset and having their feelings hurt about other grown men venting online about a name change.
You can identify as whatever you desire, porkchop. That can also occur whilst acknowledging that their new name is pure rubbish. Guardians is an abhorrent name.
The only thing abhorrent, was that comment. Some of the most iconic team names are silly: Red Sox, White Sox, Dodgers, & Padres. It’s a team name that has absolutely no impact on you whatsoever, quit dragging it on. Bunch of pompous cry babies.
They should have renamed the team the Native Americans.
Did you know that “porkchop” is a derogatory term for a variety of people? There was a minor league team with that name, but they changed it when people pointed this out.
They will always be the team formerly known as the Indians to me.
Duh, a no brainer to sign this man. DH (I hate it) is perfect for him. Case closed
DH in a beer league softball team, maybe.
It’s a great name, for a childrens cartoon. Maybe a few action figures that may you can piece together to make a bigger action figure. For a baseball team though, even Kenny lofton and Albert Belle want to change the team they went into the hall under, oh never mind lofton never got in. Maybe if he had won a World Series, but to do that in the last 75 years it wouldn’t have been in Cleveland. Even Oakland fans are glad they aren’t Indian err guardian fans.
The Guardians already tried that
Sorry, we, the Angels, broke the Machine.
Nah. Given Albert started that contract at age 35 the Angels had no chance of getting good value. Had we gotten the last three years in St. Louis (his actual age 32-35 years) then lopped off his age 42-45 seasons at the end it looks much better.
But Arte believed what he wanted to believe and wasted a quarter billion.
You didn’t break anything, you just stalled it.
There are no ball players older than me. Not since Fernando Rodney pitched in the World Series.
Mine goes back to the last time Bartolo Colon waddled off the mound.
I’m finished too but with Brqdy coming back I still have the NFL.
I’m 45, he can also play on mine.
Will Smith slap me I must be dreaming
Well played.
Yeah, I thought that was an Andy Kaufman type hoax at first but it looks like that was real. Probably wasn’t the first time Chris Rock was slapped over a joke.
It can be both. Will Smith actually slapped Chris Rock, but it was staged. Rock seemed to be leaning into it and preparing for impact.
The Academy gets publicity
Will Smith looks like a good husband. I guess. To some people.
Chris Rock gets publicity for his upcoming tour, and he can say people are too sensitive.
Or not, it might have not been staged.
Im guessing it was real based on what was said in the acceptance speech. It wasn’t out of character for either of those guys. Will Smith has some crazy in him and Chris Rock has been a jagoff.
That was 100% real anger when he twice screamed at Rock.
Jada Pinkett ain’t dying of cancer. She has a vanity ailment called alopecia. If a person can choose the worst thing that could affect you, it would be near the top.
Will Smith wanted to look big and bad in reaction (or contrived reaction, he heard the joke during rehearsals the day before) to a 5 second joke comparing Jada to the Demi Moore role that was incredibly empowering to women. Wow what a terrible thing…
He’s lucky Chris Rock doesn’t want to blow things up even more by suing him or filing police charges.
The Oscars ratings had been plummeting since the turn of the century. In 2021 it reached an all time low.
They needed publicity. It was staged. Smith had already heard the joke in rehearsals as MANY people have already said.
I guarantee more people will watch next year and both Smith and Rock will be back.
Chris Rock should have come back out later in one of those oversized neck collar braces.
Just in Will Smith to star in Kevin Smith’s long awaited hockey film, Hit Somebody.
Great bambini: well played, sir. Well played!
Hit me with a rock
Keep will smith out of this
the picher or the catcher?
Will Smith sucks he should be banned from their Oscars
Shut up Geno Smith
Give him a break. That was his first hit in years.
They should all get together like Spiderman and randomly slap people.
Why? He went yard 25 times.
Will Smith just became a target for every late night host and comedian. If he no sells the comment, cancel culture goes after Chris Rock and rock looks bad. Now Smith, looks terrible and he becomes a target in public with anyone who wants to become a millionaire.
Why don’t we keep the People magazine celebrity crap out of MLBTR…?
I’m excited to see Albert Pujols play again in Cardinals uniform! Was such a monster from 01-11, the best pure hitter I’ve ever seen
Will, I’m here to Rock your world
Lol what is happening? Get pitching
home – at last
Yahoo!!!
Whooo hooo!
When is MLB implementing the designated runner?
Isn’t thats what’s called pinch running?
No, I was thinking someone to run to first base for him. MLB has implemented all kinds of stupid rules lately, and now they have player-specific rules. So why not? Pujols still makes contact with the bat.
This is for the tender footed, called the “design runner”. They must be dressed & have appropriate make up.
Babe Ruth had a designated runner towards the end of his career.
No he didn’t. The was a BS myth perpetrated by the fictional 1992 film “The Babe”. 95% of that film is pure fiction. Was Ruth pinch ran by Sammy Byrd late in games? Yes. Did Ruth have Designated Runner with the Braves? No.
I bet people who make stuff up like this have hated the internet for years. Since everyone started carrying phones I get called out on my BS a lot more. I bet these are the people that started the not everything you read on the internet is real argument.
Courtesy runners definitely existed. Maybe George didn’t use one. But others did.
Prettt cool. Hope he helps the team.
Good for him, last dance
lol
Never should have left.
Cards are lucky he did.
They spent that money on the real MVP, Yadier Molina
All is right in the world again.
Good to see him go back to where it all started.
As a hitter?
If it’s not an overpay I like it. Their bench was bad the last couple of years. If he hits 230 and 15 homers that’s an upgrade from what they were doing.
$2.5 million. Not bad if he hits double digit HR’s.
It is if it comes with a .650 OPS
Platoon DH…
Last year, against lefties, he had a .294 BA and .939 OPS. For $2.5 million? What’s so hard to understand?
The Cardinals have struggled against left handed pitching last few years to me its a no brainer
YYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS
Just retire already. I love how teams pretend like Pujols still offers any value as a player. You want him for leadership? Ask him to retire and ask him to help coach. Pujols is god awful. It was time to hang it up half a decade ago, if not more.
Pujols still crushes left hand pitching so he has value as a designated hitter and a pinch hitter against lefties. Look at his usage with the Dodgers last year
He can still hit lefties, but last years numbers don’t say “crush”.
Pujols had a .939 OPS against lefties last year. I’d say the word “crush” is appropriate
True, but his underlying metrics don’t exactly scream repeat. A 50% groundball rate and a 31.7% HR/FB ratio? If that profile sticks I doubt he has anywhere near the same year against lefties. And his pitiful baserunning is likely going to sap whatever value he may have.
Of course, he’s just a bench guy and the marketing alone probably makes this signing worth it. It just wouldn’t surprise me if he’s merely pretty good against lefties.
Downvote
Upvote the downvote
I upvote the upvote to the downvote. He still crushes lefties and is probably near another milestone. Which is probably part of the reason it happened.
Tell me you don’t watch baseball without telling me you don’t watch baseball.
You obviously haven’t seen his platoon splits. He’s a left killer. He also brings intangibles to the game. It’s not like they paid him big money either. This move is proper for his last year.
InTaNgIbLeS. GoOd ClUbHoUsE gUy.
Crushes lefties to the tune of 146 wRC+ in 2021. But ya, even with a shiny new DH spot, HeS tOtAlLy UnUsAbLe AnD wOrThLeSs
Oh, wow. What team couldn’t use that?! I’m sure there was an all out bidding war for his services.
Or maybe they probably started out those very people you’re criticizing. Hiflew also thought Ian Desmond was a good deal for the Rockies so just mute him everyone.
Per Cardinals beat writer Katie Woo, there were at least four other teams vying for his services, but he wanted to come back to St. Louis. So ya, I think I will trust the people paid to evaluate MLB talent moreso than a random person on MLBTR message board lol
Definitely an upgrade over Matt Carpenter.
Dig deeper in his splits and the picture is a yes-and-no. According to Baseball Reference, against LH starters, he batted was .258 with an OPS of .776 and with eight homers. No exactly crushing. AgainstLH relievers, it was a different story. His average was .667 (8 for 12) with five homers. Definitely crushing.
Or maybe…just maybe…these guys running big league franchises know more about baseball than someone with a Fangraphs subscription and a championship or two on OOTP.
.254/.299/.460/.759 overall and .294/.336/.603/.939 vs LHP. That is real value with the bat. Its too bad that you have all that hate and no common sense.
Look at his splits going back several years against lefties. His numbers are hardly impressive outside of 2021. Moreover, a 50% groundball rate and a 31.7% HR/FB ratio are not conducive to having anywhere near the same year power-wise (for reference, the latter would put him 3rd on the MLB leaderboard by a fair margin)
Not a terrible signing for the marketing/off chance he repeats, but I would put money down on him not being significantly worse against lefties this year (say, a bit above average) with his poor baserunning killing whatever value he may have on the field.
In an era when most teams build for the future, the Cardinals continue to insist that building for yesterday is the way to go. That roster spot could have gone to a younger, better player, but the Cards decided they’d rather pursue ticket and merchandise revenue.
I doubt a young player would be well-served getting 10-15 ABs a week.
I said younger. So, you know, anybody under 40. But someday soon, a more qualified player is going to get called into the manager’s office and told that he’s going to AAA, and I’m sure he’ll really appreciate the chance for more minor league at bats, and I’m sure the Cardinals will win more games because of it.
OK InherentVice…….
Most ML teams use between 22-26 position players on their roster in a season. Any “qualified” position player under 40 in the Cardinals organization that is near the major leagues will get chances in 2022.
As for bringing in a living legend of St. Louis baseball…..
Now I understand that what I wrote above won’t impress you or all the others making fun of the the man, but it does in the adult world of MLB. Albert Pujols is what he is – a first ballot Hall Of Famer with a bit left to help a team in a limited role for one season. I’ll tell you who that does impress: players on the Cardinals roster starting with Yadi, Wainwright, Goldschmidt, and Arenado – who could give a crap about some guy under 40 that can’t make a 13-14 man position player roster on his own.
This signing jacks up the city of St. Louis and Cardinals fans around the world, They will be going all out to win in 2022; and not because some guy under 40 gets 100-150 AB’s.
I’m a Brewer rooter (among other teams) and look forward to the competition in 2022 between those two superior teams. It’ll be fun for me to watch. It’s great for MLB and MLB fans.
There’s an old front office saying: If you think like a fan, soon you’ll be sitting with them. Bringing Pujols back is a nice a story, but I prefer stories that end with a team winning a championship, not competing for second place in the worst division in MLB. No matter how “impressed” they are, all the players you named have their best years behind them, and adding a lead weight like Pujols is only going to sink the ship faster.
Lets say you bring in the “younger guy” that hits maybe 240 and 15 hr as a primary pinch hitter / platoon dh / and maybe play the field once a week. instead of Pujols. What will this accomplish? stunting someones growth from the minor leagues as they may get 10 – 15 at bats a week as mentioned above? This spot is tailor made for guy like pujols, nelson cruz, etc etc. They will not cost a ton, be happy in a rolethat wont take a huge toll on their body and maybe extend their career an extra year or two.
In this case, i think this is a last hurrah for Wainwright, Molina, and Pujols. As you said before, “If you think like a fan, soon you’ll be sitting with them..” They are not thinking like a fan this is more a business move, Do you think the advertising of Molina, Wainwright, and bringing in of “random younger guy” will bring in more people to the stadium , sell more jerseys , etc etc that will bring in more revenue which is what ownership wants. Or do you think the last last hurrah of 3 legendary players of your team competing towards their last another championship 2 of which were key pieces to winning your last world series. .
Lets also not forget Pujols is not that far off from hitting his 700th career homerun. The revenues that will bring in towards the end of the season if he is close will be nuts. It is not outrageous to think he could reach it since he needs 21 and hit 17 last year as a backup 1b and starting 50 games. The next closest is in the 500 hr range in Miggy who is 38 so it will probably be a long time before we see anything like this again.
However much it might pain Cardinals fans, at 2.5 million if you need to you can cut him, or bench him or use him in blowouts only or transition him to a coaching position.
Samuel you cheer for a lot of teams but it never biases you, respect.
Reminds us what many of us don’t want to be reminded of: MLB is entertainment. Whether you think the signing makes StL more competitive or not, it is hard to dispute that this is a good marketing move, a fan favorite. Farewell tour for Pujols, Yadi and Wainwright, should draw in lots of fans.
Mozaliak “sitting with fans” let me laugh about that for a few moments? All Mozeliak has done is win? Give me a gm with a better track record over the last 15 years?
Boo
The Cardinals have been to the playoffs in 15 of the last 21 seasons and have won two World Series in that span (with only one losing season). Maybe we shouldn’t be questioning their approach as they’re one of the most successful franchises in the game over the last two decades.
Amen one of the most successful teams in the last 25 years for sure. I am elated my sons are elated and now my grandsons can see the legend actually play for the St Louis Cardinals. Cardinal fans everywhere share my excitement this morning. This is a great day!
I got to see Al Kaline play at the end of his career, and having never seen him at his prime, and mostly as a DH, came away thinking he sucked. I’m doubtful your grandsons will consider him a Legend from what they see, sadly.
He’s already a legend for what he’s accomplished. They will be thrilled as will I.
Well, it *is* primarily a business. Whether we as fans want it to be considered as such is another matter, but the owners sure do.
He’s 21 HRs from 700. With the DH rule, he may actually get the plate appearances to get close this year.
That sells tickets. That sells merchandise. Cards don’t need him in my opinion, but it’s those ‘feel good’ storylines that has benefits beyond the box scores.
It is a big business jersey sales and nostalgic fans will come to just see him swing a couple times and now after this year it will be him and Greinke on the HOF ballot in 2027
Two ways to look at it.
What younger player on the Cardinals roster had a .759 OPS overall and .939 OPS vs LHP? None.
What younger player would have sold more tickets than Pujols? None.
What younger player can hit RHP’s better than Pujols? All.
What arm do most pitchers throw with? Right.
What younger player can field better than Pujols? All.
What smart, analytically inclined GM signs guys because “They’ll sell tickets?” None.
“Because they’ll sell tickets”
John Mozeliak: hold my Budwieser
“That roster spot could have gone to a younger, better player, but the Cards decided they’d rather pursue ticket and merchandise revenue.”
As they probably should with that roster spot. What are we talking about in terms of WAR added here? .5 at most? I’ll take the marketing, thanks.
Pujols was worth negative WAR last year, he was over 100 before -.06 last year
Good for him. Don’t expect much of him but you never know. To see him have one last OK season as a Card would be pretty cool.
Welcome back to St.Louis Albert. After all the labor nonsense putting a damper on things Baseball needed a nice story going in to the new season and the Albert/Yadi/Waino farewell tour may just be the “feel good” story the game needs
It will be even better if they make the playoffs. Now all they need is more pitching.
Cardinals also announced they will be adding more handicap spaces in the player’s parking lot.
Salty
lel
Ugh
Nice, it’ll be big fun to see his homecoming in STL…
As a baseball fan, I’m very happy to see Pujols back in STL. Going out with Yadi and Wainwright makes a great story. As a Pirate fan, I’m dreading facing him. Doesn’t matter how old he is. He will hit multiple home runs off Pirates pitchers this year.
GO BIG AL!
It’s a homecoming! Good for him and Cards fans.
I couldn’t be more happy! All the ingredients are now in place for a magical season!
2022! Bring us one more World Series boys!
Holding out the faintest of hope that they’ll make a move for Manaea as well.
Agree 100%, I hear they need a 1B…. Yepez is perfect in a trade package.
After adding pujols, and with Wainwright, molina and pujols likely retiring(I think if pujols is close to 700 without being over he may play another season) they may make some last minute trades to maybe go out on top. I love them bringing him back, but they need some pitchers badly if they really want to go out on top
Welcome Back Albert! At least you’ll be uograde over what matt carpenter did last 3 years anyway!
A stale wheat loaf is worth more than no bat Matt
Thanks to the dh this man never has to touch a glove again
I wonder if that makes sense from a roster construction aspect.
Pujols was still good against lefties last year (930 ops or so) but he was super bad against righties and can’t run or field.
Do you want to waste a roster spot on a short side platoon DH who starts 1-2 times a week and gets a few more PH opportunities on top of that?
Many teams nowadays don’t even carry a big side platoon or full time DH and instead rotate multi position guys though DH to keep extra roster spots for extra relievers so carrying a short side platoon DH/pinch hitter who can’t do anything else seems like an anachronism in an age where teams prefer to have short benches with multi position guys to carry extra pitchers.
Roster construction? 1 year for 2.5 million is going to bring in much more than what they spend. It’s just a good business decision, leads to positive press, and the feeling that something magical can happen this year for all the optimists out there.
Your thinking is spot on though.
I think their primary DH is projected to be Dickerson who has platoon splits. His career OPS is .708 off LHP as opposed to .845 against RHP, so if you’re able to support that with Pujols’ .939 OPS off lefties last year, so you end up with 2 different mediocre players combining to be one good DH.
Another way of thinking of it is you’re getting about the same production as Nelson Cruz, but for half the salary and it costs you 2 roster spots. It’s definitely an upgrade in one very specific area, so I think it could be worth it.
It definitely is a productive situation but it also means you basically have two roster spots for DH (dickerson can play Of in a pinch but not great).
I’m not against platooning DH but keeping a short side platoon guy at DH who might get 250-300 PAs seems like a waste of a spot that could stress the rest of the roster
Sure Dickerson isn’t as good of an OF as what we got but he won GG in 2018. I don’t think it would take a pinch to start him a game out there.
28 man roster provides more flexibility for Pujols than the old 25
28 is only for a month, though. 26 will be the rest of the year.
However, that 26th spot being open is what allows this. With a 25 man no team keeps 2 DH’s.
Maybe Atlanta will sign Freddie in 2028?
Pujols bobblehead day will be on Aug 21 and is sponsored by Geritol
Jerseys sponsored by Aspercreme
you can never go home, but we’ll see
Why not? Last year his average exit velocity was 90.3. Correa’s was 90.2. Albert and Bryan Reynolds had the same 7.1 Barrels per Plate Appearance.
The Cardinals don’t need a nostalgia draw to fill the seats because they’ve had among the best attendance for at least the last decade, I think second only to the Dodgers. But the home crowd will love it anyway. And, like Van Morrison said:
“Now all you got to remember
After all, it’s just show biz.”
Interesting points, didn’t know that about Phat Albert! I assumed watching him the ball was being hit well but not *that* well
Arte Moreno just offered 10 years, 200 mil.
Now just use him effectively and don’t let him flail in front of the fans.
hes not retiring for 1 reason,
he needs 21 home runs to reach 700, a MAGICAL number that will be amazing to watch just as a baseball fan, i hope he gets it and im glad hes where he belongs, to this day the angels deal NEVER made sense because the teams were always so bad, 10 years- no playoffs past the first round, i wont lie i would have loved him teeing off the green monster,
and the chris rock thing was not staged, did you see will smith? he was LIVID, generally pist, that wasnt an act, i also found the fact that chris rock whos last movie was… 2000? ya, doesnt seem like he should have been at the biggest night for movies. Like you have Anthony Hopkins then Chris rock.. lol.
Chris Rock has been in over 30 movies and in three just last year, He’s also produced and directed movies. Do you think he doesn’t know how to do a staged slap? Not saying tonight’s was staged, but just saying. They’re both actors.
Wait I thought Will Smith hit a home run off Will Smith and they were both Caucasian males? Neither were actors at all
i hope/wish st Louis plays in boston this year, id love to see him in person, even as a DH
You’re getting your wish. June 17-19 at Fenway.
Signing a 52 year old to sell tickets.
Scenario 1) hitting .179 with 3 dingers and retires to a packed house hot night in July in St louie,
Scenario 2) hits 240 with 22 dingers… reaches 700 plus…retires a hero
Scenario 3) same 240 but 15/17 dingers. .decent enough he feels to .hang on for 2023 for 700… a cardinal again? gotta be
which will it be?
Probably will retire when the roster size shrinks unless he’s productive.
.221 with 7 hr and 32 rbi .272 obp
I’m hoping for 2 but 3 seems more likely
Who said there was no romance in baseball ?
Not a bad deal at all but I wouldn’t expect much.
It’s going to be some kind of awkward if the Cards end up releasing him during the season. That’s always the down side to these coming back home stories…
It would most likely be a retirement rather than a release.
For $2.5M, I highly doubt they’d release him. It would be bad optics. Fine for any other team, but not for the Cards.
He won’t be released he’ll go on the “injured list”.
This means that Freeman will retire a Brave at the end of 2028.
He’s 21 HRs shy of 700 for his career. It would be amazing if he’s able to get enough at bats in St. Louis this year to reach that amazing milestone! I’d like to think Albert played the game cleanly and will be a first ballot hall-of-famer. Great sign of respect by St. Louis to re-sign him. Let’s hope it pays off with at least 21 HRs. St. Louis is all in on their star veterans this year (Waino, Yadi & Pujols). I’d love to see them carry this team into October somehow.
awsome,
i remember when barry bonds played here and just the sheer excitement, like actually SEEING in person how good he is, same with griffey, although to a lesser extent, boston played seattle alot, so it wasnt that uncommon, my favorite player has and always will be McGuire, never saw him play here in boston, but years ago i was lucky enough to see him with St Louis play the mets, dude hit 3 home runs in that game, epic night
@Amanda I was lucky enough to see McGwire and Griffey go off in that Home Run Derby in ’99! McGwire’s hits to the mass pike were a sight to see.
Steroids, schmeroids, taters are cool!
dont be surprised if pujols the veteran leader gets his team into october, just look at the david ortiz and the 2013 red sox, good team, not great, they just wanted it more than anyone else, plus last year they already made the playoffs. Still not sure why they fired their manager
They don’t have the pitching to win. It’s the epitome of mediocre and that’s even with an injury prone regressing Jack Flaherty at the top of the rotation. Wainwright defies all odds and will give them innings but those other guys are bleh. They need to add another SP or two.
Don’t talk about my wife!
“The load catcher of the entire rap community?” Is how Rock should’ve responded.
Good Deal!!!!!
Now let’s trade for a #1 or #2 starting pitcher!!!
Then—- NL CHAMPS——- here we come!!!
yeah, he is 47 year old!
Good move. The Cardinals will need a diversion while they’re out of contention from the lack of pitching.
Look Pujols will DH against LH pitching. If it wasn’t for the DH coming to the NL, I don’t think that this signing happens. It’s only right that he finishes his career where it all started. He’s one of the greatest players ever. He’s definitely on the Mount Rushmore of players, because he was good defensively also. It’s only right that the 3 greatest Cardinals of this generation Pujols Wainwright and Molina walk off into the sunset together. This is going to be a season to remember here in St. Louis. Let’s go Cardinals!!!
Jack Clark wanted 2yrs and a no trade.
Not even a St. Louis fan, but I was hoping he’d sign back there so he could retire as a Cardinal. Just feels right.
Done strictly for PR & an eye to increased attendance.
Yeah because Cardinals struggle with attendance…….
Back where it started. This deal is more than just paying for talent.
All this while Gardy remains unsigned?! BLASPHEMY!
Ron Gardenhire can’t hit HRs anymore.
Sort of a feel good return to your roots type of move like the Royals and Zack Greinke. I would say Greinke has more left in the tank though.
Congrats from a Cubs fan. Hope either gets booed or cheered his first at bat back at Wrigley but can’t wait to see him get K’d by Hendricks.
Pujols always slayed @ Wrigley. You just know he’s gonna hit bombs there, especially against overrated Hendricks. Kyle actually has pitches Albert can catch up to.
Sure when he was in his 20’s. Simple changeup with elevated 4-seamer and Albert has, in the words of Kap, NO CHANCE.
This super-villain probably earner a standing ovation in his last Wrigley AB from the Chicago faithful, we appreciate the rivalry. Yadi can disappear for 10 years and come back and get one too.
A nice story in March, but one that could turn ugly come June.
I don’t know. I would like to believe that his experience and approach would run off on the younger players. Not to mention, the reunion just having his clubhouse presence and pitcher knowledge can only be a positive. If Albert chose to, I think he could have a heck of a second career as a hitting coach.
Yeah, here’s the problem with these types of grand finale stories. Say he hits 10 or even 15 homers, he’s going to want to come back again next year. He’s not committing to leaving after this year & why would he. $2.5M at 42?
Or, the other side of the problem. He’s hitting .160 with 5 HRs come June, not providing production when he DH’s, has no defensive value, on a team expected to contend. The Angels can cut Pujols, but the Cardinals won’t. Would he do like A-Rod and “retire” midseason? If not, yeah, things can get ugly.
Besides the nostalgia, it is worth mentioning a Pujols/Dickerson platoon could be somewhat effective. Pujols hit .294/.336 against LHP, and Dickerson .277/.330 against RHP last season.
Cardinals, only team in baseball with a combination of 3 guys who total 100 years old.
I will say, they are still pretty effective.
CubFanForever – “Cardinals only team in baseball with a combination of 3 guys who total 100 years old.”
You might want to check your math. It doesn’t take much for a team to have 3 guys add up to 100 years old. You probably meant 120 years old.
Also after a quick google search, the Mets are older than the Cardinals.
I would say at least half of the teams have three guys that total 100 years, more than likely almost all teams do
Is Pujols good for a 42 year old? Yes
Is Pujols $2.5 million dollars good? No
The amount of Cards fans talking about how he’s good against lefties and he’s a locker room influence is bologna. Finding a right hander who can hit lefties is very easy. Pujols can’t be relied on to play 1b. He’s even slower than when he left. I love Albert but I think the cards did this out of opportunity rather than anything else
It IS a business. I don’t think the last guy on the roster is going to make or break their season no matter who it is.
And as they should. Allow this class act to take his victory lap, retire and be inducted into the Hall as a Cardinal. Respect to the Cardinals organization for this move. What an incredible career he has had. We may never see run production on the back of a baseball card like his ever again. I’m happy for Mr. Pujols that he gets this opportunity.
I have nothing against Albert, but why do we always call him a class act? Right now he’s hanging on taking a roster spot from somebody so he can get his career numbers. He didn’t leave the Cardinals because he wanted to do some great deed, he left because of greed just like most everyone else would.
Albert’s charity work is tremendous. He routinely meets up with kids/families before games with no media around. His fellow players like and respect him.
Yes he was greedy and yes he lies about his age, but there’s a ton to like about Albert as well.
Okay, I got to tip my cap if he’s doing above and beyond
One more season in St. Louis then retired at 45 years old – enjoy. Proper thing.
Feels right. Hope he goes out strong.
In 2021 Albert produced 17 homers and 50 rbi in fewer than 300 official at bats. If a 22 year old has these numbers he’s a phenom! It’s amazing how perceptions change.
The short season in 2020, along with the lockout this year, may have given his body the break it needed to hopefully get two more years out of his career and 700 homeruns. He’d probably need more at bats than he’s going to receive this season alone. That’s a number we may never witness again because players today, with all the modern medicine, training techniques and data (that’s sarcasm), can’t produce into their 40’s as position players.
On top of that, with the emphasis on fly balls, launch angles and hitting homeruns, players just don’t get on base for the run producers like they did 20 years ago. If not for Albert’s foot problems, his numbers may have argued that he was one of the five most productive hitters in the history of the game.
If you’ve never done it, click on his name link above and just marvel at his games played, runs scored, total bases, rbi and batting average. He’s legendary, almost mythical, and most fans east of Ohio only had glimpses of him. Personally, I will stand and do the slow clap as he rounds the bases for #700.
Will all 3 retire at the end of 2022 season, that is the big question. Great to see Albert back as a St Louis Cardinal. Somehow I don’t think Freeman will get the same opportunity as an Atlanta Brave…
Yes. The bigger question is will all 3 play the whole year. I see 2 if not all 3 spending quite a bit of time on the injured list this year.
I can bet he’s announcing his retirement soon.
It feels right, and it’s a great story, but I don’t have confidence in Pujols ability to produce. I also don’t think the Cards are really a team that needs a better clubhouse leader or anything like that, but still it should be fun.
Cardinals can sell those Wainwright/Molina/Pujols Retirement Tour tickets now. Good business deal in the form of increased tickets and merchandise.
Signing him is Okay, being reluctant to release him if does not produce could be the problem. I hope it all works out, but I have my doubts. Yepez is waiting at Memphis and should be getting regular ABs so let it play out and enjoy the buzz.
He won’t be released. They will just put him on the injured list until the last week of the season so he can retire a Cardinal.
Not if he wants to play. He wanted to start in Anaheim which caused some issues.
If he was on a non contender he definitely wanted to start. He didn’t want to sit on the bench as the team lost. He had no problem being a bench player on the Dodgers because they were winning and were a possible World Series team.
@Tdat1979 Thanks for that distinction. Good call.
Slightly cynical take: Bring in Albert, delay the service time for Yepez and Gorman, and if either turn out to be even an average player, the $2.5M you’ve saved on Albert will be more than worthwhile.
Gorman doesn’t look to be ready yet and Yepez has not impressed either.
If Gorman is going to move to 2nd permanently he probably needs some more time in the minors.
Maybe Nootbaar can go to Oakland in a Manaea package.
I would rather it be Sosa. Donovan looks like he can replace Sosa without too much of a change in ability and he can play even more positions than Sosa.
None of the young guys have shined much (albeit, small sample) this spring. I think that is driving this, to some extent.
Still a good baseball decision.
Platoon DH…
Last year, against lefties, he had a .294 BA and .939 OPS. For $2.5 million.
Arte is checking his watch for Albert to start his 10 year personal services contract.
I really hope he gets at least 21 Home Runs this year and gets to 700. It would be sad if he fell just shy and retired at the end of the year, especially since the COVID shortened 2020 season could’ve been an opportunity to get tack on more for his total. Wonderful career though, and if this is his last year, I hope he goes out with a bang.
Hey Dolans – if you wanted to put people in the stands, this is what you should have done. He’d be a hell of a lot better option than Bobby Bradley at 1st.
Pujols has no business playing first ever again. He’s a boat anchor and they need a crane to roll him out to first. Pujols honestly should be retired from the game., he does nothing well anymore other than hit lefties and no short side platoon defensively deficient player ever makes a roster. But Pujols does and for his career maybe he deserves it, but for any other team other than St.Louis it would be senseless to add him. It’s close to senseless for them, but I get the PR move and giving a Cardinals icon a chance to go out right.
With a roster expanded by another two spots this year, this doesn’t make any sense. Even if “no short side platoon defensively deficient player ever makes a roster” was true (which it’s not), they now have 28 roster spots, three more than the traditional 25 in the past. It’s NEVER made more sense than this year.
Pujols hit.254/.299/.460/.759 overall with the Dodgers and .294/.336/.603/.939 vs LHP for the season.
There is a DH. Pujols can still hit.
It makes sense from both a PR and a hitting perspective.
Kwolk, you should probably retire from commenting.
Pujols hit.254/.299/.460/.759 overall with the Dodgers and .294/.336/.603/.939 vs LHP for the season. VS LHP he was an elite hitter.
84 away from breaking bonds record have to wonder. Hope he has an amazing year some how and hits 30 home runs and keeps going he hit 17 last year so not out of the question but unlikely
Not happening. He’s 42 and fading. He’ll bat against lefty pitchers, the short side of the platoon. Be nice if he made it to 700, but that’ll take a couple seasons. This will be his final year.
Future Cardinals hitting coach
Man are the cardinal fans brainwashed.
Platoon DH…
Last year, against lefties, he had a .294 BA and .939 OPS. For $2.5 million? What’s so hard to understand?
As a Cardinal and just pure baseball fan, I think it’s a good thing. He’s not coming in as a savior or the last missing piece to the World Series. This is what it is, a PR ticket selling move, sure. Maybe he get hot and pops a few, to me that is worth the good feelings he’ll bring to the games. That last time of Albert, Wainwright, and Molina together will be something to see. Worst case scenario, he can’t hit all anymore and sits on the bench as an extra coach.
A 146 wRC+ against lefties in 2021 is still elite level production – as long as he is used in the correct scenarios.
At the risk of the obvious, so good.
Would’ve been a nice addition to platoon with Anthony Rizzo at 1B on the Yankees
So much for my lockout prediction: “Angels sign Albert Pujols to $100 million one-day contract for retirement ceremony”
I don’t really understand people dumping on this move. First, I don’t think it hurts the team – might not help, either, but I don’t think it really moves the needle either way. But more to the point, seeing the careers of generational talent and players who have been important to your team is part of being a fan. There has to be more to watching the team season in and season out than just expecting championships. Even if the Cards went all in, blew up the budget, signed all the top FA’s, traded the farm for All-Stars, they’d still have probably, at best, a 20-ish% chance of winning it all. The Dodgers have been the most successful franchise in baseball for the past decade and they have one fake championship to show for it.
I was too young to see Ozzie Smith in his heyday but I still have fond memories of seeing him in the early ’90s, including his last (or penultimate) Opening Day when I was 7 or 8. If the Cards have enough health in their pitching staff I think they’ll make the playoffs, which gives them a shot at a title. But it’s going to be a memorable season no matter what happens.
You’re not wrong. It was tough seeing my team (Phillies) part with some of their great core in 2013-2016. I’d argue that kept them too long in the first place, but as a fan you’d love to see them in the uniform one last time.
And in this case, they DIDN’T keep Pujols too long. One year for negligible payroll as a pinch-hitter isn’t a big deal.
It’s the modern day version of Mr. 3000
There’s a typo in the article. Pujols is 45, not 42 years old.
There is a typo in your comment. Pujols is 42. That you still believe the conspiracy theories about his age shows your gullibility.
Good for him.
This will be nice. A nice reunion with Pujols and fans get to say their goodbyes to a Cardinals HOF’er
To (bleep) with the haters that think it’s not optimal for team success or something
Wish these old rich guys would just retire with dignity and class.
Maybe the greatest money grab in St. Louis History!
Welcome home Prince Albert. So good to see you with the Birds on the Bat again.
This is a great signing. Pujols comes home to finish his career. Great PR and we know that people will buy tickets and come out to the park to see him on his farewell tour. Now that there is a DH in the NL he will platoon at DH.
He showed last season with the Dodgers that he is still a decent hitter, especially against LHP. .254/.299/.460/.759 overall and .294/.336/.603/.939 vs LHP.
There is no downside to this deal.
good for him,and good for the cards …puts butts in the seats and he finishes where he started
This gets the band together, and it will look like the Genesis reunion tour that just concluded.
Nice gesture…dumb baseball move signing a DH guy that can’t even ops+ above 100 anymore.
Platoon DH…
Last year, against lefties, he had a .294 BA and .939 OPS. For $2.5 million? What’s so hard to understand?
I hate this organization with a passion but I like this move. Albert is a class act, unlike the pompous catcher and 90% of the fans, and it will be good to see him back home. Of course he’ll hit .211 and be a roadblock to the few decent minor leaguers they have and that’s great too.
Yadi is the nicest hardest greatest team player the Cardinals have ever had. You call him pompous I call him confident. One of the greatest catcher the game has ever seen.
A+++ 2.5 million in advertising couldn’t come close to the positive pr and revenue this move will bring. They got him for free. Actually making money off this deal.
This is just round 1. Pujols will have another pitiful year while ending the season short of 700 career HRs. Look for Nostalgia Tour Season 2: The Quest for 700 to hit theaters next April. The same Stockholm Syndrome suffering Redbird fans will be back advocating for just one more taste.
Platoon DH…
Last year, against lefties, he had a .294 BA and .939 OPS. For $2.5 million? What’s so hard to understand?
Time to retire.
still hammers lefties
With the new DH in the NL (gag) he is a fair fit for DH platoon and back up 1b.
I’m rooting for 3k hits and 700HR.
Welcome home “El Hombre”! The concerns and statistical reasonings of all the posters panning this signing are legitimate. However, it’s Albert Pujols! There aren’t a lot of comparable story lines to be found throughout the history of baseball. Especially considering the presence of Molina and Wainright and their ability to all ride off into the sunset together. For all the other arguments, I say this: The fate of the Cardinals season won’t be determined by the success or failure of the 26th or 28th man on the roster. This is a good team. They were a good team before Pujols signed. They are still a good team with him on board. Let’s get this season underway! All the arguments will be settled on the field. Let’s go Cards!
A lot of St. Louis fan are happy about this. It’s going to be so great when they realize he’s been terrible for the last six years and the world’s worst fan base starts shouting racial slurs at him.
Keeping a rookie from making the team.