The Absolutly Premature Albert Pujols Talk

by mariangaborik10 on Oct 10, 2009 9:09 PM EDT

With the Sox on the verge of elimination to the Angels most are looking towards 2010. Albert Pujols unfortuntly isn't
one of the free agents on the market. He has 2years on his St. Louis contract (2011 is a club option) that will pay him 16million per year. In 2012 he will almost certainly recieve "A-Rod" money in the 30million per range. Well the Cards won't let Pujols leave without a fight it's almost certain they wouldn't be able to pay him A-Rod money. Some think Pujols would take a "home town discount" to stay with the Cards. But if the Card can only offer 24million per (That's being extremly generous) and a big market team is offering 33mil, who do you really think Pujols would take?

Of course everyone assumes the MFY would be the main team involved in going after Pujols. Not so fast! The Yankees can afford alot but at that point they'd be paying Texieria (22.5 mil per), A-Rod (29mil in 2012), Sabathia (23mil per), Jeter (Expected to be making maybe 16mil. He's not worth that much but the Yankees won't let the Captain get away), Bay/Holliday (20mil). At some point they won't be able to pay A-Rod money even for a guy like Pujols.

Plus A-Rod and Texieria play the only positions he's ever played unless they DHed him.

You gotta think that would leave Boston as the front runner in 2012 for Albert Pujols. Even assuming a big deal for Beckett/Halladay next year and Bay/Holliday this year the Sox would have plenty of room for a big contract thanks to signing Pedroia and Youkilis cheap. Well other teams like the Angels and Dodgers would be involved Boston would probally be able to offer the most money

All I know is a potential 2012 lineup looks pretty good(I know it's ridicoulous to guess a lineup for 3 years with trades/ineffectiveness ect. but this is a decent guess IMO.

CF- Ellsbury

2B- Pedroia

1B- Pujols

3B- Youkilis

LF- Bay/Holliday

C- Martinez?

DH- ?????

SS- Casey Kelly???

RF- Josh Reddick???

Could anyone match that lineup? (And yes I am worried about the failure of Henry and co. to pull the trigger on big deals. See: A-Rod and Texieria)

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Pujols spent a lot of time in right and left field his first three years in the majors

He was a slightly below average outfielder, if I recall correctly. I’d bet the MFY would be thrilled to have him instead of Damon or Swisher as long as his elbow holds up, but I doubt he’ll leave St. Louis. By all accounts his family is there, and they left New York for Missouri when he was a kid because New York was too violent. I know New York has cleaned up a bit, but that kind of thing leaves lasting memories. I think his wife’s family is also from Missouri.

Besides, he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who has to make more money than anyone else. He’s always seemed to me to be the kind of player who is more concerned with playing the game as well as he can than having the biggest contract. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he stayed there at a substantial discount and avoided the MFY like the plague.

by RSNexile on Oct 11, 2009 2:21 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Pujols spent a lot of time in right and left field his first three years in the majors

True Pujols did play LF in 2002 and 2003 (He’s actually played more games in the OF than at 3rd) however you gotta wonder if they’d want him there when they could DH him especially with their potential 2012 Outfielders: Melky, Gardner, Austin Jackson, Holliday/Bay.

I also agree that he doesn’t seem as greedy as A-Rod but I could see him leaving if the gap was big enoguh.

Still I definatly could see him signing w/St. Louis for a couple mil more than what Texieria got (24mil maybe) because Ido think he genuinly likes playing in St. Louis

by mariangaborik10 on Oct 11, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions