Ever since Albert Pujols entered the final year of his current contract, the St. Louis Cardinals knew the day was coming when they had to decide to pay him huge money or let him walk.
On Tuesday, sources claim Pujols will impose a February 16 deadline – the day he arrives in Jupiter, FL at the Cardinals spring training facility – to end contract negotiations with the club to avoid distractions.
Despite what Pujols may believe, his contract will be a constant distraction throughout the season if he doesn’t come to terms with the Cards on a new deal.
He may not want to discuss it, but the media will. Everybody who follows sports will be talking about it, including President Obama.
From the February 16 deadline until the September 28 season finale against the Houston Astros, the distractions surrounding Pujols’ contract will be the focal point of every reporter in every city the Cardinals play in this season.
What’s really sad is how ill-prepared Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt and GM John Mozeliak appear to be in handling the negotiations.
The St. Louis front office knew years ago that Pujols was not only the face of the Cardinals organization, but of Major League Baseball as well.
DeWitt and Mozeliak also knew where the benchmark had been set when attempting to sign a player of this magnitude when the New York Yankees inked Alex Rodriguez to a 10-year, $275 million deal in 2007.
And now the club is faced with losing one of the greatest players in the Cardinals storied history unless they figure things out over the next week.
Some are of the opinion that signing Pujols to a huge deal may prove too costly for the Cardinals going forward, and that’s a valid argument.
But the problem is St. Louis has always been frugal even though they consistently draw three million fans to Busch Stadium.
The perception among fans is that they could be creative in offering Pujols a lucrative deal without tying up dollars needed to keep the club competitive.
Perhaps that’s a scenario being discussed with Pujols’ agent Dan Lozano, or maybe not.
With negotiations being kept quiet, we’ll never know the substance of those conversations. Unless a deal is worked out, we won’t know how imaginative the Cardinals were in trying to keep the best player in the game wearing the uniform with the birds on the bat.
DeWitt and Mozeliak had better hope that the fans feel they did everything they could to sign Pujols to a new deal.
If Cards fans get the sense that every possible avenue wasn’t traveled, they’ll have a public relations disaster on their hands the likes we’ve never seen.
The clock is ticking…
Albert ISN’T the face of baseball, he is the face of the Cardinals.
The cardinals should find a way to defer his money.
Albert’s contract will choke the life out of the Cardinals going forward, JUST LIKE THE TEXAS RANGERS. He won’t produce at the same level in 5 or 6 yrs, because he’s only human.
Cardinals fans clamoring to pay him now, will regret a 30mm/yrly pinch hitter later.
Albert is most certainly the face of MLB and if you don’t know that, then you don’t anything about baseball.
Small town Missouri, get over your self imposed greatness, you’re a blip on the baseball map.
Baseball has Many great players in its history that make it special. Unlike St Louis, it DOESN’T rely on only ONE person for its image. Neither does MLB!!
Not everyone worships at the alter of Albert. He’s admired as One of THE VERY LONG LIST OF GREATS in baseball, PERIOD.
BASEBALL HAS AND WILL BE AROUND WHEN HE ISN’T. Dewitt can’t even muster enough revenue to pay him, he’s a great player GRANTED but never the face of MLB.
When you think of MLB outside of St Louis, Albert doesn’t come to mind!!
He will be forever remembered as the player that sunk the Cardinals ability to hire and sign worthy players, BECAUSE HE SUCKED UP SO MUCH OF THEIR LIMITED REVENUE in 2011.
St. Louis is baseball heaven, and I don’t consider the franchise with the second most World Series titles to be a blip.
Well Moondog IT MUST BE SO, BECAUSE YOU SAID IT’S SO! n/t
That might be very be the most intelligent thing you’ve uttered in your entire life.
Moondog what’s 10 WS titles to 27 like the REAL DEAL BIG DOGS OF BASEBALL, the YANKEES?
THEY STILL HAVE 2.5 x’s MORE WS CHAMPIONSHIPS, in the no. 1 market, NOW THAT’S THE FACE OF MLB!!
Yankee fans coming out of the woodwork today. Are you guys worried that A-Rod will be the second highest paid player in baseball? Or maybe you’re worried that Cameron Diaz will mess up his swing. Albert Pujols is the face of MLB and there’s no valid argument you or anyone else can make to suggest otherwise.
St Louis calls its self the Best fans in baseball, yet no contest ever took place for such a conceited title. Just a bunch of beer guzzling hillbilly’s yapping!
Albert will bankrupt the team if he stays with his greed, he wants to really leave this small market. Albert wants bigger and the Cubs are waiting to go after him!
So the Cubs can pay him big bucks and he’ll no longer be greedy? Is that what you’re saying?
Hey moon, baseball can thrive without Albert, he’s not the face of MLB, Cardinals are drunk!
I LIKE HIM AS MUCH , IF NOT MORE THAN ANYONE, BUT HE WON’T STOP BASEBALL WHEN HE RETIRES.
Cardinal fans pumped his ego to the massive level it is now, and that’s why you gotta pay him, With all the best player meme. So pay up STL NOW!!
Only Cardinals have a one shining star on their TEAM SPORT.
You created the Beast now eat it and pay him.
Disagree that he isn’t the face of MLB – he is. But I do agree baseball will survive without him. That’s a given really. Honestly don’t know if the Cards are going to pay him or not, but they’ll regret it if they don’t.
MOONdog I’m not an Arod FAN.
Albert might get a contract in the ball park of Arod’s, but Still wouldn’t come close to Arod’s gross amount because he was underpaid by the Cardinals for too many years.
Also Alex has grossed 33mm on some years for benchmarks he’s reached, Albert will never gross in his playing life more than Arod, CARDINALS can’t afford it.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A YANKEES FANS TO KNOW THAT FACT. Dewitt is cheap!
Cubs can afford his greedy self, STL can’t, he’ll still be greedy though.
Any athlete that wants 30mm a yr is greedy, Albert’s just joining the club.
YOU HILLBILLY STAY STUCK IN STUPID. Albert is your mess to deal with, dude!
Ps Can’t stand Cameron Diaz, no sweat off my back over her or Arod.