With the exorbitant amount of football going on this weekend, people might not have heard Pujols tell the Cardinals that if they do not get a deal done before Spring Training then he will test the free agency market. There is a possibility that this could happen because the Cardinals have a ton of money invested in Matt Holiday, Chris Carpenter, Jake Westbrook, and Kyle Lohse. I think they have enough to give Pujols what he wants because the city, arguably the biggest baseball city in America wouldn't forgive the management if they got rid of Pujols. This would go down as one of the bigger FU move in the history of sports if they let go of Albert even at his older age. But this raises two interesting things for the Cubs and Brewers.
For Chicago, if Pujols gets to test the market, shouldn't the Cubs throw the pie in the sky type offer to him. His loyalty to the Cards in his career is unmatched by a lot of athletes, but as we learned with Brett Favre and others, they love revenge and money talks. The Cubs do have Carlos Pena for a year, but I assume they will want Prince Fielder or Pujols in the 2011 offseason. I am curious to hear from my Chicago readers/writers, if there would be any resentment. My assumed answer: No, it's Albert f------ Pujols bro.
Today, Fielder signed a one-year deal for 15.5 million dollar deal and it appears he will probably test the market in the upcoming year. If Pujols is out there, he is the second banana. Prince will make less money than Albert, and he will not be welcomed by the fans with ringing praise. Instead it will be 'well we could have had Pujols, but I guess I will settle for Fielder.' I think Prince is a sneaky MVP pick this season because he will come up big in a contract year, but in no way is he better than Pujols. Who knows if Pujols is out there, maybe Prince decides his best option is staying here in Milwaukee even though I know that's wishful thinking.
When a team is under a deadline, there are multiple scenarios that could happen. 1.) They overspend and screw their franchise for the years to come (could happen but it's Pujols, the man's a robot) 2.) Management decides to play hard ball with him, and believes he will come around by the beginning of the season (horrible idea). 3.) They come to a mutual agreement like the Joe Mauer situation, which this reminds me of it a lot.
Obviously as a Brewer fan, I hope nothing gets done and the Cards are in a chaotic panic the entire year. But I doubt it will happen, the Cardinals are smarter than that, right?
-Charlie.
