Second, no one is offering Pujols $250M.

Third, the Cardinals have intimated that they will pay more if they have to…but that they won’t bid against themselves. When was the last time you offered to pay more than necessary for something? This is an auction format….if you are already the high bidder, you don’t keep raising your hand.

Kolten Wong is probably less than 2 yrs away from being a viable option for starting 2B. The guy is a fantastic hitter and should move through the system quickly. The best option for the Cardinals is to patch 2B together with the guys they have around until he arrives.

I guess I would bring up the example of Ryan Howard’s extension. There was no urgency to extend him. He in fact cost the Phillies more money then they needed to spend for his services. Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that if Howard hit FA this fall along with Pujols and Fielder that the Phillies couldn’t have signed him for less than $25M per.

I guess you are saying that you’d rather have someone in their 30s who has proved year after year to be a mediocre player rather than a mid-20 year old player who is mediocre, but may be able to improve since he’s not past his prime.

Teams extend players in anticipation of the contract offers that the player would receive if not extended.

The “no one else is even trying to get him” AP theory is shot out of the water as well, he’s got a firm offer from the Marlins already – who knows what it is but it’s out there.

As spud said above, Mo and Dewitt are headed in a dangerous path. Those 2 absolutely scare the hell out me as the orgainization moves forward post TLR and quite possibly post Albert.

Their entire 2012 payroll/roster rhetoric seems to be setting the table for disappointment in regards to locking up AP, preparing fans for the worst so to speak.

If they thought an unexpected World Series title in 2011 bought them some honeymoon in regards to possibly letting Albert walk they’re dead wrong.

(p.s. albert, please don’t go. I’m not wealthy, but ill keep spending my hard earned money to travel and come watch u blast taters all season. Just like I have been doing since u were playing outfield in triple A fresh out of local Maple Woods Community College. We have all stood by u through your many successes and those very few slumps. Birdy birds all over consider u our current day Musial. I have hope that u are a better person than to let the difference between $23 million and $28 million break the heart of every fan who has cheered u on faithfully since that first magical season at the turn of the millennium. Back all that talk of Christian values up with a rare modern day showcase of an athlete who realizes that money isn’t everything and that even though we aren’t worth $30 million per year… maybe u do owe your faithful fans a small gesture of love for all the faith and support we have showered you with. We know u are the greatest… why not acknowledge that we are also the greatest??… the greatest fans u could have ever been blessed with. We love u. And cardinal nation will be offended and crushed if u break our hearts for money)

Can I blame a man for going after every dollar he can squeeze out of the business, especially when its obvious he deserves the biggest contract in history?? HELL YES I CAN. Money can’t buy everything… like the love of cardinal nation. I hope u realize how much u mean to us. And all the STL kids who proudly wear #5 in your honor.

Plus why pay Pujols when no one else is even trying to get him? Pay him 23 million a year and get help around him. If Pujols can’t live with only $210 million and 2 WS rings within 5 years then I don’t want his greedy ass on the cards anyways.

TLR left for many reasons, I suppose, but I cannot help but believe one of his reasons was that he foresaw the future. Pujols will only leave if he feels seriously dissed. Step One would be passing over Oquendo. Matheny is well respected, but due to his inexperience, he brings the same questions as Oquendo. If Matheny gets the nod, the tacit racism card cannot help but be pondered. If Pujols goes, I guarantee you Molina will be gone next year.

It is hard to fathom how the front office can claim they do not have more cash after a WS win and departure of the best paid manager in the biz. And who should a significant percentage of those increases go to? Pujols would be my first choice. By standing pat on their offer, they are only encouraging the Lozano/Pujols to challenge them, and there are plenty of owners out there that will jump into the arena. Once that line is crossed, and the circus begins, Pandora’s box is opened and all the games begin. That will only give the management fodder for excuses. Even if Pujols’ desire to remain in St. Louis persuades him to accept their low-ball offer, the resentment will remain, when a small amount of gratuity, in the form of a moderate increase, could appease the Pujols camp. But that would take the selfless wisdom that neither Dewitt nor Moziliak are apt to choose.

Joe Strauss of the St Louis post Dispatch has an interview with John Mozeilak with some interesting
insights for the 2012 roster.

Be prepared, Mozeilak says he “wouldn’t mind” seeing a double play combo of Tyler Greene/Daniel Delscaso.

Bright siding it, it’s not much worse than the Theriot/Schumacher that was in place going into last year.

Read here:
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-could-look-much-the-same-in/article_966f3a3f-fc9d-54d4-977d-841578ffcde4.html

Well, no entity outside of the Phillies…

Am I missing something?

No entity on this planet, whether it be a team, restaurant or my daughter’s lemonade stand, arbitrarily alters their offer without a competitor submitting a more competitive price.

The title of the article should be “The Cardinals will raise their offer once the Marlins submit a more attractive package to Pujols.”

Just wondering what fans think.