Comments on: Deducing Albert Pujols’ mystery team

By: clydeserra

clydeserra — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:56:11 +0000

Looks like you forgot to analyse one team…

By: bozosforall

bozosforall — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:47:12 +0000

People like you think that the Yankees even care what anyone thinks about their contracts. Therein lies the difference between a secure organization (Yankees) and an insecure one (Red Sox). NY will always rule Boston.

By: bozosforall

bozosforall — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:43:58 +0000

The Boston theory was a JOKE. Though I wouldn’t put it past the Sox and Marlins to do some sort of under the table machinations.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:00:36 +0000

paperlions, you’re entitled to your opinion. BTW, let me know when you were offered and accepted the GM position for a MLB Team. Then I’ll place a little more credence in your opinion. Until then, well I’ll leave it at that…

By: mojosmagic

mojosmagic — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:50:00 +0000

My bet is he ends up with Washington it Texas.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:37:09 +0000

It’s funny Ari, you already commented there, I figured you’d have remembered it.

By: unlost1

unlost1 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:36:54 +0000

ANY team that gets Pujols will only have him for 4 years before he turns into old Carlos Delgado

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:30:37 +0000

Or maybe it was just to have control of his contract Chris. To be able to trade him, if need be.

By: dan1111

dan1111 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:23:06 +0000

I agree. The Nats seem more plausible than the Sox. They have an established, but not very good, 1B. They have proven that they are willing to overpay, as you point out. They should have great pitching for years to come, but they lack offense. I think this trade would make them serious contenders immediately. They would also benefit from the drawing power of a big star. Actually, I think this would be a brilliant move for Washington. They may have to overpay from a performance perspective, but it would probably bring huge benefits to the franchise overall.

It would be a work of genius if Boston could sign him and then traded Gonzalez for some top pitching talent. However: why would some other team give up talent for the privilege of paying Adrian a lot of money, rather than just signing Pujols or Fielder themselves?

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:19:23 +0000

ARI, Without making another move besides resigning Ortiz, the Sox have 170 million committed for 2012. They still don’t have a closer. They also want another starting pitcher. So no.

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/alex-speier/2011/12/05/no-big-splash-big-d-why-red-sox-might-not-have

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:17:41 +0000

I already mentioned it before (Ryan Howards extension). This winter would have been very entertaining without it.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:16:42 +0000

J5…obviously, Amaro thought the market was going to increase for guys like Howard, Pujols, and Fielder and didn’t want to have to give him a 10 year deal. Also, he saved $10 million off the first two years of the extension…which is pretty big…and he may not have been able to do that if Howard was a free agent now. However, hindsight being 20/20 of course, waiting would have been more favorable. But if Ryan had continued his pace of 50/140 over the last two years, then he would probably be looked at as a bargain right now. Instead, he declined and, unfortunately, he tore his achilles on his last at bat of the NLDS, which was the last out. I will never kill Ruben for that contract. Ever. And I know I am in the very slim minority in that regard, but that’s fine with me…it’s a position I am used to being in

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:11:14 +0000

Well, the way he is treating them isn’t doing them much of a favor is it? Granted, he can take as long as he wants, but it isn’t like this is a 3 year $36 million dollar deal that he is working on. It is a franchise changer…and if he strings it too far along, they will miss out on either smaller pieces to fill in around him…or a bigger piece or two to take his place. Don’t you think?

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:10:05 +0000

PL, they already pay Hamels 14 m per, it’s only going to take another 6 per to land him, and Blanton is gone with his 10.5 m salary by then.

Chris, one thing. WHY would Amaro lock up Howard early when he didn’t have to? Ask yourself that.

By: lpd1964

lpd1964 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:08:52 +0000

here’s a juicy scenario-Walt Jocketty is the Reds GM, Reds were rumored to be shipping Votto to the Blue Jays for Bautista last year, Pujols is signed by the Reds. Pujols at 1st,Bautista in the outfield. Can you imagine how many homeruns Pujols could hit at GABP? If only the Reds had money!!

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:08:04 +0000

…and neither do the Cubs.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:07:18 +0000

What makes anyone think Pujols is pissed off? The only people in a hurry for this to be over are the media and fans. Pujols has no incentive to be in a hurry and neither does his agent. The price won’t go down while they wait, it could only go up….so why not be patient and let the process play out?

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:07:11 +0000

They already closed in on (and passed) the Red Sox last year.

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:04:15 +0000

Funny. But. I think it’s pretty unlikely the Pujols deal looks worse than A-Rod’s. A-Rod’s on a severe decline at age 36, with six years still left on the deal at a higher annual salary than Pujols is rumored to be getting (plus likely at least two of $6MM bonuses for reaching homers, and more possible), AND A-Rod’s deal is frontloaded, meaning it actually costs more in real dollars. Pujols’ deal is likely to be backloaded, meaning it’ll cost his team less than $200MM in real terms.

By: stex52

stex52 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:03:13 +0000

The Cardinals need to avoid the trap that Scott Boras sucked the Astros into with Carlos Beltran. When you are negotiating with a franchise player, all other actions grind to a halt. Then, if they have been playing you for a sucker, you end up in January with no franchise player and the rest of your resource plans still on hold with all of the big names off the board. I am a fan of Pujols. But the Cards need to give him a hard deadline and move on.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:02:18 +0000

Some mystery teams would make more sense than others…the Phillies, makes zero sense.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:59:22 +0000

I agree J5…he probably doesn’t want to play 3rd so it is all moot anyway.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:57:27 +0000

Why would they lose Hamels? They have some money coming off the books after this year…Blanton, Polanco, Victorino. They could fit Hamels in, the way they have been doing for years now…back-ending the bigger money.

And if $5 million wasn’t such a big deal, then why hasn’t Albert signed with the Cardinals yet? Do you think he is that pissed off at them? Seems to me he would consider a penny over the Cardinals final offer something that blows the Cardinals out of the water.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:56:37 +0000

I think playing third may be too much for the man myself. I guess if they don’t mind closing in on the payrolls of the Yankees and BoSox, they’d have a better team than both more than likely. For a little bit less money too.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:52:57 +0000

There is also the fact that a $225M does not blow a $220M offer out of the water, factor in cost of living, tax, and additional travel expenses, and Pujols would make less money with that deal. A $5M difference on a 1 yr deal is a lot; a $5M difference on a $20-30M deal is a lot; a $5M difference on a 10year $200M+ deal is barely anything.

Plus, it isn’t a question of Pujols wanting to play 3B for 5 years, but of him being able to do so…do you want to watch a 36 yr old AP lumbering around 3B?

…and if the Phillies did this, they would be losing Hamels after next year. Making old expensive teams older and more expensive is bad.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:50:03 +0000

paperlions, the way I see it if there was logic to who the “mystery” team was they probably wouldn’t be a mystery.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:43:24 +0000

Plus, the Cubs are in no position to compete during the next few years…why spent over $200M on a guy when you are going to throw away his best remaining years.

FWIW, the only way the Cubs move that dead weight is by eating about 75% of the money and getting nothing in return…that doesn’t change the fact that signing a high dollar FA right now would be dumb for that organization.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:31:10 +0000

Just my theory. I realized it doesn’t go with the theme of Jason Stark and a team that must move an “established” 1st baseman. I just get that feeling. If the Cubs can move some “dead weight” from their current batch of players it might make sense. Plus I think and it’s just my opinion Theo/Hoyer need to or may want to make a splash by signing 1 big name before the season.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:25:04 +0000

J5…I know, it is insane. Then I think about it some more and I think…is it so nuts? I mean…this is a team who is giving Ryan Howard $25 million a year for the next 5 years…or are they? No, they are paying him $20, 20, 25, 25, 25 and a $10 million buyout. What’s to stop them from structuring something to a similar tune with Albert?

This is a team with balls…their payroll for 2017 at this point is $0. You know that has to be burning a hole in NinJr’s pocket, right?

The biggest obstacle to this is Pujols wanting to play third for the next 5 years. That, and the fact that he probably(ok, 99% likely) wants to be a Cardinal.

By: drmonkeyarmy

drmonkeyarmy — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:23:30 +0000

Why would the Cubs be the mystery team? They don’t have an established 1B that would need to be moved.