Cards Offer Pujols $200 Million over 8 Years

Larussa has been around a long time and is a smart, cagey kind of guy. He's shifting the focus towards the union to keep pressure off Albert so he can be focused to have the best season he can and have a scapegoat if the Cardinals don't resign him and the fans get mad.

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Originally Posted by shagcarpetjesus

It sounds to me like LaRussa is trying to to take the pressure off Pujols by making it sound like it's the player's union that wants a drawn out negotiation process. It's not Albert's fault, the union is forcing him to hold out for every last penny. Personally, I think it's a pretty stupid argument on TLR's part but you can't really fault a manager for trying to deflect the heat off of one his players.

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I do too, as TLR is also then accusing Pujols of not being able to think independently on his own. That's quite a put-down, if you ask me.

There have been rumors that the Cubs would throw so much money at Pujols that he couldn't say no...and that makes sense why he would turn down $240 million from St. Louis. People may say he's greedy or that he should take a hometown discount, but in reality who in their right mind would turn down another $50-$60 million? You would be an idiot NOT to take that kind of extra money.

And as someone mentioned, if getting Pujols gets them or wins a World Series...he would be worth $500 million to the Owners.

Also, Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Cards max offer would put Pujols as the 10th highest salary in the game...likely between $19-$21 mil per.

That's a lot of money obviously but a slap in the face to Pujols.

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Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

I'm not sure any team CAN give Albert a better offer than this. Of the big $$$ organizations, the Yankees have Teixeira, the Red Sox have Adrien Gonzales and Youkilis, the Phillies have Howard, both the Mets and Cubs could use a 1B but both are bogged down with a lot of bad contracts. Then there are the Dodgers and Angels, both that could use that high caliber 1B - but are either team willing to spend that kind of coin?

Quite honestly, when you really look at it, Pujols' best offer may just come from the Cardinals.

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Adrian Gonzales will be a free agent next year. He never signed the reported deal that they had worked out in Boston.

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Originally Posted by gocubs2118

And you realize teams can structure contracts where players make less money towards the end of it and more money at the beginning, don't you? Just because some team signs him for 10 years/300 million, doesn't mean they have to pay him 30 million all 10 years.

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What does it matter if you front load it or pay it equally. You will still end up paying him $300 million dollars over 10 years. I would rather go equal.

I think it would be funny to see the royals open their check books for him. That would **** cards fans off more than the cubs signing him.

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Originally Posted by cycloneworld

Also, Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Cards max offer would put Pujols as the 10th highest salary in the game...likely between $19-$21 mil per.

That's a lot of money obviously but a slap in the face to Pujols.

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Obviously, as Bernie Miklasz has said in the Post-Dispatch, it's simple: Pujols wants a bigger contract than A-Rod's 10 yr/$275 mil.
Somebody's going to give it to him, and the Cards have the first crack at it.

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Originally Posted by pyrocyz

What does it matter if you front load it or pay it equally. You will still end up paying him $300 million dollars over 10 years. I would rather go equal.

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It matters a great deal. I wouldn't want to pay Pujols 30 million when he's 40 and on the downside of his career. Gives teams more flexibility when you need to put more talent around him.

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Originally Posted by gocubs2118

It matters a great deal. I wouldn't want to pay Pujols 30 million when he's 40 and on the downside of his career. Gives teams more flexibility when you need to put more talent around him.

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If you assume a 3.5% rate of inflation...$30MM will be worth approximately $21MM in 10 years. Therefore you are paying him less money relatively at the end already.

Plus wouldn't you want more money now to surround him with talent so that you can win in his prime?

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Originally Posted by pyrocyz

I think it would be funny to see the royals open their check books for him. That would **** cards fans off more than the cubs signing him.

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Not this Cardinal fan. I wouldn't mind any team except the cubbies..... Puke.

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Originally Posted by pyrocyz

What does it matter if you front load it or pay it equally. You will still end up paying him $300 million dollars over 10 years. I would rather go equal.

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I think it increases the teams ability to either cut him later and have less per year to pay off and also to have less left on the contract later so it is easier to trade him to an AL team to DH.

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Originally Posted by pyrocyz

If you assume a 3.5% rate of inflation...$30MM will be worth approximately $21MM in 10 years. Therefore you are paying him less money relatively at the end already.

Plus wouldn't you want more money now to surround him with talent so that you can win in his prime?

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Whipping out the economics to prove the point

Well played sir

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Originally Posted by pyrocyz

Adrian Gonzales will be a free agent next year. He never signed the reported deal that they had worked out in Boston.

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I'm pretty positive that deal is going to happen, they are just waiting till after the season starts to hammer out the details in order for Boston to avoid a Luxury tax hit.

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Originally Posted by pyrocyz

I think it would be funny to see the royals open their check books for him. That would **** cards fans off more than the cubs signing him.

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That would be hysterical. With the Royals payroll, you'd have Albert and 24 AA guys making the MLB minimum. Wait, except for Albert, they're already doing that! :twitcy: