Cardinals-Pujols extension talks 'nowhere close'

The Cardinals front office has to pony up with this guy. If he goes elsewhere after next season, the front office in St. Louis will look like it is staffed by dimwits.

Isn't this a no-brainer? You pay the guy and keep the best player in the game, or you let him walk and announce to the world you operate on the same intelligence level as Patrick Star.

Just shut up and play.

It would be interesting to know just what the hang up is? Is it on years or dollars per year?

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 09:21 AM ET  02.06 by blah blah blah blah blah

Just shut up and play.

He does play, very well in fact.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 09:26 AM ET  02.06 by Mongo Alex

It would be interesting to know just what the hang up is? Is it on years or dollars per year?

I would guess $ per year as opposed to years, but that's just me. If he ended up a free agent, what big market team would need a 1B? Gonzalez is in Boston. Teixeira is in NY. Cabrera is in Detroit. I just don't see what other team would pay him mega dollars other than the Cardinals, a team that NEEDS this guy.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:41 AM ET  02.06 by jgb

I actually think its the years, if the reports f him wanting 10 s true, that'll take him nto his 40s.....Angels could be involved,mets (ifthey aren't bamkrupt), cubs, natio als also are players

Good point. The Mets are shaving payroll now and could possibly make a run at him. The Cubs doing so would be interesting. In a few years, if not sooner, the Nationals could be a very good team with Zimmerman, Werth and starting pitching. Adding Pujols would make them an instant contender.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:15 AM ET  02.06 by jgb

When you are dealing with your moat productive player, your franchise player, the best player in the game and so far a clean player......you need to PAY THE MAN or freakn gut the team and become the damn royalsThs s not like the hard pine stance the yankees dd wth jeter, jeter had noplace else to go and jeter s not even close to puljos productionIf albert walks there will be suitors and the cardinals fade into obscurity

You mean the way the Yankees paid A-Rod? Just because the Yankees are willing to pay players top dollar well past their primes doesn't mean the rest of the league should follow suite. Absent a salary cap there is no way mid market teams can retain their top players when the Yankees are willing to burn their own money.

You really have no idea how the NYY fans sound to the rest of the fans whose teams do not have unlimited resources.

So it's either you're the Yankees paying players top dollar into their 40s or your the Royals who won't pay anyone? Are those the only two choices? Even the Red Sox wouldn't give Pujolls a $300 million contract at this point in his career. Even the Yankees GM wouldn't be that stupid. Only the NYY ownership would be that lame.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:29 AM ET  02.06 by ChiSoxFan

I would guess $ per year as opposed to years, but that's just me. If he ended up a free agent, what big market team would need a 1B? Gonzalez is in Boston. Teixeira is in NY. Cabrera is in Detroit. I just don't see what other team would pay him mega dollars other than the Cardinals, a team that NEEDS this guy.

I'm kind of split on this myself. I would think the Cards could pay him between 25 and 30 but for limited years. Are the Phillies the only team out there that doesn't leak negociations?

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:27 AM ET  02.06 by ChiSoxFan

He does play, very well in fact.

He's no Lyle Overbay.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:54 AM ET  02.06 by blah blah blah blah blah

He's no Lyle Overbay.

Who is other than Lyle Overbay?

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 09:54 AM ET  02.06 by blah blah blah blah blah

He's no Lyle Overbay.

Everyone is in agreement there.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:54 AM ET  02.06 by Mongo Alex

I'm kind of split on this myself. I would think the Cards could pay him between 25 and 30 but for limited years. Are the Phillies the only team out there that doesn't leak negociations?

The Pirates don't leak their negotiations. They don't negotiate.

Nowhere close, just as his contract DEMANDS are nowhere close. Hope he settles on something reasonable or Albert is in for a huge disappointment.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 09:59 AM ET  02.06 by Razor Ray

Like I been say'n, the Cubs will land #5. Then the Cubs will make it to the WS only to be squelched by the Almighty Red Sox, team of the 21st century.

What color is the sky in your world?

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 09:59 AM ET  02.06 by Razor Ray

Like I been say'n, the Cubs will land #5. Then the Cubs will make it to the WS only to be squelched by the Almighty Red Sox, team of the 21st century.

Lay off the sauce.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:54 AM ET  02.06 by Mongo Alex

I'm kind of split on this myself. I would think the Cards could pay him between 25 and 30 but for limited years. Are the Phillies the only team out there that doesn't leak negociations?

All the leaks have come from the agent's camp. The Cardinals haven't leaked anything unless you count acknowledging that the Pujols camp has set a deadline for negotiations. The agent has run his mouth to friends and family. Those friends and family members then run their mouths to the media - probably for some cold hard cash.