"A new front office faces the challenge of a team with one star and one burgeoning one, and little else around which to build. It could be a few years before the Cards contend again, which inspires the question: when does Albert Pujols become a piece to be moved?" This from BP yesterday.
Seems there has been precious little said on this board about the topic. Albert is a hero and they will retire his number at Busch but realistically isn't trading him now for an upgraded system make sense?
- Declining production last year with MV3 a distant memory made Albert seem a bit more human
- Chronically bad feet -- does anyone think this will ever get better. No, it will get worse.
- Likely to miss half a season when his elbow finally goes.
- Cards at least two-three years from being a serious contender.
- Market is paying up for stars right now. Albert could bring 2-3 young major league players and a couple prospects or a bunch of prospects. Pujols for David Freese II in 5 years sounds unappetizing.
- Reasonable contract for one of the top 5 in baseball.
- Everyone says Albert is a good baserunner --but it seems to me he runs into a lot of outs. That's my personal pet peeve and certainly not a reason to trade him, just saying.
- Josh Phelps -- need I say more.
- Cash. Nice way for the owners to line their pockets (let's not forget, they aren't in this for altrusim).
- Mo is exactly the kind of temporary GM who can make this trade. He'll disappear into obscurity with the epitaph -- "he traded Pujols". A big name GM could never do it.
I'm a win now guy and Albert is a winner, but if we really are going to rebuild shouldn't we go "all-in".
Thoughts?