I doubt the Cardinals go that high. 30 mill per yer average doesn’t put much of a team around him when they’re already crying about a half mil here and there with a 90 million dollar payroll.

As much as I love what this team has done, it kind of bothers me that they aren’t spending more to make this a dynasty. The Bulls gave Jordan what he needed and they’ll be remembered forever. I’m not saying to go blindly throwing money away like that team to the north that thinks money will buy a WS ring. But to get quality players sometimes you just have to shop the free agent market.

Here is exactly why Apu will stay:

1. Management/ownership is not stupid- Albert Pujols generates a TON of revenue. Fans pay to come see him play. They buy his jerseys. This makes money for the organization. So yes, they will need to offer him a lot of money, but that huge contract is somewhat offset by the money that he generates playing for STL. Paying a player that the fans hate for 10 million/yr would be the same (monetarily) for ownership as signing a player the fans love for 20 million/yr. The extra revenue that beloved player generates makes up for the 10 million difference.

2. Apu likes it here- Of course you will not see him come out and say “I love it here, and never want to leave, so they can go ahead and fleece me on the new contract and I’ll accept anyway”. Of course not!!! He will remain tight lipped in order to get a fair deal, but the fact of the matter is that he does love it here and he definitely would want to stay. His daughter has developement problems and St. Louis is widely known as a great place for children with disabilities. He is building a brand spanking new house in the metro east a couple miles from where I live. You don’t go build a 5 million dollar house if you think you’re going to be moving in 2 years.

3. As long as the cardinals field a competitive team around the time that the contract talks come up, he will be happy. He is a competitor and wants to win. As long as ownership isn’t stupid and doesn’t go into any type of serious rebuilding mode, Albert knows that STL always has a good chance at winning.

Crazily enough, the players play the same positions as the original MV3 players did. Wallace, Rasmus, and Pujols could make a great triumvirate to build another championship level club around. Two of them should be pretty cheap through the 2012/2013 seasons as well.

This is why management should be spending money on free agent starting pitching or trading prospects for young starting pitching in the next 2-3 years: The farm looks to be producing some excellent bullpen arms and position players, but doesn’t look too solid in producing top pitching prospects at this point.

Albert Pujols = St. Louis Cardinals

I didn’t vote, simply because I’m in Limbo on this one. Ok I have been a fan of King Albert ever since he broke in (I know, I know everybody has) and I do think he’s the best hitter in the game. He’s probably the best all around player in the game right now as well, and I do think he’ll go down as one of the top three to five players all time.

Having said all of that, if he gets something like $30-$35 million as season he’s way to much for us as a team. I LOVE the idea of a line-up with Wallace, Rasmus, and Pujols all in it, but IF Wallace and Rasmus pan out the way we hope each will make $10 million+ when we have to re-sign them. I’m assuming that everybody will want Pujols on the roster when that happens, and it that’s the case then we’ll have $50 milion+ invested in three players. The payroll will not go much farther then $110 million, and if that’s the case almost half the payroll will be invested in three guys. IF we decide to bring Wainwright on for the long hall he’ll make about $10 million. Now that’s four players that comprise $60+million, and we’re left with about $50 million to deal with Perez, Motte, Mather, Jones, and anyother great prospect now who will reach arbitration during the Pujols contract.

I’m conflicted. I love Albert, but CAN we feild a competitve team around him? I didn’t even mention the idea of signing another ace type pitcher that we might need between now and whenever. Throw in the fact that Albert’s contract will surly be back loaded so that he makes more towards the end and it becomes even more difficult to sign anybody around him. Just my two cents (wich I’d gladly kick into the Keep Pujols for Less fund.)