Dana, what is your opinion on Pujols. Will the Cards sign him? He will receive one of the biggest contracts to date. I think the singing of Holiday will help with his decision.

 

It will be very hard for the Cardinals to keep Pujols.

The teams with the top-5 payrolls will be licking their chops.

The Yankees don't need him right now because they stole Tex from us.

But the Red Sox - that's another story entirely. They could move Youk to third and play Pujols at first. That could happen.

Also, the Mets could make a play for him. They have the money too.

Guys like Pujols - while probably genuinely good people - like big markets.

The lure of New York or Boston may be very strong for him.

I hope that he stays with the Cards. But I don't see how.

 

I would love to see him stay but I don't see how. You are correct the Yankees do not need him. I do see him possibly with Boston. One of the only ways I see him staying is the Cards winning the World Series.

 

But you have to really consider if you WANT to sign Pujols to the biggest contract in baseball history.

Consider this - I am going to go all stat-geek on you now.

An argument can be made that Frank Thomas was a better hitter than Pujols through age 29. Check out their stats.

Thomas: .330 BA/ .452 OBP/ .600 SLG/ OPS+ 182
Pujols: .334 BA/ .426 OBP/ .628 SLG/ OPS+ 171

After Thomas turned 30, he only hit .276/.389/.515 with 264 homers and a 134 OPS+.

Could Pujols have a similar dop off ofter 30? Probably not. But it is a risk.

On the other hand, Thomas was not a gold glove first baseman and was never really considered the best all-around player in the game like Pujols is.

Also, would you want to be the ownership group that let the best player in baseball history - which Pujols could end up being - slip away?

Don't underestimate the hubris of owners. It could save the day.

What do you think? Is the Thomas comparison a fair one??

A cool group called Fangraphs rates what older players would be worth today given their performance numbers.

From 2002-2008 (which would be the last 6 years of a 10 year contract), Fangraphs had Thomas worth $51.2 million dollars.

A 25 million a year contract in the last 6 years would be $150 million or a net deficit of ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

Mid market clubs can’t eat $16.6 million per year in performance deficits.

Do you take the risk??

 

One week of many into our duel

 

Jon wouldn't mind Albert at first base for his Sox.

I would commit suicide.

 

Numbers do not lie and your argument fair. However, I think they cannot let hims slip away. I see him as one of the hard workers and will have an amazing season this year. He has started off in 7 games batting over .400, 8 runs, 11 hits, 5 hr, 14rbi, and a .484 obp this all with his swing not being correct according to him.

 

I would love it. We need some more batting power. I mean we already have the pitching (with Lackey and all )

 

Sadly as of right now though I'm slipping with baseball due to NHL playoffs. With the Celtics soon to be in the playoffs, Bruins, and Red Sox Boston has been pretty wild.

 

^Watching the Redwings games now 3-2 Phx