This afternoon, the Twins signed star catcher Joe Mauer to an eight year $184 million contract extension that will keep him in the Twins organization till 2018. It was really just a matter of time before the Twins signed him, especially with the new ballpark opening this year.
Fantasy Baseball: The Fallout From The Joe Mauer Signing
Now that he is signed, the next contract extension we will begin to hear about more and more is that of Albert Pujols. The Cardinals are saying they want to sign him long term, but we have yet to hear of any offers being made. After giving Matt Holliday a big contract this offseason, the Cardinals almost have to sign Pujols right?
I am not so sure. How much will the Cardinals be willing to pay Pujols? $25 million per year? $30 million per year? I don’t see Pujols giving the Cardinals a hometown discount. His current contract is already a hometown discount.
In response to a question about Pujols contract status and recent rumors of a trade for Ryan Howard, Joe Strauss from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had this to offer:
Given that Albert has the right to veto any trade after this season, the fact that Pujols said he will not negotiate after spring training naturally will give rise to rumors, innuendo and hair-trigger reporting.The fact that Pujols has the right to veto any trade once the 2010 season is completed tells me that if the Cardinals make the unthinkable decision to not sign him long term, we could see Pujols dealt THIS season. I am sure the rumors will start come June 2010.
The Post-Dispatch’s Jeff Gordon has this to offer on Pujols contract status:
The best offensive player in the game will be a free agent after the 2011 season. The closer he gets to free agency, the more speculation we’ll see regarding his future. If Albert shoots for a record-setting annual salary, the Cardinals will be hard-pressed to keep him. If he opts to sign a lifetime deal with a post-playing deal, then the franchise will likely keep him. Everybody in baseball knows the scenario, so the organization will have to deal with this issue until Pujols makes his call.Gordon opines that if Pujols want an Alex Rodriguez type contract, the Cardinals will not sign him. That would lead to a trade this season at the earliest, as the Cardinals would be able to deal him without Pujols vetoing the deal.
I can’t imagine what type of package the Cardinals would get for Pujols, but it would probably be considered the biggest deal in baseball history. If Babe Ruth and Willie Mays were traded, Pujols can be traded too.
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