Latest on Pujols contract

[aboz56]

Since I know this has been talked about a lot on here, here's the latest:

 

Cardinals, Pujols seek compromise

By Joe Strauss

Post-Dispatch

02/04/2004

 

The Cardinals and slugger Albert Pujols appear headed for compromise on a one-year contract or an arbitration hearing later this month as talks on a franchise-record multiple-year deal remain stalled, according to club and other major-league baseball sources.

 

The club has used the break in talks with Pujols to further examine its place in the pursuit of free agent pitcher Greg Maddux, otherwise thought headed to the Chicago Cubs. Though the Cardinals have not tendered an offer, they have taken preliminary financial steps necessary to free money for a bid.

 

The team gained a degree of flexibility thanks to center fielder Jim Edmonds and closer Jason Isringhausen, who agreed to defer money from their 2004 salaries. Working within a self-imposed salary cap, attempts continue to defer money with other players, including pitcher Matt Morris.

 

Maddux's agent, Scott Boras, left December's winter meetings aware that the Cardinals would have to shuffle money to become competitive for his client. The Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers are also believed to have interest in the four-time Cy Young Award winner, who last season overcame a sluggish start to go 16-11 with a 3.96 ERA in 36 starts.

 

The club and majority owner Bill DeWitt Jr. recently broached seven- and eight-year proposals with Pujols' representatives but remain stymied in attempts to secure a long-term deal. It is believed that Pujols remains comfortable pursuing arbitration, where he could easily receive more than $30 million over two years before becoming eligible for free agency following the 2006 season.

 

Pujols' case has attracted wide interest, especially from large-market clubs wondering if the Cardinals might be willing to trade him if denied cost certainty for the next three seasons. The New York Yankees recently offered a package including second baseman Alfonso Soriano for Pujols, according to a source, but were turned away. Soriano batted .298 with 38 home runs and 91 RBIs last season before avoiding arbitration with the club.

 

For now, Pujols' immediate future with the Cardinals remains at first base. The club no longer has interest in free agent first baseman Travis Lee, another Boras client.

 

Though neither side has declared a negotiating impasse, general manager Walt Jocketty and Pujols' lead agent, Dan Lozano, have not spoken in more than a week. The parties are scheduled for a hearing Feb. 20 - the final arbitration case on this winter's docket - in downtown Phoenix. Pujols has entered a $10.5 million bid compared with the team's $7 million offer, creating an $8.75 million midpoint that would dwarf the MVP runner-up's $950,000 salary for 2003. Talks are expected to regain momentum within the week.

 

Pujols' $900,000 base last season represented a record for a player with two years' major-league service and in little more than two weeks he is a lock to establish a standard for a player with three years' service.

 

The Cardinals have made a series of multiple-year proposals in the past two months, each rejected. They replaced a five-year, $50-55 million offer with a six-year, $72 million offer shortly before arbitration figures were exchanged Jan. 21.

 

Hoping to entice their star hitter with lifetime financial security, DeWitt approved a lengthier proposal for roughly the same average salary, sources say.

 

Pujols, 24, is thought to be seeking a deal with an average annual value exceeding $14 million. Sources familiar with talks say Pujols' agents have communicated his willingness to address his contract year by year to Jocketty and DeWitt.

 

Pujols insisted last month he will not accept less than market value to sign a long-term deal, saying, "There are no breaks." Acquaintances of Pujols insist the Cardinals' failure to approach him last spring with a long-term offer galvanized the sentiment.

 

Lozano earlier this week denied he has received an eight-year, $100 million offer. He confirmed having been presented with scenarios that would keep Pujols in St. Louis through at least 2010, but he would not comment on financial details.

 

The Cardinals currently project an $82 million payroll for this season. Ownership gave Jocketty a cap of roughly that amount before December's winter meetings; none of the club's additions will earn a base salary exceeding $2 million in 2004.

 

While playing down the likelihood of landing Maddux, DeWitt, Jocketty and manager Tony La Russa have consistently left open the remote possibility that the club could become involved should Maddux modify his asking price. Maddux earned $17.25 million last season with the Atlanta Braves, and reports sayd he has received a two-year offer from the Cubs for $10 million to $11 million.

 

Hopeful of signing before next weekend, Maddux is apparently willing to accept a back-loaded contract and may be open to deferred money, both prerequisites of any deal with the Cardinals.

 

"What we've said all along is that we would have interest in a player like Greg Maddux," DeWitt said earlier this week. "The chances of him signing for what we would have to offer would be, I think, remote at this point."

 

Jocketty has maintained regular contact with Boras this winter as the Redbirds dealt one of his clients, outfielder J.D. Drew, at the winter meetings before signing reliever Julian Tavarez to a two-year, $4.2 million deal.

 

While Jocketty and La Russa remain encouraged by this winter's overhaul to a pitching staff that last season ranked only 11th in the National League, there remains an underlying intrigue with Maddux. Third baseman Scott Rolen jokingly lobbied for him during last month's Baseball Writers dinner, and the recent deferrals were agreed to with such a push in mind.

[Chisoxfn]

Thats a lot of money for a guy before he becomes a free agent. If anyone deserves it, it would be him though. But if I were the Cardinals I'd go long term, unless they believe two years from now the free agent market will be even weaker and they could pay him less somehow.

[aboz56]

Thats a lot of money for a guy before he becomes a free agent.  If anyone deserves it, it would be him though.  But if I were the Cardinals I'd go long term, unless they believe two years from now the free agent market will be even weaker and they could pay him less somehow.

I wouldn't go long term with him unless they can lock him up for a while at a reasonable rate.

 

Otherwise, ride it out and then ship him out during his 6th yr of service if you feel you won't be able to resign him.