As the St. Louis Cardinals and their future hall of famer Albert Pujols continue to try and pound out contract negotiations prior to the first baseman's spring training deadline, the pressure seems to get more and more tenuous.
The truth is, it sounds like the Cardinals are backed into a corner.
ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that according to sources with the Cardinals, it has been communicated that Pujols would veto any mid-season trade options.
Which really shouldn't come as a surprise. Why would Pujols help the Cardinals out?
Trading Pujols, who has a career .331 average and 408 home runs all in a St. Louis uniform, would seem like a logical choice if the organization can not figure out a way to negotiate a deal with the star slugger.
But what incentive, besides being traded to a team that has a chance to win in 2011, does Pujols have to accept a trade during the season?
Why would he help the Cardinals acquire what would be a stock pile of high profile prospects because of his benefit?
Pujols would likely reject any trade simply because he would prefer to stay in St. Louis.
But at what cost?
Rumors have surfaced that Pujols is requesting a 10 year, $300 million contract. That is a little extreme.
The Cardinals need to pay the man and "El Hombre" needs to be a little more reasonable. If not, trade rumors will be bound to surface throughout the season, causing a distraction that Pujols has publicly stated he is hoping to avoid.
There is a simple solution to this whole problem.
The Cardinals and Pujols just need to get a contract done. Period.
The truth is, it sounds like the Cardinals are backed into a corner.
ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that according to sources with the Cardinals, it has been communicated that Pujols would veto any mid-season trade options.
Which really shouldn't come as a surprise. Why would Pujols help the Cardinals out?
Trading Pujols, who has a career .331 average and 408 home runs all in a St. Louis uniform, would seem like a logical choice if the organization can not figure out a way to negotiate a deal with the star slugger.
But what incentive, besides being traded to a team that has a chance to win in 2011, does Pujols have to accept a trade during the season?
Why would he help the Cardinals acquire what would be a stock pile of high profile prospects because of his benefit?
Pujols would likely reject any trade simply because he would prefer to stay in St. Louis.
But at what cost?
Rumors have surfaced that Pujols is requesting a 10 year, $300 million contract. That is a little extreme.
The Cardinals need to pay the man and "El Hombre" needs to be a little more reasonable. If not, trade rumors will be bound to surface throughout the season, causing a distraction that Pujols has publicly stated he is hoping to avoid.
There is a simple solution to this whole problem.
The Cardinals and Pujols just need to get a contract done. Period.
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