Anyone else paying attention to his contract negotiations with St Louis? Albert has said in the past that he's not all about the money, yet he's reportedly wanting to be paid the largest contract in MLB. He has also set a negotiation deadline with the Cards, no contract talks once spring training starts. I think this one is going to get ugly for both sides.
I think the money side of pro sports is ridiculous. With that said: Albert is one of the guys I would not quibble to much about pay with.
I have an uneasy feeling about this. It would not suprise me if this is his last year in St. Louis. To me it sounds like he went back on his word with the GM. He clearly stated he would take a pay cut to have quality players surrounding him. Now he wants to be the highest payed player in the league. He has that right as he clearly is the best player going. Albert is not the nice guy he claims to be. Anyone ever catch that special of him and his first agent on ESPN? It's going to turn out to be a mess. Hopefully we can trade him before the deadline if need be.
St.louis is my hometown, card's org never pays top dollar players that they didnt farm from in house,and once they are past there prime there gone. They all know it, players and management it's just a chess match while he shops around for a place to end his career at. He will be gone from the cards sorry to see.Heard it on the radio he is worth to much to keep,with the money the org will save they can buy 3 up and coming ball players not at the end of there careers... sad to say. We love him, great guy and player but they wont pay to keep em. seen it to many times.
Bruce: The $$ kind of turn me off, too. But, you gotta understand in these negotiations.....that it's millionaires v. billionaires. That probably doesn't help.
Edmonds, McGwire, Isringhausen, Tino Martinez. All guys the Cardinals paid too much money for late in their careers. Edmonds extension is why I mentioned him, but he wasn't worth NEAR the money Jocketty gave him at the end. I fear if Pujols isn't re-signed, that money is pocketed. They won't spend the $30 million on 3 players, they'll lower payroll and try to remain "competitive".....like they always say. Signing Berkman was hedging their bet of losing Pujols IMO.
Oh, I understand the negotiations and the monetary "climate" of any pro sport but especially baseball in that it is the one sport that I used to follow players from high school on up. And my only real problem with the money is that it ultimately comes from us, the people that enjoy a sport until we are priced out of the live participation. That and the whining from players that confuse monetary value with respect as in ( that offer disrespected me ). Anyway, the pay scale, regardless of sport, is what it is and Albert Pujols should be at the top of any payscale in baseball. For ownership to try and ****er with a player of his skillset is just stupid and I certainly don't think he is pasthis prime or even all that close to past his prime.
Agreed. I haven't been following baseball like I used to but I have yet to see an owner pass on paying a homegrown superstar and then put that money into "rebuilding" which is what they always seem to say when they cheap out on a player like Pujols. Berkman to replace Pujols? The ownership must think SL fans are idiots and my experience with SL baseball fans is just the opposite. Although I will sya that the hyperloyalty exhibited by SL lets their ownership get away with stuff like this.
Nothing in baseball will ever surprise me again. The contracts these days make me dizzy. Another example of something in sports I'll just never understand. Derek Jeters contract negotiation is up there too.
That was like make-up sex.....lol. I'm a Red Sox fan.....and I have no problems saying Derek Jeter's the classiest guy in the game, though. None at all..... I was happy for him. If anyone deserves that contract.....he does.
That was the only thing that made it somewhat tolerable. But still.... ehhhhh a little strange. And I dont' get it from Jeters side either (or insert any athlete). I'll argue this until the day I die and will probably never know the answer. If you are an elite athlete at the end of your career and your contract comes up, why not "settle for less" to free up money to win a championship? Why soak it for everything it has instead of using that money to get someone around you that can help you win one more before you hang it up? In the Yankees case I guess it doesn't matter they would spend it anyway. But you see it time and time again. They can't possibly spend the money they've earned in generations lifetimes. Why? Johnny Damon comes to mind last year or maybe it was two years. He ended up walking away from the Yankees to play with the Tigers for what I think ultimately amounted to one or two more million dollars over the contract. huh?
No, not exactly he is at the end of his prime and the cards wont money up to keep him.. They really believe the future is with younger players coming up and thats were they will put there $$$ Look at the cards history thats how they roll. I hope i am wrong, he is some kind of hero here and he deserves his due but the cards are cheap when it comes to paying up.
I liked edmonds he quit performing after he started getting into conflicts with tony, Mac did a lot for the cards name but then turned out to be a hoax.and his records will always be in question. If the team does pocket the money there will be some sore fans... But my real hope is albert gets to spend his last days in a cards uniform there is not many like him on and off the field,i think there is something to be said for his leadership to the team not just stats on paper and dollars out.
If you could convince them of this, you may convince them to give up some money on that last contract. I believe it all boils down to personal greed. ( I know, good job captain obvious.......:D)
Ill take some of that action,,,went and seen em 3 times last season. I was at the brawl game with the Reds
