Getting fired by Albert would be high profile where ever he’s playing.

Did you see the Reds/Walter speculation with Chapman? Now that’s differed money.

If Boras was willing to yield to reality with Beltre, maybe BHSC will with Pujols. That guy with the blog at the Belleville paper suggests 30/300. If it started in 2010 it would give us another $6M for an arm. Thinking outside the box is the point I guess.

Here is some encouragement (I think) from the ChiTrib:

“For comparison’s sake, group eight starters in the field, four starting pitchers and the best four relievers from each team. Then evaluate them strictly on their 2009 performance based on Bill James’ measure of Win Shares. The Cardinals are at 230. . . . . . The Brewers are at 180,. . . . . . .The Cubs total a meager 166 . . . .”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-10-rogers-inside-baseball-jan10,0,1033848.column

The Market will be stronger next year because of the players. Whats Jeter suppose to do, leave NY for a better offer? They will have to pay him to keep the peace. He already makes 20+. When Mauer feels the outdoor cold, he will leave. There are plenty of players to go around. I think teams will conspire to control prices by agreeing to a players destination. That happened with Holiday.
The addition of Holiday seriously changes Pujols options. Add in performance challenges and you are back to players determining there competitive values. The NY teams have opened their stadiums. The economy has affected attendance. NY showed that it could buy a WS. The greatest available wealth for the owners to compete for is in the hands of the players. They have drawn first blood.

Next winter it will be interesting to see what happens with the Beltres of this winter. Here is a quote which I think represents the typical thinking:

“Surprisingly, Beltre turned down three-year, $24MM deals from both Oakland and Philadelphia to play in Boston. If he has a big season, however, he should be able to hit free agency and earn far more than $24MM total over the course of 2010-2012. ‘ (S. Adams, MLBTR)

The assumption is the FA market will be better next year. I don’t claim to know the future, but I can’t understand why that assumption would be made. I’ve heard it said that Mauer will bring out the big money bidders that didn’t show up for Holliday. Really? Why is that? I think that Mauer has unique value to the Twins like Holliday and Pujols have for the Cards, so he will get the big offer from them. There will be no 8/180 bidders for the same reason there were not this year. I have been keeping a good lookout and have seen no reasonable argument as to why next years FA market will be different. The reason is there is no sign the economy and financial markets will be any better. Inertia will keep things stationary until some force sets the markets rolling again. It will not happen just due to the passage of time.

I’m sure Scottie must have told Beltre and Damon and some other guys that the market will be better next year. I wonder if any of them required him to explain why the smart money is on that.

If you read carefully Brian, the Cardinal Organization has reserved the right to control the bond sale. As with the stadium. They were up to 180 million in subsidies from the city and state. But that isn’t the point. Someone very special want to hold those bonds, and he can’t right now. So they delay………until the time is right.

In the US economy, there is still potential ahead for continued real estate deflation (residential and commercial alike) and for a surge in inflation (owing to gross overspending by government and Federal Reserve debasing the currency).

The commissioner want to do a world championship round with the Japanese?

There are likely to be big changes in the Union/Owners contract coming up after 2011 The conservatives aren’t going to want the oval office again for a while with Obama doing everything they want anyway. The climate for record contracts is over.

Do you think Albert’s agents want him to become the poster boy in the upcoming struggle between players and owners. Hell know. The owners created the rapid inflation they desired when they had political control. The have the ticket prices they want, and the concession prices they want, and the TV revenue they want. They will draw back now and start collecting the profits. NY and Boston just showed that they can sacrifice for the benefit of the owners.

Even if Albert hit FA, the Cardinals aren’t out of it with current market forecasts. They might even save money if they go that route and just bid along with everyone else……………………… Pujols would be smart to take 8/200 right now as that is probably as good as he’s ever going to get………if he plays well this year and next that is. BD would go for it because the president for differing salary is already set by the Holiday deal. BD would love to save 4 or 5 mill a year to be paid later.

Brian, I believe Atlanta thought that Tex was a good old boy……………oops! The only possible trade for Albert would be Tex and 30/40 million. Boras would need some greasing to get him to convince Tex to wave his know trade. We would be unbeatable with a switch hitter in the 3 slot. So would the Yankees though.

“Do not underestimate the powers of the commissioner, young Brian”. (Return of the Jedi)

The A-Rod PED’s leak……..also including David Ortiz………shows some control with respect to fairness. He might not be the source….but he knows who it is……..and likely has some influence.

bb, gotta keep Holliday’s present day value under Albert’s $16 million. Also, no-trade protection is far from absolute. It gives the player two things. The ability to: 1) Determine where he will go and 2) Squeeze out some more cash for waiving his right. Once it is clear they are no longer wanted, few players want to remain. Halladay and Peavy are a couple of recent examples. Both had NTCs so could wait until trades suited them.

Cards are now well on their way to the highly anticipated youth movement…….one way or another.
They won’t be looking to take on big salary in trade for AP. Albert’s agents know this. No one is going to trade for Pujols without the extension in place, so like Tex and the Braves lesson, Albert’s agents really have to get him to FA just to negotiate. Cards would probably have to give him away.

This presents difficulties all around………enough to kill the radical market expansion that could happen with a 300 million dollar contract……….it ain’t gonna happen………that’s what this off season has been about. Teams that compete against Pujols aren’t as intimidated as his followers apparently believe. He is a good player………….the A-Rod market is gone.