Over the past months, the contract situation of Albert Pujols, superstar first baseman of the St. Louis Cardinals, was front and center in baseball news. That is, it was dominating headlines until the player’s self-imposed February 16 negotiating deadline came and passed.
During that time, a series of related polls ran here at The Cardinal Nation Blog. Let’s take a look at what the readers had to say with their votes.
Not surprisingly, the fan view of when Pujols’ new contact will be signed slipped to the right over time. I first asked the question as 2010 ended, on New Year’s Eve, and again on Valentine’s Day.
Initially, the majority of the voters expected the club and player to come to terms before spring negotiations ended.
By February 14, the immediate optimism had waned. This polling date was still two days prior to Pujols’ deadline, but also before the free agent-to-be scored points with some by patiently answering media questions upon his arrival in camp and re-iterating his hope to remain with St. Louis.
| Where/when will Pujols sign? | 12/31/10 | 2/14/11 | Change |
| With St. Louis prior to season | 57% | 18% | |
| With St. Louis during season | 3% | 1% | |
| With St. Louis after season | 16% | 41% | |
| Total with St. Louis | 76% | 60% | -16% |
| With another club | 22% | 34% | 12% |
| No opinion/don’t know | 2% | 6% | 4% |
From the end of the year, reader confidence in Pujols returning to St. Louis in 2012 eroded from over 75 percent to just 60 percent. Three of every four changed votes shifted to an opposing club, while the fourth moved to “undecided.”
As of February 14, just over one-third of the voters believe Pujols is gone.
Another area of voting that attracted considerable interest was in setting the contract terms for what is viewed to be a winning upcoming fall offer by the Cardinals to Pujols.
Here are the results of the fan proposal with the leading percent of the vote for each element in parentheses:
- Eight year guarantee (39%) with two additional option years to be vested (36%)
- Average annual value of $26 million to $27 million (32%)
- 10 or less percent of the total value deferred (35%)
- Front-loaded (higher annual salary in early years) (56%)
- Ownership stake upon retirement (49%)
- Bonuses for games played and awards received (63%)
To create another point-in-time view of reader opinion, please share your opinion in the following three polls. New data points since last vote include the season-ending injury to Adam Wainwright and the trade speculation surrounding Chris Carpenter if the 2011 season collapses.
You can decide how much, if any, those two conditions matter before sharing your current prediction of what will happen with Pujols and when.
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Personally, I think he is gone. But my pessimism is eternal.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/03/mark-teixeira-drops-scott-boras.html
Boras is still paid. Its possible Tex just decided to drop his financial services, so thought to make a statement. However, it was much more likely that Boras has been approached by the Yankees considering the nature of Tex’s no trade clause, and how that might be exploited, in front of the Pujols free agency of course. That might have angered Mark a bit who is kind of a shy retiring kid.
So you are suggesting that the shy Tex may have fired his agent because the team approached said agent about waiving his no-trade clause… Seems quite a stretch to me…
Touch your toes…………………… More likely Tex put an end to the evil machinations of a demented ego…….reinforcing his own in the same fell swoop…………….. sending a message to many interested parties……….no doubt……….
General info;
MTex essentially became anonymous when he took that contract in NY. Too many hero’s in the hero marketplace. He could have sold more cars, cheese, Wheaties whatever, in Boston, Atlanta, LA. That wasn’t a consideration. SB corp. is the highest profile agency around. He will have all the best and most obvious perks……….. a family man doesn’t need anymore than 22 million a year to get by…………I’m fairly sure. He will pay yearly, the 4/5% regardless of his move against SB.
Bottom line……….he has a bullet proof no trade clause……….he wants to be/stay a Yankee……..
The only way the Yankees would even consider bringing up a trade topic, or a dramatic position reassignment, is by seeding the SB ego…….with dreams of center stage. The only way they could realistically get AP, is if they did…….. Albert’s contract expectation would cost them 30%/40% more if they could not shed 4yrs of MT’s contract. Luxury tax would kill them. They see that Boston, no matter the talk, still have the option of entering that market.
Tex, by firing Boras, could only be approached in a personal fashion. The Yankee’s could never afford to ruffle his feather with anything short of a PR attach of nuclear proportions…..twice what AP just absorbed…………just to run him out of town…… a foolish risk……….the kid took control of his future with this move…..smart move…………don’t tell me that he needs to pay taxes on more income by doing lawnmower commercials. Pro athletes are approached by agents all the time. Could somebody have got his attention? Maybe by pointing this out? Maybe. He’s probably just bright enough to make this preemptive move on his own, warning off all the parties concerned………….saying very loudly……..Don’t even think about it!!!!!!
Let’s get things straight – this general fantasy and supposition, not general info.
But it is a nice fairy tale even though it makes no sense. If they would have approached Boras about a trade they could just easily approach him now via a 3rd party. Even if they approached him directly, why would that be a PR disaster? He is not going to leak that they want to trade him and is unwanted. Only he loses with a leak as the Yankee fans and the press would be thrilled that the Yankees were putting themselves in a position to bid for Pujols. If the Yankees wanted to leak it, him changing representation wont change or prevent that. He would have to approve a trade either way. If you wanted to speculate that MTex fired Boras because he was pressuring him to accept a trade then I might be on board with that possibility.
I think the effectiveness of any postulation is depended on many things Brazilian. I believe I said exactly what I wanted here. Very cleverly I might add. In your rush to cypher its content, you expect to much of yourself I think. You have made many “wrong assumptions” from your experiential/intellectual perspective. I’m not willing to discuss it further, or more completely. I will say this though………AP won’t be going to NY. That in itself, and how it appears to be developing is a very interesting revelation for me……………. just stay with this though…. 2 weeks after the AP deadline passes……… Tex lets go of his famous agent…..because they were going in different directions. True enough. Why map it anyway?
The timing could be a coincidence and the firing and the deadline passing could be unrelated. But I can think of no reason to assume that to be the case. Of oll the people who could have fired their agent two weeks after an Albert free agency became a realistic possibility/probability. Coincidence is possible but less than likely IMO.
But I would also not make assumptions about just why Boras was fired. Maybe he pushed to hard one way or another, maybe something else.
Maybe Tex found out Scotty is a former employee of the Cards organization and suspects a conspiracy.
The have to sign a contract every year at this time BB. He just didn’t re-up. The purpose of the press release, usually done by the agent coming on board wasn’t the case. Tex just made a statement to the press. Who knows……maybe he wants to go elsewhere and just doesn’t want Scotti gumming up the works with some ridiculous power play? Doubt that………. the first thing a team like NY will do is have an exploratory meeting to talk about whats possible. Who care anyway. That just tells me that Selig is deep in whatever is happening……….notice Como stepping into the Met/Madox case………..lets settle and not create legal precedents…..good old NY.
#
# Adrian Gonzalez told Rojas that he has no pre-set extension agreement with the Red Sox and that he needs to prove that his shoulder is completely healthy before finalizing a deal with his new team (link in Spanish). Gonzalez denied that the sides are waiting to announce the deal because of baseball’s luxury tax.
His shoulder surgery is an interesting variable………
I still think that Pujols and team management are waiting for the offseason so he can be offered a mega deal thus stroking AP’s ego and solidifying his status as the best in the game, and then creating a situation where he signs with the Cards for less. In that scenario he would be a hero (similar to Musial’s return of salary) and making him a fan darling in this era where players are vilified for being mercenaries. As Brian pointed out though, there are several other factors at work that I haven’t been able to address in a plan like that (one of which is the union). I guess the question becomes, what does AP want most? To remain a Cardinal? The $ ? Does he want to win? What combination of those things? Which teams can give him those goals? If he looks at the Cards current situation and decides they can’t pay him the mega deal and be competitive he walks. The above scenario where he reaches FA can give him everything but the $ (just the satisfaction of being ‘offered’ the most).
Kansas — That’s the question… does he just want the biggest offer or the actual money? If I had to guess, I’d say the latter. But we shall see. I agree he’d be a hero if your scenario plays out… turning down a big offer to stay… but that’s probably wishful thinking.
I’ve officially moved to the ‘don’t know’ part of the spectrum. I’d like Albert to stay with the team for reasonable money/years, but after the failure to get a deal done this winter, I’m not sure it can be done.
If ownership overpays, it limits their ability to put quality complimentary pieces around him, concentrates too much of the team’s payroll in a single player (who, getting older, may begin to experience invevitable performance decline that comes with age), and it exposes the team to disaster from a single injury.
On the other hand, if Albert goes for dough the team is unwilling to pay, we lose an iconic player who is the core of the team’s offense and we run the risk of Albert signing with an NL or division rival. That would be hard to take and among fans who say pay Albert anything he wants, there will be a great wailing, moaning and gnashing of teeth.
Quite possible we’re looking at a lose-lose situation… damned if we do and damned if we don’t…
I used to think AP would stay. When he said he wanted to be a Cardinal for life and that it was about winning not money, I believed him. But I’m no longer so sure that he was sincere or that he retains that position. Not signing before reaching free agency has shaken my faith in him in a way RC’s whisper campaign against him cannot… and never will.
Want your cake and eat it too eh HB? You doubt Pujols’ sincerity but refuse to believe anything RC has said about him? Seems like if you have doubts it would make RC’s comments a little more credible. But then you would have to admit RC may be right about something, but your pride won’t let you do that will it? Not surprising since if RC is right about Albert then he might be right about other things and then your whole world has blown to bits. Best to keep living in that bubble I guess.
Engaging young lady seeks “friendship”………… read the add lying with him in a pool of blood that surrounded his now stiffening body.
I’ll make my judgment on what Albert DOES… not on what someone SAYS who has personal animus and is engaged in character assassination. You feel free to conduct yourself as you wish… Tonto.
I tend to make up my own mind about things.
Two quick points… 1) My doubt about Albert’s sincerity is limited to the matter of money. I do believe he’d like to be a Cardinal for life so long as the Cards give him the money & years he’s asking for. 2) I’ve never said I refuse to believe anything RC says. I have said repeatedly that I’m circumspect about things he says. There’s a subtlety there you don’t seem to have grasped.
I see Silver’s hind-quarters has chimed in as well. Typical. Must have needed a break from reading the Warren Report in reverse, holding it up to a mirror, looking for clues about things that have nothing to do with baseball.
The whole RC Posse, minus only the Lone Ranger himself! Where is that RC feller, anyhow?
I see young Rasmus made an error today… and is 2/6 so far over two games, neither hit to LF… but I bet he ‘slapped’ them
Bench boy………….. RC is a nationally recognized baseball coach……..a sire to a developing line of professional baseball players. He is engaged in the game of professional baseball. His observations are/have been validated over and over in recent months. He would likely kick your ass if you tried to mount his knee, as it appears you have a desire to do. You are offering your opinions worded in a way that seem to suggest your knowledge spans more than your “on line reading”….. You can express your opinions here. Stop attempting to fulfill your self esteem needs by addressing your “superiors” with an uninvited familiarity. I would advise you to try making meaningful predictions and observations that may reflect your true insights……. those that are interested may respond………….. go back to researching issues talked about here. Become informed. Sit down………..
Don’t encourage him CRD.
What? HB doesn’t need encouragement WC. He posts his Rantings without any prompting from me.
Thanks for capitalizing Rantings.
Glad to see you back to your (ab)normal, fiesty, self. BTW, does RC pay you, or is your work pro bono (or Sonny Bono)?
I wish he did pay me I could use the money.
No, it’s just great minds thinking alike. 
Key word is “meaningful” Westie, take your own words to heart!
I though WC’s response to HB was very meaningful.
All I can say after reading that ‘epistle’ is that I must have missed the memo where Westy was put in charge of the blog… and I definitely wouldn’t shake his hand without first putting on some latex gloves and/or having industrial-sized quantities of hand sanitizer nearby…
HBT-don`t forget the hip boots.
HBT-well said and very true.
Everyone, please stop all the personal sniping. Disagreements about baseball are fine and in fact, expected.
We are disagreeing about baseball.
But Brian, its not about baseball
3 wiffs for Albert. Probably blinded by glare from his gold chains.
Everyone seems to realize that what the team says about Carp and Motte means nothing. We’ll just have to wait and see.
I hope it isn’t what it looks like BB……………..what is the talk surrounding Motte?
I’m sure bb meant Boggs, not Motte.
oops
Some predict AP will have a monster year going into free agency, but I’m not so sure. Seems in the past he’s struggled in situations where he puts personal pressure on himself. He used to struggle in games vs. the Giants when he and Bonds were vying for MVP supremacy. He’s hit poorly vs. the Cubs for his career… one of only 3 NL teams against which he’s got a lifetime BA under .300 (the others are the Phils and Marlins). The rivalry with Howard may play a part there. And I don’t recall him being a big factor facing the Reds last year though I don’t see it reflected in his numbers.
So far in ST he has no hits and 3 K’s today… something to watch. Like Holliday in the early going last year, putting pressure on himself might have negative consequences. Something to think about going forward too… It can be hard to live up to the pressure of being the highest paid guy on the playground.
One of the fun things this year will be seeing what kind of season Albert has. Personally, I think he is 100% focused all the time, so its not really possible to kick it up a notch.
That’s not to say he is immune from the psychological stuff that can affect performance. The new clubhouse might have an effect, one way or another. If the team stinks or valiantly kicks butt without Wainy, that could matter. But the most likely thing to happen is whatever has happenned before. So Albert will probably have his normal type of season, if he stays healthy. He has been rather steady through ups and downs.
2 AB’s were against Dickey. In your second game of the Spring, having to face a Knuckleball pitcher isn’t too much fun, I’m assuming of course. Not going for an excuse, but when i realized he faced him twice, I let the 3K day slip away from my concern.
It could have been worse. He could have been a lefty knuckleballer.
Submarine lefty knuckleballer :O
HBT-no need to get worried.These games mean abouit as much as a Westy rant………nothing at all.
The Strauss chat Q&A today is very interesting. Especially his answers to Berkman questions. I came away feeling like the elbow situation is rather ominous, and grimm. Also some interesting discussion of the Berkman and Punto pre-existing injury issue.
http://interact.stltoday.com/discussions/sports/joe-strauss-live/LD0225111356/all