"On the same day the Florida Marlins rebranded themselves with a new name and a new look to go with their new ballpark, executives with the club continued their aggressive pursuit of new players by wooing the biggest fish in the market, three-time MVP Albert Pujols.

Pujols and his representative spent all afternoon in Miami meeting with executives from the Marlins. Pujols received a "substantial" offer during the visit, according to a source familiar with the Marlins' plans.

For the first time in his career, Pujols is able to receive contract offers from clubs other than the Cardinals, the only professional franchise he's known. He made it clear during spring training that he planned to explore free agency, and the expectation was that he'd be courted by several teams. Friday offered what could be the first of several recruiting-style visits, during which Pujols receives the same royal treatment a blue-chip prospect might on a campus visit.

Pujols lunched with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and other Marlins executives, according to The Miami Herald. He also received a tour of the $515 million ballpark, which will debut next spring on opening day when the Marlins host the World Series champion Cardinals. A source familiar with the Marlins' greeting for Pujols said the team had many pictures of Pujols around, though each was modified to show him in the new Marlins jersey."