"WARNING: What you are about to read is pure speculation. It has not, to my knowledge, been discussed at any level. In fact, it is not even my idea.

Harold Reynolds mentioned the possibility Monday on MLB Network. My colleague, Jon Paul Morosi, informed me of it later that night. I then stole the idea from Morosi as if I were Lindsay Lohan in a jewelry store.

Albert Pujols for Mark Teixeira.

And, if that doesn't work, Pujols for Ryan Howard.

Think it's nuts? Think again.

Pujols for Teixeira is a way out for the Cardinals, who are running out of time in their quest to meet Pujols' deadline for a new contract by the start of spring training.

Teixeira for Pujols also is a way out for the Yankees, who lost the offseason to the Red Sox and need a major splash to divert attention from their scary-thin rotation.

Heck, the deal even would be a way out for Pujols, who not only would get his money, but also would leave St. Louis with his reputation intact. His parting gift to the Cardinals would be Teixeira, a first baseman who is nearly at his level.

The Yankees could agree to pay Pujols $30 million per season as a condition of the trade; they're already paying Teixeira $22.5 million annually, and they're the geniuses who caused all this trouble by awarding the sun, the moon and the stars to Alex Rodriguez, to the tune of $27.5 million a year.

If the Yankees acquired Pujols, they would effectively counter the Red Sox's acquisition of Adrian Gonzalez — and then some. Heck, they might even start filling those expensive seats in the lower deck of Yankee Stadium, the ones that are about as affordable as Dubai."