Albert Pujols News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

January 16

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. insisted Sunday that his inability to retain free agent first baseman Albert Pujols had nothing to do with a lack of organizational commitment but much to do with recognizing fiscal limitations. A day after a downtown Hyatt ballroom crowd applauded general manager John Mozeliak for suggesting the process worked to the benefit of both sides, DeWitt underscored his desire to bring back Pujols, who last month agreed to a 10-year, $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. "This is a very knowledgeable baseball market. I think they realize you can only do so much for a given player and compete year in and year out," DeWitt said during an afternoon"

Carpenter: Pujols should be praised, not 'beat up'

January 15

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Chris Carpenter, the pitching hero of last year's Cardinals World Series run, made an appearance at the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up today and talked about past successes and the somewhat uncertain future. "There's a lot of excitment around this ball club, after everything that went on at the end," said Carpenter. "It went from excitement to a little bit of sadness with Tony (manager Tony La Russa retired). And obviously with Albert (Pujols) leaving, it brought some questions, but I'm excited about the opportunity we're going to have. "Losing Albert is a big thing, but that is the game. The things that he brought to this organization and this community are enormous and he should be praised for"

Will the Angels get their money's worth from Albert Pujols?

January 14

Los Angeles Times

"Albert Pujols can lead the Angels to a few World Series championships, win several most-valuable-player awards, set the all-time home run record and pass 3,000 hits, and he would not pay for himself. It seems unlikely that any player, no matter how dominant and marketable, can generate close to $240 million in 10 years. But that's not to say the Angels aren't already benefiting from the Dec. 8 acquisition of Pujols, which, combined with the same-day signing of pitcher C.J. Wilson, sparked a surge in ticket and merchandise sales. There is also the intangible that often makes this high-stakes game of player acquisition worthwhile. If owner Arte Moreno sells the team after Pujols' retirement,"

Albert Pujols is no regular pupil for Angels' batting coach

January 5

Los Angeles Times

"Mickey Hatcher still has his job with the Angels, much to the dismay of fans who call for his dismissal every time the offense slumps. And the hitting coach clearly still has his sense of humor. Asked how he will handle Albert Pujols, the Hall-of-Fame-caliber slugger who signed a 10-year, $250-million deal with the Angels in December, Hatcher joked, "I'm definitely not going to try to confuse him — you've seen me do that already with [Vernon] Wells.""

Details of Albert Pujols' contract with Angels revealed

December 31

Los Angeles Times

"Albert Pujols' contract with the Angels guarantees the slugger $240 million over 10 years and includes a personal-services agreement worth at least $10 million, according to several Internet reports, the details of which were confirmed by a person familiar with the deal but not authorized to speak publicly about it. The contract is heavily backloaded, which helped the Angels accommodate the five-year, $77.5-million deal for pitcher C.J. Wilson, and includes hefty milestone bonuses that could push the package's value to $260 million. If Pujols, who amassed 2,073 hits and 445 home runs in 11 seasons in St. Louis, reaches 3,000 hits, a milestone he is on pace to hit in 2016 or 2017, he will"

Sources: Albert Pujols' deal backloaded

December 30

ESPN.com

"Albert Pujols was on the receiving end of one of the most lucrative contracts in professional sports history when he agreed with the Los Angeles Angels on a 10-year deal for about $250 million earlier this month. But he also made some accommodations to help his new club land another prize catch this winter. Pujols agreed to a backloaded deal -- taking significantly less money in the first two years -- to aid the Angels in their pursuit of free agent pitcher C.J. Wilson, baseball sources told ESPN.com. Pujols will make a base salary of $12 million in 2012 and $16 million in 2013, said a source. His salary will gradually increase until it surpasses $30 million annually near the end of the"

Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson make Angels better, but how much?

December 20

Los Angeles Times

columnist Mike DiGiovanna

"The $331.5-million free-agent splurge that netted slugger Albert Pujols and pitcher C.J. Wilson didn't merely transform the Angels from a second-place — and, in some ways, second-rate — club to a World Series contender. It also sent expectations soaring, owner Arte Moreno delivering a clear message with his checkbook that he wants World Series championships, not just playoff berths. That means the 2012 Angels shouldn't be measured next to the 2011 Angels, who struggled to score runs and hold leads and failed to reach the playoffs for the second straight year."

La Russa: Pujols pained by decision

December 16

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Despite keeping his distance during the final volley of talks between the Cardinals and free agent icon Albert Pujols, former Redbirds manager Tony La Russa believes the divorce of the defending World Series champions from their three-time National League MVP last week was "unavoidable." La Russa, scheduled to appear Saturday afternoon at an autograph show in Clayton, described Pujols as "conflicted" about the decision when he spoke to his former player several hours after Pujols made his decision last Thursday. The impression has only hardened since, La Russa said. "There's a lot to explain why Albert is going there," La Russa told the Post-Dispatch. "Mostly, I think it's the system." La"

Ron Washington: We won't let Pujols beat us

December 15

Dallas Morning News

"Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington on Wednesday praised the Los Angeles Angels , an American League West rival, for last week's big-ticket additions of powerful first baseman Albert Pujols and lefthander C.J. Wilson, the Rangers' leading winner over the last two seasons. ``You've got to commend the Angels for what they did,'' Washington said. ``They did what they had to do to bolster their offense. ... They did a good job of picking up C.J. Wilson for their rotation, which is pretty good. The game is played between the lines, and we'll be ready to play when that time comes.''"

Cardinals made epic commitment to Pujols

December 14

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Jeff Gordon

"Albert Pujols is a Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim today because team owner Arte Moreno made a huge commitment to him. Pujols got the Alex Rodriguez dollars he sought in free agency, $254 million for 10 years. The contract doesn't include heavy deferrals, as the final Cardinal offers did. And it does feature milestone bonuses and post-playing employment. Albert earned every bit of that phenomenal deal by delivering superhuman production over an 11-year span. Nobody should begrudge him for that. "To tell you the truth, it wasn't about the money," Pujols insisted. "I'm going to die saying that, because it wasn't about the money. It was about the commitment." This implies that the Cardinal"

With Pujols, Angels are aiming high

December 12

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Joe Strauss

"Arte Moreno had become used to finishing second best in free agency. It had become something of a building, irritating legacy. Now Albert Pujols is his answer. Positioned to not only challenge, but to overtake the Los Angeles Dodgers as Southern California's dominant franchise, Moreno parlayed a massive new local cable contract into the second-largest contract in the game's history: $254 million for perhaps the game's best-ever righthanded hitter. The Angels captured a World Series championship in 2002, something the Dodgers haven't done since 1988. They are debt-free, according to Moreno, who shelled out less than $200 million for a franchise now worth close to four times as much."

Deidre Pujols speaks up about split with Cardinals

December 12

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Deidre Pujols, wife of former Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, appeared on Joy FM (99.1) in St. Louis this morning to share what she termed the Pujols' "side of the story" concerning Albert's departure from the Cardinals and how he ended up signing with the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols took issue with many things that have been reported concerning contract offers that were made by the Cardinals, and said she has also been surprised at the vehement response to the family's decision to move on. "The devil has overplayed his hand because I have Christian folk trying to throw the Word in my face," Pujols said. She also said it was difficult to understand how folks who had supported Albert Pujols"

Poor Albert had no choice

December 12

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bernie Miklasz

"Watching a nervous and clearly conflicted Albert Pujols on the stage in Anaheim, I kept thinking: Why wasn't he happy? Pujols already had a dream of a life, a fantasy, and it just got a whole lot better. Now he'll be enjoying the enhanced prosperity of his new $254 million contract from the Angels. And he seemed sad in a way. Was Pujols trying to get the great fans of St. Louis to feel sorry for him? Tough sale, there. He leads an existence that no working man or woman can relate to. His problems are not our problems. No one moored to reality can possibly feel sympathy for Pujols. Having empathy for Pujols would be an egregious example of misplaced principles. Why wasn't Albert thrilled by"

Albert Pujols brings fans to Angel Stadium, even in December

December 12

Los Angeles Times

"Two hundred fifty-four million dollars to play baseball. And now this. Saturday brought blue skies and temperatures near 70, gently swaying palm trees, two huge red caps with large A's bracketing the entrance to the stadium they define, and nearly 5,000 fans screaming his name and gushing their affection. Albert Pujols must have thought he had died and gone to heaven. Never before had a team presented a more fitting name for a player's situation. It is Angel-red heaven now, no matter how much that makes Tom Lasorda squirm."

Pujols: 'It was about the commitment.'

December 11

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Shortly before noon local time Saturday, Albert Pujols slipped into a fitted Los Angeles Angels cap and a crisp home white jersey before a crowd of more than 4,000 boisterous fans. It was 11:50 a.m. to be precise. And for the first time as a professional, the three-time National League MVP could be seen as something other than a Cardinal. Appearing nervous during a raucous public news conference, Pujols later spoke of a "stressful" time that he acknowledged created "hurt" for his family as well as a loyal fan base he left behind. Saturday's appearance was part of a two-day ritual following Pujols' Thursday morning acceptance of a 10-year, $254 million contract, the second-most lucrative"

Angels reach Albert Pujols on a personal level

December 11

Los Angeles Times

"It was 5 a.m. Thursday in Dallas when the Angels, following five hours of negotiations on the final night of the winter meetings, closed a five-year, $77.5-million deal with pitcher C.J. Wilson. After a group hug with front-office executives, General Manager Jerry Dipoto returned to his Hilton Anatole suite for a little sleep. "The woman at the front desk laughed when I called at 6:30 a.m. and asked for an 8 a.m. wake-up call," Dipoto said. "By the time I got up and showered, my phone was going crazy." One of those calls, at 8:55 a.m., was from Dan Lozano, the agent for Albert Pujols, the St. Louis slugger who only 36 hours earlier was linked with the Angels for the first time. Dipoto, not"

Albert Pujols brings fans to Angel Stadium, even in December

December 11

Los Angeles Times

columnist Bill Dwyre

"Two hundred fifty-four million dollars to play baseball. And now this. Saturday brought blue skies and temperatures near 70, gently swaying palm trees, two huge red caps with large A's bracketing the entrance to the stadium they define, and nearly 5,000 fans screaming his name and gushing their affection. Albert Pujols must have thought he had died and gone to heaven. Never before had a team presented a more fitting name for a player's situation. It is Angel-red heaven now, no matter how much that makes Tom Lasorda squirm. On a day that certainly seemed to shine down from somewhere onto the heretofore second fiddle in Southern California major league baseball, there were smiles and hugs"

Albert Pujols deal makes Angels important in L.A. and the AL

December 9

Los Angeles Times

columnist Bill Plaschke

"The Rally Monkey has become King Kong. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Southern California's cute little boutique baseball team, blew open the cozy walls Thursday with $331.5 million in improvements that could change the local sports landscape forever. Now starting at first base for the Angels, Albert Pujols, perhaps baseball's best player, a three-time most valuable player signed as a free agent from the St. Louis Cardinals for $254 million over 10 years. Now in the starting pitching rotation for the Angels, C.J. Wilson, one of baseball's best left-handers, signed as a free agent from the Texas Rangers for $77.5 million over five years."

On heavenly day, Angels get Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson

December 9

Los Angeles Times

"In a record spree that sent shock waves through baseball — and could dramatically alter the Southern California sports scene — the Angels on Thursday announced they had spent $331 million to acquire baseball's most feared slugger and one of its top left-handed pitchers. Within a span of two frenzied early-morning hours, the Angels reached agreements with first baseman Albert Pujols for 10 years and $254 million and C.J. Wilson for five years and $77.5 million. Pujols' deal is the second-largest in major league history. And it gives the Angels the kind of star power to challenge the Dodgers, who are struggling on and off the field, as the region's premier baseball franchise."

Pujols signing could alter J-Roll landscape

December 9

CSN Philly

columnist Jim Salisbury

"Ruben Amaro Jr. headed back to Philadelphia from the winter meetings Thursday still without a shortstop. Signs point to free agent Jimmy Rollins eventually re-signing with the Phillies, but the team's pursuit of him might have gotten a little more complicated with the mega news that Albert Pujols had signed a staggering 10-year, $250 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels (see blog post). Pujols' departure from St. Louis leaves the Cardinals with money in their budget and they could engage Rollins' agent, Dan Lozano, in contract talks. Lozano is also Pujols' agent, so he now has some free time in his schedule."

Pujols deal belies Cardinals' actions

December 9

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bryan Burwell

"The best player in baseball is gone, and now the people who run the Cardinals are singing a phony chorus of lament, regret and frustration because they keep telling anyone who'll listen, gosh darn it, they really, really, really, really wanted to keep Albert Pujols in St. Louis. "I would like our fans to know that we tried our best to make Albert a lifetime Cardinal," team chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. "I think we did everything we could," said general manager John Mozeliak. Of course, I can't hear what they're saying because their actions have drowned out their words. Their actions tell another story entirely. Their actions seem to suggest the Cards allowed a once-in-a-generation,"

DeWitt holds firm, sends Albert packing

December 9

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Jeff Gordon

"Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. never flinched. His vision for his franchise never clouded. He saw the Albert Pujols scenario with great clarity. Good business is good business. Bad business is bad business. He could justify investing roughly $200 million to make Pujols a Cardinal for Life. That would have been giant money for the second half of Albert's career, but the franchise could have recouped it by marketing his attack on the record books. That would have been a bad baseball contract, given his desire to adhere to a $110 million payroll limit, but the franchise could have absorbed it by relying more heavily on younger players. But DeWitt was unwilling to go higher. He set his"

Pujols misses chance to join Musial's rarified air

December 9

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"In another decade or so, when Stan Musial would be 100 and Albert Pujols 40, the comparisons really could have begun. If Pujols' next 10 years would have been anything like his first 11, the Cardinals' first baseman legitimately could have challenged, at least statistically, the revered Musial as the "Greatest Cardinal of Them All." Now, with Pujols fleeing to the Los Angeles Angels, Musial, as he has for the past 50 or 60 years, will hold that title in undisputed fashion — for our lifetimes and those of many others. Pujols would have had to step it up a bit to catch Musial for career batting average as a Cardinal. He finished three points behind at .328, and 1,557 hits behind at 3,630 to"

Quick and rocky ending: How Pujols became an Angel

December 9

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The Los Angeles Angels accomplished in less than two days what the Cardinals failed to transact in two years by signing three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols on Thursday to a contract that will run through the remainder of a Hall-of-Fame career. Late entries to the process, the Angels stunned Major League Baseball's winter meetings by overwhelming the Cardinals and at least two other suitors with a 10-year, $254 million bid free of deferred money and packed with enough milestone incentives to make the deal worth upwards of $280 million. The Angels' pursuit contrasted the Cardinals' methodical, conservative tact that saw them follow up last February's failed talks about a contract"

Pujols signs with Angels: 10 years, $254 million

December 9

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The Los Angeles Angels accomplished in less than two days what the Cardinals failed to transact in two years by signing three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols to a contract that will run through the remainder of a Hall of Fame career. Late entries to the process, the Angels stunned Major League Baseball's winter meetings by overwhelming the Cardinals and at least two other suitors with a 10-year, $254 million bid free of deferred money and packed with enough milestone incentives to make the deal worth upwards of $280 million. The Angels' pursuit contrasted the Cardinals' methodical, conservative tact that saw them follow up last February's failed talks about a contract extension with"

What else can Pujols want?

December 8

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bernie Miklasz

"The Cardinals and Albert Pujols confuse me. If the Cardinals are offering Pujols a 10-year contract worth more than $200 million, it's a big risk. A foolish risk, even. Even if the St. Louis proposal is nine years, with an option to kick it to 10 years, the Cardinals are suspending caution. Didn't Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak say the team would base its offer on forward projections instead of paying for past performance? Something changed. Unless Pujols can reverse the aging process and sustain his production through his late 30s and early 40s, this large investment could turn rotten and grow into a heavy burden. The only thing more puzzling than the Cardinals' largesse in"

Pujols agrees to terms with Angels on landmark deal

December 8

Yahoo! Sports

"Albert Pujols(notes), the heart and hammer of the St. Louis Cardinals for more than a decade, will leave St. Louis and sign with the Los Angeles Angels, sources said Thursday morning. Latecomers to the Pujols derby, the Angels will pay Pujols $250 million to $260 million over 10 years, a devastating turn for the Cardinals and a departure from past organizational philosophies for Arte Moreno's Angels. After a month-long search for wealth and happiness, most notably in Miami, Pujols will not return to the only organization he's known."

Angels are new challengers in Pujols bidding

December 8

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The Cardinals outlasted one contender for free agent first baseman and three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols on Wednesday only to be confronted by another, perhaps more serious challenger. Only hours after the Miami Marlins were either eliminated from consideration or withdrew their 10-year offer for Pujols, the Los Angeles Angels officially entered the fray with a bid reportedly worth at least $210 million over the same term. The sudden twist dropped the Cardinals from apparent leaders in their quest to retain their offensive centerpiece into an uncertain posture a day after they made an offer to Pujols' representative, Dan Lozano. A subsequent flurry of meetings Wednesday between"

Miami Marlins out of running for Albert Pujols, turn attention to Prince Fielder

December 7

New York Daily News

"Albert Pujols appears headed back to the St. Louis Cardinals, prompting the Miami Marlins to switch their attention for a bigtime slugging first baseman to Prince Fielder, the Daily News has learned. Sources told the News Wednesday that Pujols and the Cardinals are believed to be "a few million dollars apart" on a 10-year contract, and that the Marlins, after pursuing the 31-year-old three-time NL Most Valuable Player vigorously the past two days, have concluded his preference is to stay in St. Louis. They have now begun pressing heavily to sign Fielder, who hit .299 with 38 homers and 120 RBI for the Milwaukee Brewers last season."

Bernie Bytes: 5 takes on Pujols, Marlins

December 7

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"1. If Pujols leaves, I'd be reluctant to demonize either side ... well, at least not until we know exactly what was offered by both teams. Let's go over this again: baseball is a business, period. Pujols isn't morally obligated to re-sign with the Cardinals. This is his first crack at free agency and he has every right to take advantage of it to steer his career in a way that pleases him. On the other side, the Cardinals are under no obligation to give an aging Pujols a silly contract that could complicate the club's ability to compete down the road. The only way I'd change my opinion -- and cast blame -- is if Pujols walks from a deal that puts the Cardinals reasonably close to the"

Cards taking a risky approach

December 7

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bryan Burwell

"When Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak arrived in Dallas a few days ago for baseball's annual winter meetings, it didn't take long for him to discover that hot stove league activity regarding tree-time MVP slugger Albert Pujols had risen from a rather slow simmer to a rapid boil. By Tuesday, the pursuit of baseball's most coveted free agent was positively scalding. Within hours, Pujols' agent Dan Lozano was holding two rather significant contract offers in his hand — a 10-year, $200-million deal from the rather serious Miami Marlins, and a similar offer from a "mystery" team. There's also still an undisclosed offer from the Chicago Cubs. So after months of sitting idly by, the"

Cardinals boost offer to Pujols

December 7

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The Cardinals rejoined the fray for free agent first baseman Albert Pujols on Tuesday by offering the three-time National League MVP a deal believed to potentially approach $220 million for up to 10 years. Now they wait to see if it's enough. A flurry of activity among the Cardinals, the Miami Marlins and a third team that emerged from what one source familiar with the process described as "the tall weeds" apparently leaves Pujols with his choice of proposals that would carry through his 41st birthday. Though the Cardinals declined to place a deadline on their offer, the Marlins are believed to be pushing for a resolution before the meetings adjourn Thursday. Cardinals general manager John"

Is Albert Pujols being pursued by the Angels?

December 7

Los Angeles Times

"Word began to circulate through the winter meetings hotel Tuesday evening that a "mystery" team had joined the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins in pursuit of slugger Albert Pujols. Could that team be the Angels? Foxsports.com reported late Tuesday night that the Angels are pursuing Pujols, a 31-year-old free-agent first baseman who has been one of baseball's premier sluggers for 11 seasons and has reportedly received two 10-year offers of more than $200 million. But one person with direct knowledge of negotiations said the Angels are not the mystery team, and another person in the organization who is familiar with the team's decision-making process said Pujols' name "has not come up.""

Marlins move for Pujols is appropriate madness

December 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

columnist Dave Hyde

"The Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! are the Yankees. Jeffrey Loria is Daddy Warbucks. The franchise that didn't buy enough hot dogs one Opening Day is dropping million-dollar bills like Hansel and Gretel's bread crumbs. Signing Ozzie Guillen, Heath Bell and Jose Reyes in recent days was surprising enough. This is a team that once lost the majors' lowest-paid pitching coach, Rick Kranitz, over a $5,000 raise, after all. Now Loria has gone all in on Albert Pujols. Ten years. More than $200 million. And if you're with me saying how wild this is and goes against everything the Marlins have been — well, that's the point, isn't it?"

What happens to Phils if Marlins land Pujols?

December 7

CSN Philly

columnist Gregg Murphy

"The Major League Baseball winter meetings are being held in Dallas this week…so the focus of the baseball world should be there as well. But the truth is, that focus has shifted to South Florida, where the new-look Marlins are making more waves than a summer coastal storm. Miami has already landed the best the shortstop in baseball with Jose Reyes taking his talents to South Beach, and now baseball sources say Albert Pujols may soon follow. Pujols is the best player in the game. A three-time MVP winner, and in 11 seasons, he's finished in the top five in the MVP voting 10 times! He'll be 32 when the season starts and shows absolutely no evidence that he'll be slowing down soon."

Pujols sleeps on Cardinals', Marlins' offers; decision could come Wednesday

December 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"'Twas a cold night in Dallas, when up to their suite/ The Marlins retired having not heard a peep. An offer was made to the agent presiding/ In the hopes King Albert soon would be signing. Marlins fans will have to wait a little longer to see if they'll be getting the ultimate Christmas present. The club was hopeful of learning one way or the other whether Albert Pujols would accept their new 10-year, $200 million-plus offer. By midnight, the Marlins had a good sense Pujols would not be making his decision until after daybreak."

Marlins make monster offer to Pujols

December 6

Foxsports.com

"After landing shortstop Jose Reyes, the Miami Marlins moved toward an even bigger free-agent splash by offering a 10-year contract to slugger Albert Pujols. The offer to Pujols is valued at over $200 million, a source confirmed. The money apparently is acceptable to Pujols, as a source said the two sides are trying to work through no-trade issues. Late Tuesday Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, team president David Samson and GM Michael Hill met with Dan Halem of the commissioner's office and were later joined by the team's president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest. They could have been discussing any number of contractual issues; they may have been checking to make sure a possible Pujols"

Albert Pujols mulls 3 offers: Cardinals, Marlins, and 1 more

December 6

USA Today

"Marquee free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols, fueling the most lucrative bidding war in baseball history, obtained three 10-year contract proposals Tuesday that would pay him in excess of $200 million, an official close to the negotiations told USA TODAY. The official requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. Pujols, who could announce his decision as early as Wednesday, has offers from the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins and a third team that has publicly declined to be identified. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak confirmed his club increased its offer to Pujols late Tuesday, his first offer in nine months."

Sources: Marlins expect decision

December 6

ESPN.com

"Albert Pujols may not be a Miami Marlin by the time he wakes up Wednesday morning. But the team expects a resolution to its bid to sign Pujols, one way or the other, in the next few hours, sources told ESPN.com Tuesday night. The Marlins have pressed Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, for an answer on their latest 10-year offer, sources said. Meanwhile, Lozano was continuing to talk with the Cardinals, who have an offer of their own on the table. Baseball sources told ESPN the Magazine's Buster Olney earlier Tuesday the Marlins made a 10-year offer to Pujols, though it is unclear what the monetary figure of the offer is. Another key question is whether the Marlins would agree to include a"

Cardinals present formal offer to Pujols

December 6

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The St. Louis Cardinals presented three-time MVP Albert Pujols a contract offer this afternoon at the winter meetings, and when asked whose court the ball is now in general manager John Mozeliak replied succinctly: "Theirs." The details of the Cardinals offer are not yet known, and Mozeliak declined to disclose any specific. He did acknowledge that the Cardinals position had changed in regards to negotiating with Pujols' agent, Dan Lozano. Mozeliak also said it represented a new offer and not one that had its origins in the nine-year, $198-million deal offered Pujols in January. Mozeliak said that he imagines the resolution will come "sooner rather than later.""

Report: Miami Marlins offer Albert Pujols 10-year deal

December 6

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Albert Pujols is one of those guys that's tough to envision in a uniform other than the one he's worn his whole career. Apparently, the Miami Marlins clearly can see him in colors other than the St Louis Cardinals red and white. According to ESPN, the Marlins have increased their offer to Pujols to 10 years. This after introducing Heath Bell at the Winter Meetings Monday subsequent his three-year, $27 million deal and agreeing with Jose Reyes on a six-year, $106 million contract. Loria after Monday's Bell conference was asked if the Marlins were seriously considering other big-name players. His response: "I'm a serious guy.""

Winter Meetings: Mozeliak talks directly to Pujols

December 6

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak and chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. met with the agent for Albert Pujols for at least an hour this afternoon, and Mozeliak said they are expected to talk again tonight. Mozeliak told local beat writers tonight that even after their discussion he does not have a sense of the momentum talks could take in the coming days. "In this setting, things have the ability to move faster," Mozeliak said. "As I sit back, look and listen at things, it does seem you're going to see some market movement." He cautioned not to read into the length of the chat with Dan Lozano, Pujols' agent, or the fact that they would talk again tonight. Mozeliak did say he has spoken"

Aggressive Marlins meet with Pujols' agent

December 6

MLB.com

"Heath Bell was introduced as the newest Marlin on Monday. The organization is expected to officially sign Jose Reyes on Wednesday. Could Albert Pujols be far behind? Clearly, the Marlins are not done shopping. And all options are being considered at the Winter Meetings. On Monday, they expressed interest in the top player in the game. A couple hours before the Marlins announced Bell as their new closer, team officials met with Dan Lozano, Pujols' agent. They met with Lozano again later on Monday and were expected to follow up on Tuesday. The Marlins aren't commenting on the details from the discussions, but their interest in the longtime Cardinals slugger remains strong. A few weeks ago,"

Cubs meet with Pujols' agent, but were they talking about Pujols?

December 6

Chicago Tribune

"Albert Pujols' agent met with the Cubs on Monday at the winter meetings, but baseball president Theo Epstein warned not to jump to conclusions. "We met with (agent) Dan Lozano, and he also represents Rodrigo Lopez, among other players," Epstein said. "You're seen going into someone's room, and it's not always that you're there to talk about the big kahuna." The biggest fear of Cardinals fans is that the big kahuna could bolt St. Louis and wind up with the rival Cubs, though that scenario appears remote based on Pujols' price tag. Though Epstein will explore all avenues, he said he felt "zero" compulsion to make a big splash just because it's his first winter meetings running the Cubs, and"

Pujols talks gaining momentum

December 6

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Talks for free agent first baseman Albert Pujols may finally have found their missing element: momentum. The Cardinals and Miami Marlins further defined themselves Monday as the leading contenders to secure the three-time National League most valuable player during alternating talks with Pujols' representation at the headquarters hotel for Major League Baseball's winter meetings. Having recently spoken directly to Pujols, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak met for roughly an hour earlier in the day with agent Dan Lozano before scheduling a late-night session that was expected to produce a modified proposal. That meeting, however, was postponed until this"

Sources: Marlins targeting Albert Pujols

December 5

ESPN.com

"Now that they've checked Jose Reyes off their to-do list, the Miami Marlins have an even bigger name on their radar screen -- Albert Pujols. Sources told ESPN.com on Sunday night that the Marlins still plan to make an aggressive run at Pujols, even after committing $106 million to Reyes over the next six years, and plan to meet with Pujols' agent, Dan Lozano, Monday or Tuesday at the winter meetings. Throughout much of this offseason, Marlins officials have downplayed the possibility that they could afford both Reyes and Pujols. However, one source who spoke with the Marlins' brass said Sunday that Reyes' contract was structured in a way that would enable them to sign one more prominent"

Market for Pujols is a question

December 5

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Albert Pujols possesses more than 400 home runs in 11 seasons, three NL Most Valuable Player awards, two Gold Gloves and widespread recognition as the game's best player. Unclear is whether the superstar free-agent first baseman and longtime face of the Cardinals enjoys a healthy market. As Major League Baseball's winter meetings convene today at the Hilton Anatole, the Cardinals appear to face uncertain competition for a signature player who last February rejected a nine-year contract extension worth about $22 million per year. The defending World Series champions have yet to modify last January's proposal, which came as Pujols entered the final installment of an eight-year, $111"

Cards and Albert: Just bend a little

December 4

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

columnist Bernie Miklasz

"Memo to Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., GM John Mozeliak and Albert Pujols: Gentlemen, it's time to get it done. Work out a contract that will keep Albert in St. Louis for the remainder of his brilliant career. DeWitt, Mozeliak and Pujols are all on record, saying they want it to happen, and I don't think they're lying. So if both sides are telling the truth, let's wrap it up by Christmas. What could possibly get in the way? One word: ego. If Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, are determined to set an industry record for the largest contract in major league baseball history, the challenge becomes more difficult. The popular Cardinals draw 3 million fans a year and have ample resources,"

All eyes on Pujols, Fielder, Reyes at winter meetings

December 3

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The first of several times Major League Baseball held its winter meetings at the Anatole Hotel in Dallas came in December 1980. Whitey Herzog was attending this conclave as Cardinals general manager/manager. Bustling through the doors to the lobby on the Sunday evening before the start of the meetings, Herzog spied a St. Louis reporter who just had arrived and blurted, "Where the hell ya been? I've got trades to make." And, before the dawn, Herzog and San Diego counterpart Jack McKeon had completed an 11-player swap. Before the week was over, Herzog had enacted deals that caused 23 players to change uniforms. That was how the winter meetings worked in those days. All the talk was about"