Pujols signs with Angels pg 151

[italianocubsfan7]

Okay, I understand the 2011 season hasn't even begun yet, but there has been more talk lately about the Cubs potential pursuit of Prince Fielder and/or Albert Pujols next winter. With Carlos Pena signing just a one-year contract and an incredible amount of money coming off the payroll for the 2012 season (Fukudome, A-Ram, Silva — around $40 million), will the Cubs organization go after these big name players for first base? Reports have stated that Fielder will be looking to command $20-25 million per year, while Pujols may want upwards of $30 million. Is it realistic to think that one of these guys will take a look at Chicago for 2012 and beyond and possibly sign with the Cubs?

[SweetZombieJesus]

Pujols might get upwards of 40 mill the way the market is going.

[davell]

We've got the money coming off the books. The question is whether or not either one lasts til then without a new contract. Yes, I think we'd be players for either of them if they become available.

 

I look for Pujols to get locked up before ST, but I do think Fielder will be out there next year. Only way he won't be is if the Brewers fall out of the race early and he gets dealt to a team that extends him before he hits FA. I think this is all very doubtful though as I think the Brewers are as good as anyone in the division this year.

[NewUserName]

I would not pay that much for either. thats just me though

[Tryptamine]

If Pujols is going to get 30+ million a year give me Fielder for 18ish and that extra 10+ million to add another all star caliber player.

[Rob]

If people feel the soriano contract is an albatross, just wait till they see how the prince fielder contract turns out. The cubs need to stay way the hell away.

[Sammy Sofa]

No and no. The Cubs will have money, but I highly doubt that either actually hit the FA market. Pujols will re-up with the Cardinals and Fielder is probably gonna be moved to the Yankees and will be locked up by then. Even if Fielder does hit the market I agree with the idea of staying away. He's a hell of a player, but a guy that fat is just going to fall off of a cliff if he can't DH.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It's about as realistic as the last dozen time fans saw a bunch of money coming off in the same year and fantasized that it'd all be spent on one big player. So, no.

[MWV]

If the cubs have ~$40 mil to spend and two impact positions to fill (1B-3B), I don't think they could afford Pujols + a decent 3B (provided both are even available). Fielder + 3B may be more realistic, however I concur with Rob regarding that prospect. I have no interest in seeing a 300+ lbs Prince Fielder absorbing $20 million of payroll a season into his mid thirties.

[JeffH]

The season after Fielder signs as a free agent will be his age 28 season. If you could keep him to a six-year deal, he'd wrap up that contract at age 33. That would probably be OK.

[Guest]

If people feel the soriano contract is an albatross, just wait till they see how the prince fielder contract turns out. The cubs need to stay way the hell away.

 

I don't see how Fielder ages well, even if he's entering his prime. His physique screams breakdown and soon.

[Sammy Sofa]

The season after Fielder signs as a free agent will be his age 28 season. If you could keep him to a six-year deal, he'd wrap up that contract at age 33. That would probably be OK.

 

Typically, yeah. But Fielder isn't built like a typical player.

[Splendid Splinter]

The season after Fielder signs as a free agent will be his age 28 season. If you could keep him to a six-year deal, he'd wrap up that contract at age 33. That would probably be OK.

 

Typically, yeah. But Fielder isn't built like a typical player.

 

 

True but most of the guys who are built like Fielder last til age 32-35 or so before they just drop off a cliff... (Cecil was 33 with his last average or better season and Mo Vaughn was 34 with his) Prince is a better hitter and more agile than most guys with the same build that he should be able to last as long as them, if not longer. Heck Frank Thomas lasted til he was 40, but he had the DH to help him out. If Cubs wanna give him a 4 or 5 yr deal, I might be ok with that (maybe) but can't go more than 5 yrs and 22 mil/yr... I would offer something like 4 yr/85 mil and see if that's enough. Just give him something to think about, but most likely turn it down so someone else can deal with it and say that I tried...

 

But I just rather spend the money elsewhere and wait for 2013 FA class... or if Adrian Gonzalez is somehow available.

[Sammy Sofa]

The season after Fielder signs as a free agent will be his age 28 season. If you could keep him to a six-year deal, he'd wrap up that contract at age 33. That would probably be OK.

 

Typically, yeah. But Fielder isn't built like a typical player.

 

 

True but most of the guys who are built like Fielder last til age 32-35 or so before they just drop off a cliff... (Cecil was 33 with his last average or better season and Mo Vaughn was 34 with his) Prince is a better hitter and more agile than most guys with the same build that he should be able to last as long as them, if not longer. Heck Frank Thomas lasted til he was 40, but he had the DH to help him out.

 

First of all, Thomas and Fielder are very different players in terms of how they were/are built. Secondly, both Vaughn and Fielder definitely benefited greatly from having the DH option open to them, especially once they got on the other side of 30. No, they weren't fulltime DH's, but they were able to spend at least a few dozen games in their post-30 season as a DH, an option Prince will not have with the Cubs. They're also two guys who didn't make it past ages 34 and 35, and that's with being able to play hundreds of games as a DH, so that's not a terribly good argument in favor of Fielder.

[SweetZombieJesus]

If Pujols is going to get 30+ million a year give me Fielder for 18ish and that extra 10+ million to add another all star caliber player.

 

Lulz at Fielder getting merely Jayson Werth money. Lulz.

[javy knows my name]

Pujols will not be available and Fielder would be monumentally stupid to sign a long-term contract with an NL team. So, no.

[Guest]

If Pujols is going to get 30+ million a year give me Fielder for 18ish and that extra 10+ million to add another all star caliber player.

 

Lulz at Fielder getting merely Jayson Werth money. Lulz.

 

Last 4 years fWAR

 

4.1, 6.9, 2.7, 5.3 = 19.0

5.0, 4.9, 5.1, 3.2 = 18.2

 

Which one is Fielder and which one is Werth?

[wade]

No and no. The Cubs will have money, but I highly doubt that either actually hit the FA market. Pujols will re-up with the Cardinals and Fielder is probably gonna be moved to the Yankees and will be locked up by then. Even if Fielder does hit the market I agree with the idea of staying away. He's a hell of a player, but a guy that fat is just going to fall off of a cliff if he can't DH.

 

I know the Yankees are always a free agent destination, but they're already headed for a situation where they essentially have multiple DHs making big coin in the coming years. Or at least those guys should be DHing.

Edited January 16, 2011 by wade

[bcl412]

I agree with the others who said no to Fielder. Those big barrell chested power hitters don't age well.

 

I want Pujols. Granted he'd be getting pretty old at the end of the deal I would love to steal Pujols from the Cards.

[rocket]

our only realistic option is that carlos pena does pretty good this year and re-signs for an extra 2 or 3 years.

[radarluv1]

this town will collectively crap itself if they dont sign Pujols. Apparently he wont negotiate once ST starts, so the next 6 weeks will be interesting.

[Guest]

Any chance Fielder takes a 3 or 4 year deal to try to get another big contract at 30-31?

[CubsWin]

our only realistic option is that carlos pena does pretty good this year and re-signs for an extra 2 or 3 years.

That could change on February 19th, if the Cardinals haven't extended Pujols by then.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Is Agon 100% going to resign with Boston? I have heard neither side was close and it is possible that Agon hits the market.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

this town will collectively crap itself if they dont sign Pujols. Apparently he wont negotiate once ST starts, so the next 6 weeks will be interesting.

 

The prospect of the Cards not resigning Pujols is almost on par with LeBron leaving Cleveland. St. Louis will explode. Mozeliak said that the Cards have been told by Pujol's agent that a deal needed to be in place by ST yesterday. It'll be interesting to see how much they can afford to offer with Holliday making 17M per year. Carpenter is only under club control until 2012 and Wainwright has two club options for 2012 and 2013. Both those guys will be looking for raises as well.

 

Attendance and fan support will never be a problem in St. Louis, but either way the Cardinals will be looking at a significant boost to keep their core in tact over the next few years. I think Pujols is worth between 25-30 million a year, and isn't looking to settle for less, but ultimately I think they'll get a deal done for him and end up losing Carpenter or Wainwright as a result.