Pujols signs with Angels pg 151

[Little Slide Rooter]

Take IFWIW, in her wrap up and look ahead column in the AT BAT iPod app Muscat made no mention of the Cubs pursuing Pujols or Fielder. Is she that out to lunch or does she know something we don't?

 

did she talk about any specific free agents by name? since she's an employee of the cubs, maybe she's not allowed to discuss the potential signing of players who are currently under contract with other clubs?

 

Until we have a GM, nobody knows who we're pursuing, because there's nobody in place to pursue them. Even if there were, they couldn't be openly pursuing them until 5 days after the World Series ends.

It's ok for a sports reporter to speculate since she won't be going after anyone. It was just sort of odd to see no mention of the two best FAs. That's somtimes how teams get the word out. She speculated that Colvin, LaHair, or Pena could be the Cubs 1st sacker.

 

I don't know if she's employed by the Cubs or MLB though. Her boss could make the difference.

 

They can speculate all they want, but the point is, it's not a reason for us to think that Pujols or Fielder arent in our plans. It's not like Ricketts is using Muskat as a muse to his GM candidates.

[RammyFanny]

Nothing we didn't know already, but it's still nice to look at:

This is great theatre that Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder and the rest of the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers are providing during the National League Championship Series. But just wait until the off-season

 

Pujols and Fielder are one-man, franchise-changing offensive machines and stats factories and with both free agents, it is a bounty that may not be seen again for some time. And about four hours north of here, another Central Division team, the Chicago Cubs, has knocked the game sideways by agreeing to terms with Theo Epstein to be the general manager.

 

The slayer of the Curse of the Bambino now tries his hand at ending the Cubs’ 103-year World Series drought. True, Epstein has some bad contracts and bad players and bad people – in the case of pitcher Carlos Zambrano, a couple of those intersect – and he has been charged not just with blowing his brains out on salaries but also pouring resources into scouting and player development. But the Cubs are getting ready to approach Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to finalize public funding for a refurbishment of Wrigley Field – the figure $200-million has been bandied about – and since the city is essentially broke, a sexy, jaw-dropping move wouldn’t hurt. Do not bet against Epstein getting one of Fielder or Pujols.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/jeff-blair/a-major-league-renaissance-is-unfolding-in-the-nl-central/article2202146/

[17 Seconds]

Fielder please.

[EpsteinCubs]

Give me Prince Fielder. Cheaper and younger. The Cubs aren't going to compete next year so you bring in Prince and build a team around him and Starlin. Bring in pitching, pitching, and more pitching and we have a contender for the next few years with Prince and Starlin as the centerpieces.

[A New Era]

How old is Fielder btw and how many years do you think market value is gonna be for him? I'm scared of his weight. But if he's still relatively young I wouldn't be totally against it. What I am against however is giving him any more than 6 years max. 7-8 years is a very bad Idea, and since we are building for the future now. Let's not plan to have a huge albatross contract hampering us 5-6 years down the road.

[dew1679666265]

How old is Fielder btw and how many years do you think market value is gonna be for him? I'm scared of his weight. But if he's still relatively young I wouldn't be totally against it.

 

He'll turn 28 May of next year. My guess is he gets 6-8 years and probably more like 8 years - the possibility of less would be with the idea that he gets out of this contract in his mid-30s and might get one more big deal then.

 

His ultimate deal will be reliant on what Pujols gets, I think, but will probably ultimately fall in the 8/$200 ($25 per) area.

 

What I am against however is giving him any more than 6 years max. 7-8 years is a very bad Idea, and since we are building for the future now. Let's not plan to have a huge albatross contract hampering us 5-6 years down the road.

 

Fielder is more likely to turn into an albatross than Pujols is due to Fielder's weight. However, both are very patient hitters and that makes both less likely to become Soriano-esque in their later years. In both cases as well, you're going to get so otherworldly great production from them that it might be worth knowing you'll get 2-3 years of them being well overpaid so that you can get the awesomeness you won't find anywhere else.

 

If we're producing minor league starters like we should be with Epstein at the helm and still have a roughly $130 mil or so payroll, a couple or three years of an underproducing Fielder or Pujols shouldn't be that big an issue. We'd still have $100+ to spend on the rest of the roster. The problem now is that we don't have much cheap production anywhere and we have to pay for so much of our production.

[shnsajax]

I'm guessing Fielder will have an opt out as well to secure his final contract the same way CC will.

 

I'll take either one and will be happy either way.

[davearm2]

I'm guessing Fielder will have an opt out as well to secure his final contract the same way CC will.

 

I'll take either one and will be happy either way.

Having Fielder for 3-4 years and then having him opt out of the last 3-4 years would be about the best-case scenario.

[Vinestal]

My feeling is that Fielder's weight is going to give him knee/back issues about midway into his enormous contract. I hope the Cubs stay away from him.

[Backtobanks]

I'm guessing Fielder will have an opt out as well to secure his final contract the same way CC will.

 

I'll take either one and will be happy either way.

Having Fielder for 3-4 years and then having him opt out of the last 3-4 years would be about the best-case scenario.

 

Having Fielder/Pujols/Sabathia/Wilson for 3-4 years and then opt out of the rest of the contract would be the best-case scenario.

[C.C.]

I'm guessing Fielder will have an opt out as well to secure his final contract the same way CC will.

 

I'll take either one and will be happy either way.

Having Fielder for 3-4 years and then having him opt out of the last 3-4 years would be about the best-case scenario.

 

Having Fielder/Pujols/Sabathia/Wilson for 3-4 years and then opt out of the rest of the contract would be the best-case scenario.

 

So would the Cubs getting Theo Epstein and well all know not a chance in hell!

 

23%

[Backtobanks]

I'm guessing Fielder will have an opt out as well to secure his final contract the same way CC will.

 

I'll take either one and will be happy either way.

Having Fielder for 3-4 years and then having him opt out of the last 3-4 years would be about the best-case scenario.

 

Having Fielder/Pujols/Sabathia/Wilson for 3-4 years and then opt out of the rest of the contract would be the best-case scenario.

 

So would the Cubs getting Theo Epstein and well all know not a chance in hell!

 

23%

 

I would think the Cubs would be the favorite to sign one of Pujols/Sabathia. They have a need for a 1B, have as much money to spend as anyone, and seem to be headed toward being a winner.

[A New Era]

Seeing as how we have a brilliant new front office now (with more building to do). I wouldn't mind signing one of them. But let's not repeat the soriano mistake. OMG we have money let's win now. Let's think rationally, and see what we can do to feild an atleast competitive team while still building for the future. Could we do both? Sure. But I'd rather see them make moves that make is weaker over the next couple years, and even more strong over the years AFTER that.

 

I'd much rather watch a few interesting young guys than another bandaid to keep us somewhat competitive.

[Sammy Sofa]

Guy pointlessly compares Fielder/Pujols to Soriano for the billionth time.

 

Somewhere a baby explodes.

[Guest]

Seeing as how we have a brilliant new front office now (with more building to do). I wouldn't mind signing one of them. But let's not repeat the soriano mistake. OMG we have money let's win now. Let's think rationally, and see what we can do to feild an atleast competitive team while still building for the future. Could we do both? Sure. But I'd rather see them make moves that make is weaker over the next couple years, and even more strong over the years AFTER that.

 

I'd much rather watch a few interesting young guys than another bandaid to keep us somewhat competitive.

Do you really view pujols or fielder as band aids? They should both be around long enough and great players for long enough to be part of our next core..

[Little Slide Rooter]

Seeing as how we have a brilliant new front office now (with more building to do). I wouldn't mind signing one of them. But let's not repeat the soriano mistake. OMG we have money let's win now. Let's think rationally, and see what we can do to feild an atleast competitive team while still building for the future. Could we do both? Sure. But I'd rather see them make moves that make is weaker over the next couple years, and even more strong over the years AFTER that.

 

I'd much rather watch a few interesting young guys than another bandaid to keep us somewhat competitive.

Do you really view pujols or fielder as band aids? They should both be around long enough and great players for long enough to be part of our next core..

 

Good gravy, if Pujols/Fielder are band aids, what constitutes as a good FA signing? Signing one would not catapult us to where we want to be. That will take at least 2-3 years of good moves. However, either guy would be an ideal cornerstone for the building process. I'm sure some will come with the why would they want to enter a rebuilding process than a ready made winner? Well, if they respect what Ricketts/Theo/Hoyer plan to do, and I'm sure they'll discuss it thoroughly before anything is signed, they should be happy to be the cornerstone of the building process and lets face it, when the Cubs finally to win it all every player, coach, and exec in the game is going to wish they were a part of theparty with the possible exception of Tony LaRussa.

 

Remember when the Cubs were good, virtually every free agent wanted to be a Cub.

[imb]

My feeling is that Fielder's weight is going to give him knee/back issues about midway into his enormous contract. I hope the Cubs stay away from him.

 

Yeah, I love him as a player, but every time i talk myself into signing him, images of mo vaughn dance in my head

[Guest]

My feeling is that Fielder's weight is going to give him knee/back issues about midway into his enormous contract. I hope the Cubs stay away from him.

 

Yeah, I love him as a player, but every time i talk myself into signing him, images of mo vaughn dance in my head

 

 

Same.

[Guest]

And if Pujols really is a steroid user, as that guy is convinced he is, then he's figured out how to beat the system and he's good for the next 10 years.

[Magnetic Curses]

we just need 5 years out of Fielder, then Vogelbach will be ready to be fat and powerful.

[Guest]

I also wonder if people, the way they talk about Pujols OR Fielder, really grasp how much better of a player Pujols is. Fielder has only had a couple of really good years and Pujols' worst year, which was this past (understandable to have some concern over that) is actually better than Fielder's 11, which was the second best season of his career (I know, I know, Fielder is just heading into his prime - but the body type concerns outweigh the traditional age 27-32 or whatever uptick in numbers for me as he ages).

 

Fielder just hasn't been THAT great in his career thus far. I think a lot of people picture him hitting some monster HRs and don't realize that.

 

I'm not trying to deny that he's a very good player (he is)...just that he hasn't consistently been great at the level we're talking about (and the amount he's going to get paid).

Edited October 22, 2011 by David

[A New Era]

Seeing as how we have a brilliant new front office now (with more building to do). I wouldn't mind signing one of them. But let's not repeat the soriano mistake. OMG we have money let's win now. Let's think rationally, and see what we can do to feild an atleast competitive team while still building for the future. Could we do both? Sure. But I'd rather see them make moves that make is weaker over the next couple years, and even more strong over the years AFTER that.

 

I'd much rather watch a few interesting young guys than another bandaid to keep us somewhat competitive.

Do you really view pujols or fielder as band aids? They should both be around long enough and great players for long enough to be part of our next core..

 

They will be part of the next core and incredibly good for the first 1 or 2 years when our next core becomes a really good core. Which might be about 3-4 years from now. Then the next 4 years you all will be clamoring for them to be traded, when they are making 25-30 million a year.

 

I'm saying, let's not sign a contract for someone who is going to be either, a very old Pojuls, or a very run down Fielder, and people posting about how maybe we could get someone elses overpaid contract in return for our own injured or severely underproducing player.

[Guest]

They will be part of the next core and incredibly good for the first 1 or 2 years when our next core becomes a really good core. Which might be about 3-4 years from now. Then the next 4 years you all will be clamoring for them to be traded, when they are making 25-30 million a year.

 

I'm saying, let's not sign a contract for someone who is going to be either, a very old Pojuls, or a very run down Fielder, and people posting about how maybe we could get someone elses overpaid contract in return for our own injured or severely underproducing player.

 

 

It's not going to take 3-4 years for this team to become really good. Not with the money being freed up this year and next, and not with the decent role players coming soon from the farm system. Especially not if you sign an Albert Pujols and severely weaken a division rival in one fell swoop.

[Guest]

Albert Pujols is in the conversation to be the best baseball player who ever lived. Players of his caliber do not have the same aging curve as peasantfolk like Soriano. Furthermore, even as Pujols starts to decline, he'll still be putting up a bunch of HOF caliber seasons on the way down, because that's how good his peak is.

 

EDIT: And of course it's not going to take 3 or 4 years for this team to be good again. Are we going to have to make that a sticky that goes at the top of every Transactions thread this winter?

[SABR Gamer]

Albert Pujols is in the conversation to be the best baseball player who ever lived. Players of his caliber do not have the same aging curve as peasantfolk like Soriano. Furthermore, even as Pujols starts to decline, he'll still be putting up a bunch of HOF caliber seasons on the way down, because that's how good his peak is.

 

 

This.

 

I don't think people are understanding his greatness and the fact that a regressing Albert would still be one of the best players in the league.