Pujols signs with Angels pg 151

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Extend Paul Konerko again

 

Put in a waive claim for the most expensive player that another team wants to dump.

[UMFan83]

Extend Paul Konerko again

 

Put in a waive claim for the most expensive player that another team wants to dump.

 

I don't know why but that caused me to realize that 2 years ago, they had 2 of the worst contracts in baseball on their team and managed to get rid of both of them for almost no penalty in terms of bad contracts. That's amazing. If they had signed Milton Badley instead of us, they would have found a way to get Felix Hernandez for him instead of Silva.

[PrimeTime]

Just seen this on Roto and thought Id post it.

 

 

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, some rival executives fully expect that the Cubs will be serious bidders for Albert Pujols if he becomes a free agent.

 

Just what Cardinals fans want to hear right now. "They are in the best position to get him, if he's willing to leave the Cardinals," said one general manager. "The Red Sox and Yankees won't be in it, and if the Cubs get him, it could hurt their [primary] rivals for years. They're in a position to do serious damage to the Cardinals, because he's such an icon there." The Cubs have a number of contracts coming off the books after the 2011 season, including Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena, so they should be in excellent position to make a lucrative offer

[Maclowery]

Pretty wicked 1-2 punch thismorning waking up and seeing "Wainwright's getting TJ surgery!" and "Olney thinks the Cubs are serious about Pujols!"

[ctcf]

Pretty wicked 1-2 punch thismorning waking up and seeing "Wainwright's getting TJ surgery!" and "Olney thinks the Cubs are serious about Pujols!"

 

Actually the Wainwirght thing sounds like it could potentially hurt the Cubs. See this blurb from Rotoworld (emphasis mine):

 

 

Cardinals officials believe Adam Wainwright will likely need Tommy John surgery.

What a shame. We won't know anything definitive until later today, but baseball could be without one of the game's best pitchers for at least the next year. Wainwright, 29, has finished in the top three of the NL Cy Young balloting in each of the past two seasons. The Cardinals will find it very difficult to stay in contention without him. !ainwright's options for 2012 and 2013 were triggered by his finish in the Cy Young voting, but the contract stipulated that he must finish the 2011 season healthy and not on the team's disabled list.

 

If the option ends up not vesting, do the Cardinals let him walk in an effort to keep Albert?

[MWV]

Pretty wicked 1-2 punch thismorning waking up and seeing "Wainwright's getting TJ surgery!" and "Olney thinks the Cubs are serious about Pujols!"

 

Actually the Wainwirght thing sounds like it could potentially hurt the Cubs. See this blurb from Rotoworld (emphasis mine):

 

 

Cardinals officials believe Adam Wainwright will likely need Tommy John surgery.

What a shame. We won't know anything definitive until later today, but baseball could be without one of the game's best pitchers for at least the next year. Wainwright, 29, has finished in the top three of the NL Cy Young balloting in each of the past two seasons. The Cardinals will find it very difficult to stay in contention without him. !ainwright's options for 2012 and 2013 were triggered by his finish in the Cy Young voting, but the contract stipulated that he must finish the 2011 season healthy and not on the team's disabled list.

 

If the option ends up not vesting, do the Cardinals let him walk in an effort to keep Albert?

I doubt it. Given Albert's competitive nature, I don't think gutting the rotation would be a good way to lure him. Carpenter has a $15 million option this offseason. If anything, they'll decline that.

[ctcf]

Excellent point.

 

I have a random question for those of you who know more about the Cards. My roommate and I have talked about Pujols quite a bit and he is adamant that "due to being such a great baseball city" the Cardinals shouldn't have much trouble finding the money to offer Albert. Now while I know that's silly to some degree given TV revenue and market size and blahblahblah, I can't find a terribly blaring reason why a team with such a consistent fanbase as the Cards would have THAT much trouble. Are they really that strapped for cash?

[shnsajax]

My thought with Wainwright's injury is that it shows how much trouble they could be in if they sign Pujols to the deal he wants. If he is signed and they have an injury like this they are going to in a great deal of trouble. The strength of this team is pitching, losing either him or Carpenter is going to be a huge set back.

[Garwilly]

Excellent point.

 

I have a random question for those of you who know more about the Cards. My roommate and I have talked about Pujols quite a bit and he is adamant that "due to being such a great baseball city" the Cardinals shouldn't have much trouble finding the money to offer Albert. Now while I know that's silly to some degree given TV revenue and market size and blahblahblah, I can't find a terribly blaring reason why a team with such a consistent fanbase as the Cards would have THAT much trouble. Are they really that strapped for cash?

 

This site obviously isn't the WSJ, but it touches on the issue I keep hearing about.

 

One area the critics almost always overlook is the debt assumed in the construction of the new Busch Stadium. In a recent presentation to faculty and business students at Webster University, Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III showed this debt represents between 13 and 15 percent of the club’s annual expense.

 

Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. has been even more specific, noting their borrowing of $300 million of the $365 million required to build the ballpark requires them to pay more than $20 million annually in principal and interest.

 

That is $20 million not available for other purposes, including paying players, which is the largest single expenditure for the organization, representing about half their annual spending, according to DeWitt III.

 

http://thecardinalnationblog.com/2009/12/27/busch-stadium-debt-may-hurt-players-more-than-taxpayers/

[Maclowery]

I can't pretend to be super-knowledgeable regarding the Cards' finances, but there's definitely a big rift between Cardinal fan perception and what the front office says and does. Most of my friends insist that the Cardinals should be able to afford Pujols since Busch sells 3 million tickets a year, Pujols brings in so much income from jersey sales, etc etc etc. The FO has repeatedly insisted that it simply can't raise the payroll much higher than it is, even if Pujols could win any political election, steal any Cards fan's wife, and generally get away with anything he wants to, as long as he still has the birds and the bat on his chest.

[davell]

If the Cards find a way to appease Pujols and lose Wainwright in the process, I'd be all for spending on Wainwright personally, especially coming off TJS, where he'd have to take some sort of discount as it is.

[mul21]

Excellent point.

 

I have a random question for those of you who know more about the Cards. My roommate and I have talked about Pujols quite a bit and he is adamant that "due to being such a great baseball city" the Cardinals shouldn't have much trouble finding the money to offer Albert. Now while I know that's silly to some degree given TV revenue and market size and blahblahblah, I can't find a terribly blaring reason why a team with such a consistent fanbase as the Cards would have THAT much trouble. Are they really that strapped for cash?

 

From what I've read, the Cardinals are paying a substantially larger portion of the stadium debt off annually than the loan actually requires. Now, granted, this probably saves them millions in the long run, but they could easily pay less principal on the loan if that was the difference between keeping Pujols and letting him walk.

[Pushfrog98]

On a side note, when all is said and done, is there a good chanc that this becomes the longest thread in NSBB history?

Not when there's a 700+-page politics thread and a 900+-page movie thread in Social. I do think it could become the longest thread actually related to baseball, though.

I think once people navigate to the "Boo the dog" thread, it will pick up steam as well...

[Four and Twenty]

On a side note, when all is said and done, is there a good chanc that this becomes the longest thread in NSBB history?

Not when there's a 700+-page politics thread and a 900+-page movie thread in Social. I do think it could become the longest thread actually related to baseball, though.

I think once people navigate to the "Boo the dog" thread, it will pick up steam as well...

 

I just found it and you just made my evening. It's so pristine I can't bring myself to defiling it with a reply.

[mike2482]

I can't pretend to be super-knowledgeable regarding the Cards' finances, but there's definitely a big rift between Cardinal fan perception and what the front office says and does. Most of my friends insist that the Cardinals should be able to afford Pujols since Busch sells 3 million tickets a year, Pujols brings in so much income from jersey sales, etc etc etc. The FO has repeatedly insisted that it simply can't raise the payroll much higher than it is, even if Pujols could win any political election, steal any Cards fan's wife, and generally get away with anything he wants to, as long as he still has the birds and the bat on his chest.

 

How much do you think albert brings in on jersey sales? I would think that market is pretty much tapped out since he has been there so long and everybody who wants a Pujols jersey already has one.

[davearm2]

I can't pretend to be super-knowledgeable regarding the Cards' finances, but there's definitely a big rift between Cardinal fan perception and what the front office says and does. Most of my friends insist that the Cardinals should be able to afford Pujols since Busch sells 3 million tickets a year, Pujols brings in so much income from jersey sales, etc etc etc. The FO has repeatedly insisted that it simply can't raise the payroll much higher than it is, even if Pujols could win any political election, steal any Cards fan's wife, and generally get away with anything he wants to, as long as he still has the birds and the bat on his chest.

 

How much do you think albert brings in on jersey sales? I would think that market is pretty much tapped out since he has been there so long and everybody who wants a Pujols jersey already has one.

MLB merchandising revenue is shared equally between all clubs (except a small cutout -- the teams keep what they sell at their own ballpark, IIRC).

 

StL would actually stand to make more $$$ on Pujols jerseys if he changes teams.

[Guest]

I can't pretend to be super-knowledgeable regarding the Cards' finances, but there's definitely a big rift between Cardinal fan perception and what the front office says and does. Most of my friends insist that the Cardinals should be able to afford Pujols since Busch sells 3 million tickets a year, Pujols brings in so much income from jersey sales, etc etc etc. The FO has repeatedly insisted that it simply can't raise the payroll much higher than it is, even if Pujols could win any political election, steal any Cards fan's wife, and generally get away with anything he wants to, as long as he still has the birds and the bat on his chest.

 

How much do you think albert brings in on jersey sales? I would think that market is pretty much tapped out since he has been there so long and everybody who wants a Pujols jersey already has one.

You obviously don't have a child who grows into a new jersey size on an annual basis. :)

[mike2482]

I can't pretend to be super-knowledgeable regarding the Cards' finances, but there's definitely a big rift between Cardinal fan perception and what the front office says and does. Most of my friends insist that the Cardinals should be able to afford Pujols since Busch sells 3 million tickets a year, Pujols brings in so much income from jersey sales, etc etc etc. The FO has repeatedly insisted that it simply can't raise the payroll much higher than it is, even if Pujols could win any political election, steal any Cards fan's wife, and generally get away with anything he wants to, as long as he still has the birds and the bat on his chest.

 

How much do you think albert brings in on jersey sales? I would think that market is pretty much tapped out since he has been there so long and everybody who wants a Pujols jersey already has one.

You obviously don't have a child who grows into a new jersey size on an annual basis. :)

 

I have 3, but yes I did not consider that. If they are anything like me though, they would want someone new with every jersey.

[Abe Frohman]

FWIW, as a Cubs fan, I own a Pujols jersey. It's a Dominican Republic jersey, though. I'd never where a Cards jersey. Ever.

[rocket]

still unacceptable

[mike2482]

I thought about putting a Pujols and the number 5 on the back of one of my Cubs t-shirts when I go to Cubs/Cards in St. Louis, not that I want any part of signing Pujols outside of the reaction from Cardinal fans.

[Abe Frohman]

I thought about putting a Pujols and the number 5 on the back of one of my Cubs t-shirts when I go to Cubs/Cards in St. Louis, not that I want any part of signing Pujols outside of the reaction from Cardinal fans.

 

THAT is a freaking outstanding idea. I am dead serious.

[Rob]

FWIW, as a Cubs fan, I own a Pujols jersey. It's a Dominican Republic jersey, though. I'd never where a Cards jersey. Ever.

 

Acceptable if and only if you're a first generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic and you bought that jersey before you came to America.

[Sammy Sofa]

not that I want any part of signing Pujols outside of the reaction from Cardinal fans.

 

Whut.

[UMFan83]

FWIW, as a Cubs fan, I own a Pujols jersey. It's a Dominican Republic jersey, though. I'd never where a Cards jersey. Ever.

 

Acceptable if and only if you're a first generation immigrant from the Dominican Republic and you bought that jersey before you came to America.

 

And your last name is pujols.