Well, 1. If you think the situations are similar once an injury occurs, then why would Pujols, in the off-season, leave, provided the money is similar, with the Cardinals coming off a World Series appearance and possible victory? Keep in mind the post I was responding to initially - Tim said he felt that Berkman's resigning meant they were giving up on Pujols. St Louis could have avoided getting to this point with Pujols if they were willing to pay him more last year. They weren't. It's possible that the WS appearance / victory change things from one side or the other, but I think that if St Louis was comfortable offering Albert the money & years he wants, they would have done so already. Signing Berkman gives them a 1B to plug in and take a harder line in the negotiations. It's a gut feel on my part, but I don't think he stays if he gets to the FA period. Right. Everything that has happened this year to this point seems expressly counter to the idea that they're either going to pay him significantly more or that he's going to come way down and take their offer.