Pujols Wants Cards to Sign manny

[lint06]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3870198

I've heard Pujols is a stand-up guy, so at first I thought this speaks to manny's character (maybe one we don't see), but then I realized, "Hell, I'd want Manny on my team even if his character was a little iffy." That'd be a pretty filthy 1-2 punch.

[waroriole]

"Maybe St. Louis doesn't have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players," Pujols said.

Apparently, Pujols doesn't know who Manny's agent is.

[Migrant Redbird]

General manager says St. Louis won't pursue free-agent left fielder

"The answer is no," Mozeliak said, when asked by the Los Angeles Times if the Cardinals had interest in signing Ramirez.

Pujols has a history of speaking up for his teammates and his fellow Latin American players. I think he influenced the Cardinals to give Juan Gonzalez an invite to spring training last season. Juan Gone homered off Johan Santana in the 1st inning of his debut for the Mets, but then had an injury that eliminated him from the Cardinals' plans.

[Migrant Redbird]

Quoting Pujols: DIONISIO SOLDEVILA, Associated Press Writer, Jan 29, 4:51 pm EST: Pujols wants Cardinals to pursue Manny Ramirez

The Cardinals slugger, who won his second NL MVP award in November, acknowledged the team might not have enough money to land the free-agent outfielder.

“I speak with Manny every three days and he tells me, `Man, no one wants to sign me,’ Pujols said Thursday during a news conference. “I’m not an agent or general manager, but I can’t understand how Manny has not signed.”

Pujols passed along Ramirez’s telephone number to St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

“Maybe St. Louis doesn’t have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players,” Pujols said.

Not very many Boras clients give "discounts".

I keep reading that the Dodgers have an offer on the table for 2 years at $45M with an option for a 3rd year. There's no way the Cardinals venture into that territory if they have any hopes of signing Pujols to an extension any time soon.

Earlier this month, at a recognition banquet in St. Louis, Pujols dropped a hint to the press that he's interested now in discussing an extension to his contract, which runs through 2011 with a team option for 2012 at $16M. Personally, I think the team ought to jump all over that idea and sign Pujols now to another discounted contract. That's assuming he would be willing to give the appropriate discount to improve his odds of completing his career as a Cardinal.