Albert Pujols and 10 Other MLB Stars Who Deserve Multi-Year Extensions
Albert Pujols' negotiations with the St. Louis Cardinals are starting to look ugly: his camp has declared that they will not negotiate once the season starts.
That seems to imply that if he isn't re-signed by the end of spring training, this will be his last year in a Cardinals uniform.
Both sides can avoid all that ugliness and uncertainty by inking a long-term extension.
Along with Fat Albert, here are 10 other cases where teams would be wise to lock up a star or potential star before they hit the open market.
No. 11: Michael Bourn, OF, Houston Astros
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Not only is Bourn a hometown hero (he played his high school ball in Houston), but he has led the National League in stolen bases each of the past two seasons.
Now he isn't a great bat, hitting under .280 the past few seasons, but that would change if the Astros added another home run hitter to the worst power-hitting club in the National League.
And as a National League Gold Glover the past two years, making a commitment to the 28-year-old will put Houston back on track.
No. 10: Anibal Sanchez, SP, Florida Marlins
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The Marlins signed Sanchez to a one year deal earlier this month, but they'd be wise to sign him to a multi-year contract some time soon.
Sanchez certainly regressed a bit after his fantastic rookie season in 2006. But he finally bounced back strong in 2010, posting a 13-12 record and a 3.55 ERA.
They have Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco for the next few years and brought in Javier Vazquez to mentor that staff.
With the Phillies and Braves rotations' loaded, Florida will need a fine starter at the back end of the rotation, so it's time they do the same for Sanchez.
No. 9: Jonathan Papelbon, RP, Boston Red Sox
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What is with the sudden urge for the Red Sox to get rid of Papelbon? Last year there were rumors they were shopping him and those rumors continue to swirl.
Boston went to such great lengths throughout the early part of the last decade. They don't need to go through those headaches again.
Papelbon struggled a bit in 2010, posting a career-worst 3.90 ERA. But he still saved 37 games and one down season doesn't cancel out the four great ones he had before.
And since the four-time All Star is only 30, they should sign him to a multi-year deal.
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No. 8: Grady Sizemore, OF, Cleveland Indians
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The case of Grady Sizemore isn't quite the same as the cases of Bartolo Colon, C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee: Sizemore's stock isn't quite as high because of the major knee surgery he had last year.
But Sizemore was a great face for the franchise only a few years back and losing him would be another blow to the city...although not quite as terrible as LeBron taking his talents to South Beach.
If Sizemore shows the club early in the season that his knee is healed well enough to play great defense and stretch singles into doubles and doubles into triples, the club has to offer him a new deal early in the season.
No. 7: Brandon Phillips, 2B, Cincinnati Reds
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The Reds just locked up their NL MVP Joey Votto. Now they need to do the same for the man who hits before him in the Cincinnati lineup.
Phillips becomes a free agent after next season and although his production was down a bit in 2010, he is an important part of the Reds' revival.
Despite being a nine year veteran, Phillips doesn't turn 30 until next summer and quality second basemen are hard to come by.
Plus, they should be able to sign him to a deal way cheaper than what the Braves just gave Dan Uggla.
No. 6: Jose Bautista, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
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It took a long time (six years), but Bautista finally emerged as a bonafide super star in 2010, leading the majors with 54 home runs.
Yet for some reason, the Blue Jays don't seem to want to sign him to a long deal, even though he is eligible for free agency after next season.
Perhaps shipping Vernon Wells to the Angels was the first step in freeing up money to ink Bautista, but there have been no reports that that is the case.
If they have any hopes of competing with the Red Sox, Yankees and even the fast-improving Orioles, Bautista would be a major help.
No. 5: Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco Giants
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Cain might not have the high profile name or the panache of his teammates Tim Lincecum or Brian Wilson, but he was a vital cog in the Giants' World Series title run.
The enormous 26-year-old right-hander is durable, having started 30 or more games every year since 2006 and tossing eight complete games the past two seasons.
He doesn't become a free agent until after the 2012 season, but they'd be wise to pay him now before his price goes up even more.
No. 4: Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
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The longest tenured of the Phillies' incredible rotation, Hamels becomes arbitration eligible next year.
Philadelphia has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in a few other stars, like Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
But the 27-year-old Hamels is far younger than any of them.
He'll probably never be as dominant throughout the regular season as Halladay or Lee. But he has proved his postseason mettle and the Phillies will likely be playing the next few Octobers.
No. 3: Prince Fielder, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
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Fielder and the Milwaukee Brewers made news a few weeks ago when they agreed on a one year, $15 million deal for the 2011 season.
All accounts seem to imply that this will be Fielder's last season in the a Brewer uniform.
But with Zack Greinke now on the roster, the club's future looks bright.
With the NL Central hardly rock solid, Milwaukee might find themselves in a pennant race around the trade deadline, meaning they'd be crazy to deal Fielder. The same would be true if they actually make some noise in October.
Once the Packers finish up their 2011 season in Super Bowl XLV, Brewers fans should start asking why the club isn't interested in locking up the most prolific power hitter in franchise history.
No. 2: Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas Rangers
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After the season he had last year, it's almost inconceivable that the Rangers haven't locked up the AL MVP already. (He is arbitration eligible next year and a free agent in 2013).
The two sides are discussing a deal and they will probably get a deal done, but the longer they wait, the worse it looks.
Hamilton is not quite as young as he seems: since he went through so many well-publicized personal struggles, 2010 was just the fourth big league season for the soon-to-be 30-year-old.
And since next season's Rangers are already going to look fairly different from the pennant winning team of 2010 (losing Cliff Lee and possibly Michael Young and Vlad Guerrero), they should strive for as much continuity as possible.
No. 1: Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
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The biggest no-brainer of the entire 2011 season. It shouldn't matter to general manager John Mozeliak that Pujols just turned 31.
There is no indication that his production will decline at any point over the next five years, so a long-term deal shouldn't be an issue. And if money is the problem, then the Cardinals ownership just needs to bite the bullet and pay him.
Losing Pujols wouldn't be catastrophic for the franchise. After all, he did deliver them a World Series title in 2006 and no matter what, he'll go into the Hall of Fame as a Cardinal.
But without him, they will almost certainly fall to the cellar of the NL Central: WITH him, they missed out on the postseason three of the past four years.
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