MLB Rumors: 10 Reasons Albert Pujols Can Justly Demand Alex Rodriguez Money
With spring training just around the corner, there is a buzz surrounding St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols.
Pujols is entering the final year of his contract, and has yet to sign an extension with the only team he has ever played for.
His representation has indicated that a deal would need to be completed before February 16th before talks would be put on hold until the end of the season.
Some media outlets are speculating that Pujols could receive a contract exceeding the 10 year/$275 million deal that Alex Rodriguez signed in December of 2007.
One has to wonder how any player could possibly be worth the $300 million that Pujols may be looking for, but if you take a close look at everything that Pujols has to offer, it becomes clear that Pujols can and will get the money he deserves.
Age
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It's hard to believe that after spending a full 10 seasons in the Majors, Albert Pujols just turned 31 a couple of weeks ago. Many players wait until their mid-20s (if that) before making it to the big show.
His age certainly wouldn't prohibit a team from offering 10 years, which is said to be the length that Pujols' representation is seeking.
Pujols still has the better part of a decade to play before reaching 40, and it's not far fetched to believe that his numbers will still be very productive when that time does come.
Statistics
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Pujols' statistics alone warrant Alex Rodriguez money.
Comparing career averages, Pujols walks away ahead in most categories.
A-Rod is a career .303 hitter, while Pujols sits 28 points higher with a .331 career average. His career on-base percentage of .426 are 39 points higher than A-Rod's .387 career number.
Aside from those numbers, Pujols also has a higher career slugging percentage (.624) and OPS (1.050).
Both players have three MVP awards in their trophy cases, but Pujols has managed to do it in seven fewer seasons and finished as a runner-up four other times.
Game-Changing Talent
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Major League Baseball has many superstars—players who can change a game in a way that most players can't.
Pujols is an exceptional talent, even amongst the elite of the MLB.
The successes of the St. Louis Cardinals hinge almost solely on his play. An All-Star in all but one of his seasons with the Cardinals, his superior play gives his team many opportunities to win on a daily basis.
Pujols' high on-base percentage and walk totals give his teammates opportunities to make plays.
His wins above replacement rankings are consistently atop the ranks in Major League Baseball, and whether Pujols re-signs with the Cardinals or moves on to another team, he'll surely make a significant impact.
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Versatility
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A move to the American League at some point in Pujols' career could set up a transition to a role as a designated hitter. For the present time, he's well-suited to make an impact in the field.
Pujols has spent time playing first base as well as the outfield, allowing the Cardinals to move him around when necessary in order to put the best lineup out on the field.
With a career .994 fielding percentage and two gold glove awards at the position (2006, 2010), it's clear that Pujols belongs at first base.
At the same time, his 309 games played in the outfield add yet another credential to his already impressive resume.
Consistency
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A player is often judged highly on their production during a contract year when being considered for a new deal. Pujols won't need to rely on that.
In 10 seasons in the Major Leagues, Pujols has never batted lower than .312 and has never gone yard less than 33 times.
He has only once in his career finished a season with an on-base percentage below .400 (.394 in 2002).
Combine that with the fact that Pujols has only twice compiled an OPS under 1.000 (2002, 2007), and it's a safe bet that Pujols can be counted on for consistent production for years to come.
Durability
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When considering whether or not to take on a large contract, a team has to weigh the pros and cons that will come along with the player.
An obvious key is a players ability to stay on the field. Often times power hitters similar to Pujols run into injuries and miss time.
Thus far, Pujols hasn't let the Cardinals down. In his 10 seasons, Pujols has only twice played less than 150 games in a season (2006, 2008).
More impressive perhaps is the fact that Pujols rarely has the luxury of spending a day as designated hitter like the powerful bats in the American League can.
If there's a check for somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 million in his name, you can bet that he'll be counted on to stay on the field as he has done in the past.
Desperation
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It's clear that Pujols is the face of the St. Louis Cardinals franchise. His emergence in St. Louis revitalized the organization and brought big-time energy to the team.
As his stock rose, so did that of the team. The successes of the Cardinals can't entirely be attributed to the effectiveness of Pujols, but the team clearly wouldn't be the same without him.
Even with the deadline that Pujols' agent has given to get a contract extension looming just a week away, the team already knows that they need to do whatever possible to keep him around for the long term—even if it means over-paying.
At the same time, Pujols holds so much value and provides so much that you'd have to wonder whether or not there's a realistic amount that can even be considered 'over-paying'.
Big-Market Money
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If there's any player in Major League Baseball right now that would be deserving of the richest contract in league history, it'd have to be Albert Pujols.
Simply put, Pujols can expect to get such a contract because the money exists somewhere.
Teams like the Yankees, Phillies, Angels, Rangers and Red Sox are examples of just a few teams who are clearly willing to do what it takes to win, even if it means spending well beyond the majority of their counterparts.
I'm not trying to say that Pujols will be leaving the Cardinals in favor of one of these teams, but at the same time it's no secret that the money is out there.
Milestones
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Pujols will be a 31 year-old for the duration of the 2011 season. The durability that he has enjoyed throughout his career are likely an indication of thousands more at-bats before he hangs up his spikes.
Already having hit over 400 home runs in his career, hitting 35 per year (a fairly low estimate) over the duration of a 10 year contract would put him near the top of the all-time ranks.
There are only a select few people who have enjoyed such success. Players of that caliber clearly deserve to be mentioned in talks of all-time greats, and with that deserve to be paid as such.
Leverage
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Whether or not the representation for Albert Pujols will directly say it, they know that Pujols has the leverage to get what he wants.
As mentioned, he means so much to the Cardinals organization that the team cannot afford to lose him.
Pujols' agent Dan Lozano knows this, and is surely reiterating the fact as the negotiations progress.
If Pujols does end up entering free agency after the 2011 season, his resumé will certainly give him the leverage he needs to get the contract that he's seeking.
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