St. Louis Cardinals Have No Choice but To Show Albert Pujols the Money

Contract negotiations in baseball have collectively begun to mirror the most memorable scene from Jerry Maguire, when Cuba Gooding Jr.’s character, Rod Tidwell, emphatically and hilariously told Tom Cruise’s character, Jerry Maguire, to “show me the money.”

Rarely will athletes take pay cuts. Since baseball appears to have the most money of any professional sport, they have no reason to.

This particularly applies to Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman and the game’s best player.

The 31-year-old, who has 408 home-runs in 10 seasons, is due for a contract extension, as his current deal expires following the season. He has set a February 16th deadline, not wanting negotiations to drag too far into Spring Training.

The Cardinals would love to extend him, but the asking price is steep. The exact figures are not known, but given that Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $275 million deal in 2007, Pujols could demand such an exorbitant amount, possibly more.

He expects to arrive at St. Louis’ Spring Training facility in Jupiter, Florida on the 16th with a contract in hand, and the Cardinals will do everything in their power to make sure that happens—even if this means giving him $30 million annually.

St. Louis' brass don’t have a choice.

They must pay him, though he isn’t exactly young. He is their irreplaceable franchise player.

There is plenty of risk involved in giving players near the edge of their prime lengthy contracts. The New York Yankees took long-term gambles signing Rodriguez as well as Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia to astronomical deals, but to keep prized pieces and have a chance to win, particularly in the short-term, making the lucrative investment is deemed wise.

Pujols is so good that the Cardinals can not only win now in signing him but also later. It doesn’t appear that he will slow down anytime soon. Last season, he hit .312, socked 42 home-runs, drove in 118 runs, scored 115 times, clubbed 39 doubles and reached base 41 percent of the time.

To put into perspective how amazingly gifted he is, this was an off-year for him, as he regressed in all six categories.

One of the stronger players in the league, Pujols is, in my mind, also the most intelligent, effortless and durable. He’s missed only five games over the past two seasons, plays a Gold Glove-caliber first base, walks more than he strikes out and has the capabilities to steal a bag here and there.

Signing his excellency to a Rodriguez-esque deal could hamstring them in the future.

But, undoubtedly very important to Pujols, the Cardinals enter Spring Training built to contend.

Matt Holliday, their left fielder, signed a seven-year, $120 million contract prior to the 2010 season to continue to be Pujols' partner in crime. If Pujols is signed, this duo will make approximately $37 million next season alone.

But Holliday’s agreement was imperative, sending his better half the message that St. Louis will, for many years to come, be serious about contending for a championship.

It’s not just his presence that should please Pujols. In addition, the Cardinals have solid hitters, both young and battle-tested, as well as one of the finest rotations in baseball—headlined by the trio of Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia—that won 49 games last season.

The National League Central has improved greatly this offseason. The Milwaukee Brewers improved, picking up top-of-the-rotation arms in Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum through trade, while the Chicago Cubs also had a fine winter. The Cincinnati Reds will also pose a threat. The Cardinals can compete, but they will need a happy Pujols to do it.

And he’ll only be content with $275 million or more coming his way.

As can be imaged in dealing with this amount of money, negotiations haven’t started well. Understandably, yet dangerously, the two sides appear to be off salary-wise, with the window starting to close. But, baseball being a business, an ultimately satisfying process has the tendency to begin on the wrong foot.

Take Derek Jeter’s talks with the New York Yankees earlier this offseason. He felt insulted. New York’s brass called him out. But they eventually came to terms.

While it may not be this rocky, there will be continued difference of opinion.

In the end, St. Louis will show Albert Pujols the money.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images through Daylife)