MLB Free Agents 2012: Theo Epstein Should Bring Albert Pujols to Chicago Cubs

Newly-minted Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein knows a thing or two about historic MLB rivalries and how to turn lovable losers into World Series champions, which is precisely why he needs to make every effort to lure Albert Pujols away from the St. Louis Cardinals.

That will be no easy task for Theo, seeing as how Pujols' Redbirds just won another pennant of their own and Tony La Russa will be back in the Gateway City for at least one more season.

But if ever there were a golden opportunity for the Cubs to stick it to their biggest adversaries while cementing themselves as (future) contenders in the National League Central, it's right now with "The Machine."

There just so happens to be a vacancy at first base at Wrigley Field now that Carlos Pena, the all-or-nothing free-swinger, is himself a free agent. He'll be joined on the open market by fellow Cubs infielder Aramis Ramirez, leaving the Northsiders without two of their most dangerous power hitters, Alfonso Soriano being the third.

Hence, the door is wide open for Pujols to stroll on through. It's unclear whether the Ricketts family, who bought the team from the Tribune Company in October of 2009, is willing to spend upwards of $200 million to satisfy a surefire Hall-of-Famer of Pujols' talents (not to mention his agent, Dan Lozano), though the team could hardly ask for a more perfect time to make a big splash and reshape the conversation in baseball.

Realistically speaking, the chances of Theo actually stealing Pujols from the Cards is slim. He's as big an icon in St. Louis as just about any athlete in any city in America, has spent his entire career there, has enjoyed tremendous success there and, perhaps most importantly, his ties to the community run deep.

And coming off yet another taste of the good life in the Fall Classic, Pujols won't easily be convinced to jump ship to a team in Chicago that lost 91 games in 2011 and could easily replicate that very feat of futility in 2012.

But try Theo and GM Jed Hoyer must. The Cubs have very little, if anything, to lose from partaking in the bidding process. If they win out, then they'll end up with one of the greatest first basemen of all-time, a guy who's virtually guaranteed to hit .300 with 30 homers and 100 RBI, while sapping the rival Redbirds of their most important player.

If they fall short, they'll at least have done their due diligence while driving up the price for the Cards.

And they'll still be in the running for the biggest consolation prize of the winter—Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder.

Sounds like a win-win situation, a rarity for a franchise that's gone 103 years without a World Series championship.