2012 MLB Free Agency: Will Tony La Russa's Retirement Push Albert Pujols Out?

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa announced his retirement today, just days after his team surpassed all odds in winning the World Series over the Texas Rangers. All is well in St. Louis until everyone realizes franchise player and future hall-of-famer first baseman Albert Pujols is a free agent and could leave.

Pujols is the poster child of this baseball era and the biggest name to come out of the steroid era untouched. Sure, there were rumblings, but no one dared to come out and publicly say Pujols was a cheater. His stat line of .328 batting average, 445 homers, 455 doubles and 1,329 runs batted in is great considering he is 31 years old with plenty of baseball left in him.

Pujols has been managed by La Russa for his entire career, and things certainly won't ever be the same without him. La Russa and Pujols had a great manager-player bond, one of those special cases where a star manager and star player coexist for a long time and are successful. It's never easy when one loses the other.

Numerous suitors like the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angels Angels and St. Louis Cardinals have come up as possibilities for Pujols. How many of these teams will be willingly and able to pay the huge sum of money he is going to command? Probably the Cubs, Cardinals, Nationals and Rangers would be the four teams willing and able to pay for Pujols.

The Chicago Cubs have been in a funk for a couple seasons now. They are almost rid of the terrible contracts of Carlos Zambrano and Alfonso Soriano, and should be big players in free agency when they are gone. They still have the potential to sign a big name free agent this year, and no doubt will go after Pujols and Prince Fielder. Pujols has long been rumored to be headed to the Cubs, and his addition would greatly improve Chicago's below average offense.

The Washington Nationals have shown the willingness to spend (Jayson Werth's $126 million contract) and have the young talent to contend in the NL East. Adding Pujols to their lineup could be exactly what they need and put them in the upper echelon of run production. If they trade for center fielder B.J. Upton, their lineup would consist of Pujols, Upton, Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Danny Espinosa. Tell me that's not a formidable top and middle of the lineup.

Wouldn't it be interesting if Pujols went to the team he just beat in the World Series? I guess if you do beat them, join them and beat your former team? It would be quite the story line if Pujols left St. Louis to join the Texas Rangers. The Rangers already have a dynamic offense and would be nearly unstoppable with Pujols in the middle of that lineup. Texas owner Nolan Ryan isn't afraid to spend for premium players and would definitely welcome Pujols to the team. Texas is probably the best team Pujols could sign with and be World Series contenders for years to come.

Last but not least, he could be headed back to the St. Louis Cardinals. He's been a Cardinal his entire life and is absolutely adored by the St. Louis faithful who come to every game in order to see King Albert play. He's the face of the franchise and the most recognizable athlete in St. Louis. It would be strange to see Pujols in any color but Cardinal red, but La Russa's retirement could lead to him donning a new color. Management has already offered him a contract in excess of $200 million, that he declined, and likely will need around $250 million to sign him.

In the end, Pujols will most likely sign with the team willing to give him the most money and the best chance to be contenders. That leaves the Cardinals and Rangers as the two most likely destinations for the legendary slugger. I expect the Rangers to make a strong play for Pujols, but the Red Birds make Pujols the highest paid player in Major League Baseball and ensure the legend retires in Cardinal red.