Albert Pujols Free Agency: Could the Marlins Actually Sign Albert Pujols?

Albert Pujols is going to Miami to meet with the Marlins. The obvious question would be, is he serious? You bet your baseballs he is. 

MLB.com reports Pujols will meet with Marlins officials this weekend, as early as Saturday. All of the reasons one would want to join a team are there. 

Before we go down the road of hypothetical, let me say that the St. Louis Cardinals still have the inside track. Pujols is no dummy and the Cardinals have two things that no other franchise can promise. 

For one, they are committed to winning and have already given the legendary slugger two World Series rings. Most ballplayers would kill for such luck. 

The second is the city itself. St. Louis is an amazing baseball town and the only one Pujols has known so far. It will be very hard to wrench him from the Cardinals organization. 

Now, onto the new Miami Marlins. Yes, the Florida Marlins are changing their name, logo and purse strings. All of that has to entice Pujols, at least a little. 

The Marlins are making a giant overhaul to a franchise that while young, has already won two World Series Championships. The promise of winning more titles is actually very real with this franchise, especially when you consider their direction. 

This team already has a nice core of talented youth. With a couple stars implanted here and there, they could really go places. 

Consider that they are about to open their wallets much wider than they have in years and you will see that they are about to make one hell of a pitch to Pujols. 

The report also cites they are in the market for Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes. That means they are poised to make Ozzie Guillen's first year at the helm a special one. 

It is hard not to be enamored with the dazzle of being part of something new and exciting. The Marlins open a new ballpark. Consider a name like, "the stadium that Albert Pujols built."

Catchy, huh?

Well that is precisely the kind of things that will be whispered in Pujols ear. 

I still think the Cardinals are the place for Pujols, but the race to sign him is much closer than you think. The Marlins will woo Pujols all weekend, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he took the bait.