Albert Pujols Marlins Rumors: Reeling in Big Fish? MLB Winter Meetings Underway

With the the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings kicking off Monday in Dallas, the hot topic of the day is where Albert Pujols will land.

With Jose Reyes coming to terms with the new-look Miami Marlins for six years, $106 million and Heath Bell agreeing to a three-year deal with the club, the Marlins are rumored to be making a strong push for Pujols, a three-time NL MVP, to complete their offseason splash into their new digs in downtown Miami.

Pujols previously rejected a nine-year, $198 million offer from the Cardinals just before the 2011 season began.  It is difficult to imagine that the historically penny-pinching Marlins will be able to pony up the kind of cash it will take to sign Pujols.

The Cardinals have been cautious to let the market develop for Pujols, and thus far it has been very slow to develop.  It is clear the Cards do not want to find themselves in the situation the Dodgers found themselves a few years back when bidding on the services of Manny Ramirez—only to be bidding against their own wallet.

Cards owner Bill DeWitt Jr. said in the Monday edition of The St. Louis Post Dispatch, "You don't replace an Albert Pujols. Sure we have depth, but we're a far better club with Albert than without him."

Clearly an understatement, the Cards would have huge shoes to fill without Pujols occupying the three spot in the order.

However, the Cards have a plan in place that would entail moving Lance Berkman, the 2011 NL Comeback Player of the Year, to first base and Allen Craig to right field.  Neither has the capability to replace Pujols' production, but the plan isn't awful either as both have solid production abilities.

So it remains to be seen whether or not the Cards will restructure their previous offer to Pujols or let him walk.  One thing is for sure, Cardinal Nation is glued to their social media feeds this week in hopes that Santa will bring them an early Christmas gift and find Pujols to be a Redbird for life.