is 10 yrs 300 mill fair for pujols?

[Dirty Water]

MY opinion is that the best homerun hitter of all time was Babe Ruth, Best pure hitter was Ted Williams and Best all-around player was Willie Mays. Where Pujols stands who knows, but he is not top 3 or even top 10 right now. Barry Bonds career took quite a turn in his 30s so you never can truely say what will happen.

[yanksknicks101]

it is well deserved, especially when you consider he got lowballed on his last contract, 7 years and 100 mil, something around that ballpark

[Raptorian]

Basically he deserves the highest contract in baseball. He has put up MVP caliber numbers every year he has been in the league. His average year over the ten years he's been in the league is 40HRs, 120RBI, 330AVG 620SLG.

ARod signed for $275 M/10 years (27.5/yr)
Mauer got $184 M/8 yrs (23M/yr)
Texiera $180M/8 yrs (22.5M/yr)

Pujols is worth more than any of those three.

[TSC25]

I think if he loves playing in St.Louis and still wants to win championships,then he needs to come down on his asking price.

[Pharmcat]

it is well deserved, especially when you consider he got lowballed on his last contract, 7 years and 100 mil, something around that ballpark

well hes getting paid 16 mill this year, with 4 mill deferred at no interest...so the best hitter is being paid 12 mill this year no wonder he wants to make it up in the next contract, dont blame him

[Zeitgeister]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with what you said. I think this is a healthy argument, and a fun one.

1. A lot of people consider Mays as the best all around player of all-time. He is last on that list in RB.

2. We can look at the stats all we want but none of us on this board watched Ty Cobb or Babe Ruth play. Comparing eras in baseball is so difficult. Many rules have stayed the same but many things about the league have changed obviously. I like to look at each eras player to others of that time period, rather than matching stats from 1920 to 2010.

3. I'm not saying Pujols is indisputable that he is top 3. But I think he very well could be. I think a quarter century has to go by after a player retired before we really see his true place amongst the all-time greats. HOF 5 years is fine, but comparing such legends, much longer is needed. Then again there is no master list, this is all opinion anyway.

I don't see Pujols ever surpassing Ruth, Cobb, or Mays. I think you have to give Ted Williams the nod over him as well.

[Flash3]

His 'perceived' market value is $30M, at least to me. Just look at his other counterparts, for example A-Rod? And then when you factor in that someone like Jayson Werth is making $15-18M per season, and Pujols could be argued to be twice the player Werth is, it just goes that way.

It doesn't mean that just because his 'perceived' market value is $30M he's worth it or will get it, it's just that that's where I think the discussions should start factoring in everything.

[trwi7]

You could argue Pujols is twice the player Werth is, but you'd be wrong.

[CentralQB5]

PAY THE MAN!

Yes, spend crazy amounts of money that the player won't be worth after a few years to appease a fan base, even if the contract cripples your team in the future! You're so smart!

Hell yeah, and have no other money to get any other parts to your team

[Lateral Quicks]

Pujols is the most dominant hitter of his generation. He is a model of brilliant consistency (in a ten year career his worst yearly stats are .312 AVG (2010), .394 OBP (2002), .561 SLG (2002), and .955 OPS (2002).

I don't see how there can be an argument around the per annum amounts, regardless of defense. He should be paid as the best player in baseball, which he clearly is. The only issue is contract duration. Personally I think he'll be a dominant hitter in his late 30's as well. He's just a natural. If A-Rod can get $25M per and Werth can get the absurd amount he got, then Pujols deserves $30M per. I'd try for 8 years $240M and hope that got it done.

[trwi7]

If A-Rod can get $25M per and Werth can get the absurd amount he got, then Pujols deserves $30M per. I'd try for 8 years $240M and hope that got it done.

This is just horrible logic to use. Do you think the Yankees would undo A-Rod's contract if they could? Do you think the Nationals will want to undo Werth's contract in a few years?

Just because a couple players got overpaid by a ton doesn't mean the team with the best player in the game should exceed that amount, especially when the contract is going to take up 30% of their payroll and take the player into his late 30s at least.

[Lateral Quicks]

This has nothing to do with logic and everything to do with an assessment of market forces, wherein individual participants aren't always rational (exhibit A - Jayson Werth's contract). The market price has been set for Pujols in part by these other contracts, and if the Cardinals want to keep him they'll have to pay him based on his credentials as the best player in baseball.

[Rafael122]

If Pujols does leave the Cards, it essentially boils down to them choosing Matt Holliday over Pujols. They should have never given Holliday that big contract last offseason.

[bigboy1234]

It has nothing to do with that, you don't think the freaking Cardinals who are one of the most popular franchises in baseball can afford Holliday and Pujols? It's about not being stupid and paying Pujols 30M when he is 41 years old like so many of you would do.

Joe Mauer extension starts this year at age 28 and he got 184M. Pujols contract will start at age 32 and you want him to get 300M? Mauer is very likely the 2nd best player in baseball. Looks like by using this contract Pujols shouldn't top 200M.

[Rafael122]

It has nothing to do with that, you don't think the freaking Cardinals who are one of the most popular franchises in baseball can afford Holliday and Pujols? It's about not being stupid and paying Pujols 30M when he is 41 years old like so many of you would do.

Joe Mauer extension starts this year at age 28 and he got 184M. Pujols contract will start at age 32 and you want him to get 300M? Mauer is very likely the 2nd best player in baseball. Looks like by using this contract Pujols shouldn't top 200M.

Cardinals are penny pinching. Pujols signed a team friendly deal the first time around. Cards arguably make a **** ton of money off Pujols. They can afford it, 8 years or 10 years. If A-Rod gets $275 million, with all those roid accusations and everything, Pujols should get just as much, if not more.

[bigboy1234]

So you just said they could afford after saying they couldn't afford it. They would pay him that if they thought he was worth it. Do you think the Yankees would sign A-Rod to that deal again? It's good to know you think paying a 41 year old 30M is a good idea. And that there is very little risk in signing someone to a 10 year contract, right? Hell it's not like his arm hasn't been injured for years or anything. His first contract has nothing to do with anything, you pay someone for what they are projected worth going to be worth heading forward unless you are a dumb businessman.

[Dr Positivity]

Pujols is one of the greatest players of all time. You don't give that guy away. For the health of a franchise.

I mean worst case scenario is he's an MVP for 5 years and then tails off as at least a 850-900 OPS guy from that point on. Is it that big a deal to be overpaying him the last 3 or 4 years of his contract after he gave 15-17 of the best anyone has played.

I think Pujols should get 250-280. But the Cards CANNOT let him go.