Until a dollar figure is attached, it is hard to make any comment. If I were guessing, it would be that the offer was 10 years, $200 million.
Absolutely stupid if true. Yes, he's still the premier offensive player in baseball...possibly one of the best ever. But the dude is on the wrong side of 30 and is noticeably slowing down (granted that's going from hitting 40+ hrs to 35+). Where's he going to be in 3 years? 5 years? 7 years? After what they've given injury prone Jose Reyes, they're going to recreate their past. Have 1 exceptional year and then suck for the next decade. They will not be able to maintain any kind of success WHEN Reyes AND Pujols are injured.
Albert Pujols hasn't noticeably slowed down. He hit 37 HR last season, which is the same amount he hit in more games 3 years ago and 5 more than he hit in more games 4 years ago. He had a terrible April and May, but since then, he has been the same great player he always has been. That said, I wouldn't give him 10 years either. I think giving the 10 years is more about spreading out the pain.
Spend money today worry about the consequences later it's the American way...I'm guessing they're going after CJ wilson as well... Stadium will be empty in 5 years when all these guys are injured or past their prime. That will be interesting
For the season as a whole, he set career lows in virtually every single category. But even looking just as his Post-ASB numbers to take out his terrible April & May, he was below his career averages across the board. Now, that may be a fluke, certainly - but 2010 was a (small) step down from his previous years too. I'd be a bit concerned. You'll be getting a great player, but you're paying for his past. I don't think he's going to be that much better than Texeira, Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, etc going forward. Also interesting is that his walks declined substantially - kind of strange given that he had superstars in Holliday AND Berkman this year hitting around him. I think 10 years is insane, though as you said, it's to spread out the pain. But if he gets 10 years, no way he should get anything above $20MM. And even that is pushing it - if he's mediocre in 5 years, you'd have been paying $40MM/yr for the good Pujols.
You are grasping at straws...for the YEAR he was down, and that includes the second half... perhaps it was an outlier season, but if I am dropping 200 million on a guy that is over 30 (probably a few years older than he says), then I am concerned.
That's true - but I'm trying not to cherry pick too much. Post ASB is a big chunk of the season that shows how he performed outside of a crazy-bad April and May and crazy-good June. If we include the crazy good June, why not the equally crazy-bad May? Having said that, I think the inconsistency is a concern in itself - historically, he's about as reliable a player as can be. In 2011, he had 5 months of sub-1.000 OPS. In 2010, he had 3. In 2008 and 2009, he had 1. In 2007, his other "bad" season, had 3. Before that, it was mostly 1.
Will it really be that interesting? That's the way its been in Miami SINCE THEY STARTED PLAYING. I don't fault Miami for what they're trying to do.... which is become relevant for the first time in that city. Even when they won the World Series, they were an afterthought mainly because everyone knew that they couldn't afford those teams given the fact that NOBODY went to the games. If they want Pujols, they have to overpay. They know that and are willing to do it. Even if they get jut one year of a huge fan base, that will be more than they've ever had... and I've always maintained that if there is one sport Miami should support its baseball. Of course, we know that Miami will show very little support for sports overall... but this is the Marlins chance to make their name. I'm not going to fault them for it.
Agreed, they need to see what they can build. If they end up with a new stadium, Hanley, Reyes, and Pujols and still can't get a fan base in a very Latin city, they should just fold or move the franchise - there's simply no point.
I don't think I'm grasping at straws. For the year he was, but from June 1 - October 31, Albert Pujols was still Albert Pujols. After June 1st, he hit .323/.397/.626. Pujols career average is .328/.420/.617. The only real noticeable difference was a decrease in walks, and that difference is most attributable to him being walked intentionally far fewer than in recent seasons. He was only intentionally walked 15 times during the season (8 during the postseason), but had been intentionally walked 34,44, & 38 times each of the pass 3 seasons. I don't think Albert is on the downhill. He is only 31, and struggled during the first 2 months of a season that was filled with distraction, and then he turned it around, despite suffering a broken arm during the season.
They should get far better attendance at the new stadium. I was there earlier this year, and the old stadium was in a terrible location, and is an older football stadium. The new location is very nice in downtown Miami, right on the water, next to great city transportation.
For a minute, I forgot the Astros are now in the AL. So, it's whatever. Don't care where he ends up. Btw....Miami and all this spending...WTF.
In his next two worst seasons, they also featured slower starts. This is the only season he's had 2 bad months in, but the fact that they were consecutive to start the season, makes me think it was an aberration. Those look like the only 2 full months he has ever posted an OPS below .800. Amazing.
Exactly. They'd get better attendance with just a new stadium alone.... the fact that they're trying to capitalize on that along with adding new/quality players to the team would have me quite appreciative if I was a Miami fan. I don't think the organization deserves any criticism for what they're trying to do.
