Pujols to Angels

• hoops23

  

  LOL
• stlouiedipalma

  I, and most of my friends, don't feel that Pujols screwed over the Cardinals at all. Remember, he was here for 11 years at a comparatively low salary when you consider his numbers and some of the other salaries in baseball. Actually, when you look at the contract he got with the Angels, it's not close to the Miami offer. The cost of living, taxes, etc. in California is going to eat up a much bigger chunk of his money than if he had gone to Florida, where there is no state income tax. I think the bottom line is the no-trade clause. L.A. gave him one and Miami wouldn't. As for St. Louis, I have to believe that they were never in the mix. According to today's Post-Dispatch, when the Cardinals spoke to his agent 2 years ago he wanted A-Rod numbers, 10 years $275 million FOR STARTERS. I think it was obvious to STL right then that he wouldn't be back. The only shame is that they had to go through the motions to appease the fan base. Otherwise they could have washed their hands of it and gone after other FA who aren't available now.
• HitsRus

  

  Not so much like LBJ leaving....more like when Thome left.
  
  I understand, from being on the other side of it often as a Cleveland fan, that it is always hard for fans to accept when a beloved player leaves them for a few more dollars. It's reality, that for the player,there is a difference between a 1/5 of a billion dollars and a 1/4 billion...but that doesn't mean it feels good to the 12 year old boy who grew up with him as his hero, or even to the guy slogging thru life with a 5 figure income. The best one can hope for is resignation tinged with sadness.
• Ironman92

  

  justincredible;1009677 wrote:I think he's ~34.

  
  Same as Adrian Beltre.
• Con_Alma

  How could someone possibly think he screwed over the Cardinals?
  
  He performed to the best of his ability for the time and money they paid him. Wasn't that the agreement?
• Con_Alma

  Tiernan;1009064 wrote:...so the guy that had a 60 minute episode dedicated to telling us what a great guy he is, and how much he loves the fans in SL...was all horse crap like so many other sportstars of today. Did he really need that extra $20M to put food on his table and feed his babies?

  Why is it horse crap? Maybe he does love the fans in SL. Getting that extra $20M has nothing to do with need. I'm confident he didn't base his decision on need at all.
• stlouiedipalma

  The Sunday Post-Dispatch paints a picture of Pujols leaving because Arte Moreno talked to him and treated him like family. Apparently Albert wasn't feeling any love from the Cardinals' organization, allegedly weeping when he received their initial offer after the Series victory.
  
  
  http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/pujols-it-was-about-the-commitment/article_e73b3daa-688c-58f0-b068-a06f0f4547e7.html
• SportsAndLady

  

  Someone wins 2 titles for my team and then leaves, I could give 2 fucks, and that guy (or chick, if were talking wnba here) would be one of my favorite players still
• darbypitcher22

  

  I saw an ESPN article that said part of the reason playing into this whole deal was when the talk of extension/new contracts initially started with St. Louis a while ago they told him that they wanted to make him a Cardinal for life and initially offered a 5 yr/$130 mil deal (this was later increased to the 9yr/$220 that's floating around out there) His wife said they felt insulted that the front office would make that kind of offer after making that bold of a statement.
  
  I also saw on MLB Network that it appears as if Morales will be tendered a deal by the Angels after all. So stay tuned.
  
  The Angels just got rediculously better IMO with both of those acquisitions. As someone else said, the top 3 guys and four if Santana is dealing are a tough bunch to reckon with.