2013 MLB postseason running thread

either way, not making the highest offer produced the best outcome

 

I think it was the Marlins who offered Pujols the most cash. So it wasn't all about the Benjamins.

 

there were conflicting reports about how much the marlins offered, but i meant not offering the most was best for the cardinals.

 

So the highest offer not coming from a franchise about to screw over its fanbase and lose 100 games while looking like the Bad News Bears

 

Nobody puts $200 million on the table for a player as a gesture they don't mean. The Cardinals had reasons to believe Pujols would take their offer, and presumably would've been happy if he had. As with the Red Sox, when a team loses a big contract or contracts, it's what they do with the money that's left that's important. Are they downsizing, or genuinely looking for another way to win?
Difference is, I think the Cards were pretty sure they were contenders back in March and I'm sure the Sox didn't think so at all. Their rise has been serendipity as well as shrewd decision making.

 

Just think, if the Cardinals could beat Barry Zito, they'd be the first team to win three NL pennants in a row since the '42-44 Cardinals.

And among their reinvestments of the Pujols money was a two-year, $26 million deal for Carlos Beltran. I'd say that worked out. Meanwhile, Pujols just played the last two years at discount rate ($12M and $16M according to bb-ref). Next year is when the fun starts, when the salary jumps to $23M and then goes up by a million every year until 2021. Fun!

 

And of course, the Cardinals drafted Wacha with the Pujols compensation pick.

 

I was hearing Dodgers "team of destiny" talk it seems just yesterday.

 

And with the money they saved by not signing Pujols, they locked up Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina and Allen Craig with multi-year deals. Along with Holiday, Matt Carpenter and Wacha, that's the core of the St. Louis team for at least another four years, with Carpenter and Wacha being cost-controlled.

I'm a Pujols fan, but not signing him was the best move the Cardinals ever made.

 

Totally agree. My point was that ultimately, it was a decision that was made FOR them (by the Angels) not BY them.

 

But couldn't you say that about any free-agent signing, Steak? Ultimately, if the Mariners had wanted to pay A-Rod $250 million in 2001, I think he would have stayed.

 

That's different. Everyone knew A-Rod was gone.

Pujols looked like he would re-sign with the Cardinals right up until the last minute. His leaving St. Louis was a shock to everyone involved.