Destroying your image is worth an extra $30 million.

Link

And they just signed CJ Wilson.

Not LA, in OC =/


\god I miss them being simply the California Angels.

\the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim sucks.

jackiepaper: Uchiha_Cycliste: Not LA, in OC =/

Don't call it that.

/michaelbluth.jpg

I grew up in that miserable, pretentious, self-centered, hell-hole that is South Orange County. I've earned the right to call it that.

\got out as soon as I could and have no intention of returning for more than a couple of days.

DamnYankees: How is it "destroying his image"? He didn't betray anyone or do anything horrible. He signed somewhere else after bringing 2 titles to the Cardinals.

Being selfless was his image. He took less money to stay there in 2004. He's 32, at the end of his prime, and the self life for MLB players is back to being 35-38 like it was before steroids. He can't DH in the NL, so he had to know that a 8-10 year deal in the NL would be crazy. He took it for selfless reasons. Which is absolutely fine, it's a business, but he still sold out his image for an extra $30 million.

Going full retard for a quarter of a billion dollars? Priceless..........

WTF Indeed: Being selfless was his image. He took less money to stay there in 2004.

Without knowing the guy, or following the STL Cardinals in particular, I'm guessing his loyalty was more to LaRussa than the organization and city as whole.

jackiepaper: Don't call it that.

/michaelbluth.jpg

Awesome.

As for the Cardinals, now they can sign Prince Fielder for 75% of what Pujols just signed for and be just fine.

He screwed up. The Cub's gaurenteed him no fall work.

oh hey, a thread.. guess we can leave the deer poacher thread alone now

for those saying "image, legacy" and whatnot, consider these things:
-he was already relatively underpaid
-he gave the Cardinals a chance for an extension before the season and they blew him off
-LaRussa retired

there were reasons enough for him to leave

WTF Indeed: DamnYankees: How is it "destroying his image"? He didn't betray anyone or do anything horrible. He signed somewhere else after bringing 2 titles to the Cardinals.

Being selfless was his image. He took less money to stay there in 2004. He's 32, at the end of his prime, and the self life for MLB players is back to being 35-38 like it was before steroids. He can't DH in the NL, so he had to know that a 8-10 year deal in the NL would be crazy. He took it for selfless reasons. Which is absolutely fine, it's a business, but he still sold out his image for an extra $30 million.

Has anyone ever given more than one "hometown" deal in their career?

Your Zionist Leader: I dunno, 9 years and $198 million is hardly "blowing him off"

Are you saying he doesn't deserve A-Rod money?

As an A's fan, I am NOT happy about this

Your Zionist Leader: The Bestest: oh hey, a thread.. guess we can leave the deer poacher thread alone now

for those saying "image, legacy" and whatnot, consider these things:
-he was already relatively underpaid
-he gave the Cardinals a chance for an extension before the season and they blew him off
-LaRussa retired

there were reasons enough for him to leave

I dunno, 9 years and $198 million is hardly "blowing him off"

I'd argue that it's more than they should have offered. As an NL team the Cards can't DH him when the legs start to go.

Your Zionist Leader: Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. A-Rod money is ridiculous with A-Rod getting it.

Well, it might be "ridiculous" but I think even indigenous Amazonian tribes in their 19-0 Patriots t-shirts knew the market would bear more than $198 over 9yrs for his services.

They apparently hoped he would take hometown discount #2 and they were wrong.

Why Would I Read the Article: As an A's fan, I am NOT happy about this

The bright side is you'll get to pick on the Astros in two seasons.

$250 million is an awful lot to give to a 34 year old.

Your Zionist Leader: Yanks_RSJ: jackiepaper: Don't call it that.

/michaelbluth.jpg

Awesome.

As for the Cardinals, now they can sign Prince Fielder for 75% of what Pujols just signed for and be just fine.

I'd rather they use the money on middle infielders and starting pitching.

Yeah, this. Bullpen overhaul, anyone?

Your Zionist Leader: I dunno, 9 years and $198 million is hardly "blowing him off"

Are you saying he doesn't deserve A-Rod money?

A-Rod doesn't deserve A-Rod money

Mariners fan here.

shiatting my pants.

I guess the Astros couldn't escape Pujols by changing leagues. Poor bastards.

WTF Indeed: DamnYankees: How is it "destroying his image"? He didn't betray anyone or do anything horrible. He signed somewhere else after bringing 2 titles to the Cardinals.

Being selfless was his image. He took less money to stay there in 2004. He's 32 33, going on 34, at the end of his prime, and the self life for MLB players is back to being 35-38 like it was before steroids. He can't DH in the NL, so he had to know that a 8-10 year deal in the NL would be crazy. He took it for selfless reasons. Which is absolutely fine, it's a business, but he still sold out his image for an extra $30 million.

RonwellQuincyDobbs: WTF Indeed: DamnYankees: How is it "destroying his image"? He didn't betray anyone or do anything horrible. He signed somewhere else after bringing 2 titles to the Cardinals.

Being selfless was his image. He took less money to stay there in 2004. He's 32, at the end of his prime, and the self life for MLB players is back to being 35-38 like it was before steroids. He can't DH in the NL, so he had to know that a 8-10 year deal in the NL would be crazy. He took it for selfless reasons. Which is absolutely fine, it's a business, but he still sold out his image for an extra $30 million.

Has anyone ever given more than one "hometown" deal in their career?

Joe Mauer. But that's s fluke. He was born and raised in Minnesota...The twins literally are his home team.

If the Cardinals or their fans try to slime Pujols on his way out the door, it's incredibly dishonest. They've gotten one of the most productive players in our lifetime and 2 World Series rings at a tremendous discount. He was making about $10 million a year below what his peers were getting on the open market.

If the Cardinals would have offered him an an extension similar to the contract Mark Tiexeira signed after he came to the Yankees, he would still be a Cardinal for the next 5-6 years. Instead the Cardinals insisted on milking the cashcow for all that it was worth until he was on his way out the door. They made their bottomline money based decisions for years, and Pujols just made his first.

Here's his quote from 2009:

"Do I want to be in St. Louis forever? Of course," Pujols said. "Because that city has opened the door to me and my family like no other city is ever going to do. I don't want to [go to] any other city, but if that time comes I'm pretty sure wherever I go they are going to do the same way -- hopefully, open the doors. But I don't think it's to be anything compared to St. Louis.

"People from other teams want to play in St. Louis and they're jealous that we're in St. Louis because the fans are unbelievable. So why would you want to leave a place like St. Louis to go somewhere else and make $3 or $4 more million a year? It's not about the money. I already got my money. It's about winning and that's it. It's about accomplishing my goal and my goal is to try to win. If this organization shifts the other way then I have to go the other way."

As a Cards fan, I'm not really upset. With the cards self imposed spending cap, it would have been 1/5-1/4 of each years payroll to one guy that will be declining. Just wish they could have gotten Buehrle to ease the sting. Carp, Wainright, and Buehrle would have made me happy.

I think Albert has earned the right to play for whomever he wants to without being called a sell out. He's arguably the best player of his generation, he's already won 2 titles with the Cardinals, and he's been nothing short of an upstanding guy from what I can tell. If somebody is going to wave 250 million in your face at age 30+, how could anybody turn that down?

All this talk about "You can't DH in the NL" is pretty ridiculous. He's a 1st baseman, not a shortstop or centerfielder. If you're really that concerned about 1st base defense you don't hand the job to Lance Berkman.

VvonderJesus: I think Albert has earned the right to play for whomever he wants to without being called a sell out. He's arguably the best player of his generation, he's already won 2 titles with the Cardinals, and he's been nothing short of an upstanding guy from what I can tell. If somebody is going to wave 250 million in your face at age 30+, how could anybody turn that down?

Nobody has to "earn" the right to be paid market value for their services. You're right that he did what anybody would do, but I disagree with the idea that it's a right you have to earn.