Could Albert Pujols coming to the Red Sox actually be a reality in 2012?
WIth Albert Pujols self imposed deadeline on the Cardnials now past, the web is ablaze this morning wih chatter on how if the Red Sox wanted, they could make an earnest push for the best player in baseball next year. The quick numbers are this, with so many players coming off contract after 2011, the Red Sox will potentially have $55 million free, giving them reasonable wiggle room to make a run at Pujols. I'd also expect to see the Cubs throw their hat in the ring, and the Cardinals blood rivals may actually be the front-runners if things really are dead with the Cardinals - but that's a story yet to be written.
What I don't get is that people in the Red Sox Blogosphere are discounting this from being a possibilty as soon as they write about it. Peter Abraham from Boston.com went as far as to put up a disclaimor on his post, which is pretty damn ridiculous, I mean - show a little balls there guy. From my vantage point as a fan, I'm asking why the hell wouldn't the Red Sox at the very least kick the tires on this? At the worst they could help drive up the cost of what's sure to be the largest contract in baseball history, and unless they're afraid that Pujols and his outstanding career are due in part to standing on the back of PED's, I can't see a reason why they wouldn't pursue this. Can you?
"Why the hell wouldn't the Red Sox at the very least kick the tires on this?"
Simply because it's bad for baseball. There's really no other way to put it. Pujols should either stay in St. Louis or join another storied franchise like the Cubs or the Angels.
Posted by: Matt | February 17, 2011 at 09:15 AM
I think the whole, "it's bad for baseball" argument is a bunch of hog-wash. Look at how "bad" for the NBA it's been since the Heat's new "Big 3" have gotten together, or even look at the Celtics Big 3. Both of those instances have made basketball more fun, interesting, and popular.
The Cardinals have had, and will have, EVERY opportunity to sign Phat Albert before anyone else. They've paid for players in the past like Matt Holiday, but they honestly let this string longer then they should have for the FACE of their franchise, and they only have themselves to blame if they lose him.
If the Red Sox have the fanbase, money, and smarts to be able to pursue Free Agent X - then they should be able to. It's the Red Sox who signed homegrown studs like Pedroia, Youk, and Lester to affordable long-term contracts before they hit free agency - which in situations like this past winter (and possibly next), has afforded them space to spend the money they're lucky enough to have.
Also, I don't know if you're allowed to lump the Angles in the "storied franchise" bucket...
Posted by: SawxBlog | February 17, 2011 at 09:51 AM
Alright look, Albert Pujols is not coming to boston as much as we would all like that its completely out of context. What would we do with Gonzalez? What about that fact that the red sox could be the front runner for Jose Reyes which in my opinion is the most likely think that is going to happen Im pretty sure the Sox would want to re-sign him therefore not being able to sign anymore because at that point were done with money.
Posted by: Anthony | July 20, 2011 at 05:53 PM