Where will Albert be next year?

[arkimadee]

Many of you have brought this up as a subtopic in some other free agent threads so I figure why not just make a thread out of it. Where do you all think he ends up next year? My gut is that he ends up staying in St. Louis. This season will be huge for his contract because last year his numbers declined a bit from 2009. They were still MVP numbers but if they continue to decline a little this year, he may not get the 200 million dollar deal that everyone is talking about. Here are some of the candidates who can possibly afford him.

1. Cards - If anyone gets a discount price, it will be the Cards. The Cards must feel they have to sign this guy. They get over 3 million in attendance each season. If they lose Albert then they can kiss that number goodbye. They will see it as a slap in the face to let this guy go after they have been so faithful to their club for so long. The City loves this guy and it seems like he enjoys being there.

2. Yankees - They can afford to give him the biggest contract and use him at either 1st base or DH with Texieria. They will probably be wanting to stick it to the Red Sox for getting Crawford and Gonzalez this season as well.

3. Angels - Missed out on the big free agents this year and would probably be able to afford him.

4. Cubs - The Cubs could probably afford him but I don't see Albert going there. The only way is if the Cubs offered 2 more years than the Cards were willing to give and offered him alot more money each season.

I didn't really look deep at the numbers, these are just thoughts mostly. What do you all think? As a Reds fan, I hope he gets the hell out of the NL Central! lol

[Reverend Doo-Rag]

The name "Texas" is always involved when one discusses big ridiculous contracts.

[Dunnateher]

Cards resign him to a 25yr $250 million contract, deffered over 50 years. Albert does what he wants after retiring.

[mattfeet]

He'll sign a 7yr/200mil extension.

-Matt

[Hondo]

Chicago Cubs will offer him the Most Money out of any Team out there.

[MikeThierry]

There is no way he goes to the Cubs. Pujols has stated that he wants to go to a team that will win. The Cubs will not win and are rebuilding. Plus I get a feeling from Pujols that he is not a huge fan of that organization and fan base.

[Old NDN]

I think he stays with the Cards.

[Reds]

He's going to back up Votto

[mroby85]

Hopefully somewhere outside of the NL Central, but I would guess he stays in St. Louis.

[MikeThierry]

The three realistic spots I could see him at is Yankees, Boston, and the Angels. The Cardinals are going to go in heavily for Pujols and those are the only teams I see outbidding the Cardinals. I know that Boston just added tons of payroll but David Ortiz isn't getting any younger. If the Red Sox added Pujols to a lineup of Gonzalez, Crawford, Pedroia, and Youkillis...... that is would be like bringing back Murderers Row.

[Vottomatic]

He'd be stupid to stay in St. Louis. They're already showing signs of cheap dumb moves to save money and field a weak offense. And the pitching staff will have to get paid eventually to keep them all around..........and they can't afford all of them.

No. If Albert wants to win, he better hit the big market clubs.

[Hondo]

The three realistic spots I could see him at is Yankees, Boston, and the Angels. The Cardinals are going to go in heavily for Pujols and those are the only teams I see outbidding the Cardinals. I know that Boston just added tons of payroll but David Ortiz isn't getting any younger. If the Red Sox added Pujols to a lineup of Gonzalez, Crawford, Pedroia, and Youkillis...... that is would be like bringing back Murderers Row.

The only possibility is the Angels, unless the Yankees sign him to DH or have Tex DH...

The Cubs will be unloading nearly 70 Million in Contracts after 2011, so that is the Team who will be putting 30 Million per year Down over 9-10 years.

[MikeThierry]

Trust me, the Yankees will always find a spot for a bat like that.

[Hondo]

Trust me, the Yankees will always find a spot for a bat like that.

Trust you? That explains it. Good Point!

[MikeThierry]

Trust you? That explains it. Good Point!

Exactly!

Kidding aside, the Yankees would probably find room for him by moving Texiera to the DH or hitting Pujols in that spot.