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sptsman said:
Perhaps it is possible that a sincere effort was made, within the constraints of what the Cardinals could do and it just wasn't even close to what Pujols wants. If that is the case, their hands were tied and this isn't so much a strategy as it is the only route they have. Play out the year and see what offers come in free agency.

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Cardinals management tied their own hands and put the rope around their neck. They paid Matt Holliday $17M a year last year....when NO ONE else was interested in him. Then instead of signing Albert to a deal last year, they hoped the market would stay stable or go down.....instead it blew up on them, and blew up BIG. Now since they are the ones saying Holliday is worth $17M, how can they put an offer forward for $19-21M a year for Albert and expect for it to get taken seriously. Pay the man what he is worth. Its simple. He's the best player in baseball.


Holliday only once in his career has had 100+ run and RBI seasons, out of 7 seasons. Albert has accomplished that his entire career except one, and he had 99 Runs that year. Holliday has never won an MVP and only finished 2nd once. #5 has 3 MVP's and 4 2nd place finishes. Matt Holliday has only hit 30+ HR's twice in his career. Albert has hit 30+ HR EVERY YEAR, and hit 40+ in 6 of his 10 seasons. Albert has never struck out 100+ times a season. Holliday has 5 of his 7 seasons, and was close again last season. And most of Holliday's numbers are at hitter friendly Coor's Field. We could go on and on all day long about how Holliday's numbers are no where close to Alberts.

I dont' think he wants to be the highest paid in baseball. I do think he wants a big contract, and I don't blame him for wanting one. But to give him a contract, that barely is the top 10 in baseball, and well below other 1st basemen with far less numbers. I wouldn't even have sent a counter offer either.

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