Albert Pujols To Marlins? After Signing Jose Reyes, Miami Meets With Agent Of Cardinals Slugger

Could Miami be getting another Big Three?

According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins' brass met with Albert Pujols' agent, Dan Lozano, on Monday during the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas. ESPN's Jayson Stark later reported on a second scheduled meeting between the two sides set for Monday evening.

The Marlins have already been the most aggressive team in free agency, reeling in shutdown closer Heath Bell and reigning National League batting champ Jose Reyes.

If Pujols were to take his talents to South Beach -- like another sports superstar who had previously spent his entire career with one team in the Heartland -- then he would form the core a formidable lineup along with Reyes and incumbent superstar Hanley Ramirez -- not to mention young mashers Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison.

On Sunday, sources informed Stark that the Fish "plan to make an aggressive run at Pujols." On Monday, the Marlins seemed to prove the reliability of that information. After 11 stellar seasons with St. Louis, Pujols is a free agent for the first time in his career. The three-time NL MVP was peppered with questions about his impending free agency almost immediately after the Cardinals captured the 2011 World Series.

"You know what? I'm not even thinking about that," Pujols said at the time. "I'm thinking about, you know, we're the world champions and I'm going to celebrate and whenever that time comes, you know, then we'll deal with it."

Well, it seems like the time has come to "deal with it."

Aside from reportedly scheduling two meetings with the Marlins on Monday, Pujols' agent also found time to meet with the Cardinals. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak also spoke directly with the slugger.

Although the Cardinals had long been weary of the rival Chicago Cubs swooping in to offer Pujols a lavish contract, the Marlins have clearly emerged suddenly as the most dangerous competitor. Among those selling potential signees, like Pujols, on the ballclub is new manager Ozzie Guillen, who the Marlins pried away from the Chicago White Sox in September.

@Jon_Heyman
Jon Heyman

#cardinals do see #marlins as a pujols threat now. Word is, miami may take payroll to $100M

December 6, 2011 2:58 am via Mobile Web Reply Retweet Favorite

Aside from the marquee acquisitions of Guillen, Reyes and Bell, the Florida franchise is totally reinventing itself, recently unveiling new uniforms and preparing to move in to a new ballpark. In November, Pujols made a visit to the Marlins' new home. After that trip, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria sounded upbeat about the meeting.

"He's terrific," Loria said. "I can only tell you that he loved the stadium, he liked being here, he liked the flavor of Miami."

Comments

[mightymac63]

09:21 PM on 12/06/2011

The Marlins offer was for the old Pujols, and the Cardinals offer is for the current Pujols. And in Bernie M's write up today, he pointed out that the Marlins new stadium is being investigated by the SEC on the financing issues. If Pujols leaves, everything he said about staying a Cardinal and retiring a Cardinal will be contradicted. Stay in St.Louis Albert.

[benji85]

05:28 PM on 12/06/2011

So ticket prices will go through the roof for over the hill players...

[pw3b18]

05:26 PM on 12/06/2011

Having Ramirez, Puljos, and Reyes is not going to win a World Series. The Cardinals and Giants proved the last two seasons that a strong pitching staff and bullpen wins games when it counts. If the Marlins were smart, they would spend the money that they would pay Puljos and get some young pitchers and build them up for the next couple of seasons and then make some good runs in the next 3-5 years.

[lisaman]

02:08 PM on 12/06/2011

This new stadium is not going to be a hitter's park, Albert would be crazy to sign there if he is hoping to add to his numbers before his career is over. He would be better off some place with a hitter's park, like Chicago.

[dmac]

12:09 PM on 12/06/2011

I'd see this as more of a possibility if the Marlins intend to more than double their payroll....before they even think about starting pitching (which is generally considered a good thing to have). It would seem this is more of a negotiating ploy to drive the price up with the Cardinals. And as a lifelong Cards fan, I'd hate to see AP in any other uni, but not more than I'd hate to see the club crippled for the next 7-10 years with a monster contract on a declining superstar.

I think Pujols is suffering from unfortunate timing. The big spenders are all set at first, or even DH. In another year, this could have resulted in ridiculous money for him (although I don't think he'll be short of a few bob for the next few...um...generations as it is). There is talk that this is less about money than respect, but to pro athletes, one is the other. It would have been nice of his agent to point out that short of a career-ending injury in NY or Boston, crazy money suitors would be few at this time.

Now, he could go elsewhere for more money, or he could stay in STL and contend. With the lineup we have right now, STL should do very well for a while, thank you. Even without AP, we could move Berkman to FB, start Craig, and I still like our chances.

[lisaman]

02:10 PM on 12/06/2011

I heard Bernie M on 101 this morning giving his reason he doesn't think Albert will go to Miami, they were indeed good ones. Like the new park is going to be more of a pitcher's park than a hitter's park.

[Tater Salad]

11:27 AM on 12/06/2011

Miami is overpaying for players hoping it will land butts in seats. Instead of building their farm team, they are trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Signing Reyes to that contract was a huge waste given his being injury prone. I can't see Albert leaving a World Series winning team to join a team that didn't make the playoffs.

[Thunder Chicken]

10:06 AM on 12/06/2011

If Albert enjoys winning he'll stay in St. Louis. Holliday, Berkman, Freese, Craig, Carpenter, Wainwright... And soon Shelby Miller.

This team is loaded.

[emrogers]

08:06 AM on 12/06/2011

Well, there goes the Phillies "dynasty". No worries, they still have the "Dream Team"...oh never mind.

[SDLee]

02:04 AM on 12/06/2011

Where's the pitching? This isn't basketball and, after all the Heat haven't won anything with the big 3.

[Winthorpe]

10:24 AM on 12/06/2011

They beat everybody but one team, winning the Eastern Conference. We don't need to go over that again.

[SDLee]

02:26 PM on 12/06/2011

The author used the Big 3 label. If you want to do it, fine; but then follow up with the real outcome and some some dream. Getting Albert won't guarantee anything in Fl. if there's no pitching, period.

[SDLee]

02:27 PM on 12/06/2011

.....the real outcome and NOT some dream.

[cameron d]

01:53 AM on 12/06/2011

Note to Editor: Heath Bell is not a Big 3 Name. Maybe if they get a starter that would be appropriate.

[Winthorpe]

06:36 AM on 12/06/2011

No kidding. That's a reach beyond all reaches, trying to make a Heat analogy.

[local21]

06:48 AM on 12/06/2011

Hanley Ramirez

[djnc]

07:48 AM on 12/06/2011

yeah that's true...if he plays like hanley again, hopefully