I’m sorry, forgive me, but Albert Pujols should not leave the Cards. If you’re a baseball fan you want to see some great players who become synonymous with their teams.

Jeter=Yanks Wright=Mets Pujols=Cards etc.

Personally i love when players take home town discounts in smaller markets because it actually makes me think, maybe money isn’t everything. And when an epic player leaves his team, i don’t care what anyone says, his legacy is completely changed, if not ruined to the loyal fans who helped make him who he is. See Brett Farve.

That said, it could happen. Cards can’t lock up 30 percent of the payroll on any player, particularly one player who’s got a chronic, degenerative elbow condition. The club made a similar play with Chris Carpenter, and the contract didn’t return value until year three. It’d be a shame to see Pujols go, but he’s a huge risk for an otherwise very conservative ownership group.

Then again, not signing him or trading him is also a huge risk for an ownership group.