That was my point. I think they had a ceiling on how high they'd go. They could have afforded 10/200. The spent in the past and left room for that 'ceiling' they'd spend hoping that's all they'd have to spend. They didn't get Albert because they didn't want to spendmore, but people (ESPN/sports reporters) will talk about the Berkman/Holliday/Carpenter stuff keeping them from havin the money. And that is going to annoy me.skmsw wrote:I think they had the money. I think they could have offered something much more competitive than 9/<$200, 5/$150, or 7/$175 (if any of those are accurate; by my sources, they are the best I have).guess my only issue with what steve said was that I don't think it was phase 1 of replacing him as much as the insurance policy against him leaving ... It's a minor detail that'll bother me for awhile when people speculate whether Carpenter, Holliday, Berkman extensions kept them from 'having the money'.
I think they were worried about the risk. Those who agree that he "would not have been worth it" for a ten-year deal probably share that concern; injury, age, decline in performance, etc make it hard to project him to pay off at market value for the whole length of an 8 to 10 year contract.
Right, we agree 95%. I'm saying, that two years ago when Lozano/Pujols were asking for 10/300 they weren't going to do it. They looked at Teixeira, AGonz and Howard along with a younger Fielder hitting the market this year and figured it wouldn't take 10/300 to sign him. They were thinking 9/200 or 9/180 or whatever they offered would take care of it. They probably took him a bit at his word on the "Why would I leave for a few million a year?" statements.But I personally, in my opinion, doubt that the problem was that they couldn't do it. I think they decided two years ago they weren't going to do it, unless it came in the form of a deal that minimized their concerns around long term investment and risk. Not that the money wasn't there to pay him his $25mm and still field a good team;
But I don't think when they signed Holliday 2 years ago they were thinking "We have 0% chance of retaining Pujols." Or "We have no interest in retaining Pujols." was the thought process. I believe Holliday was viewed as a good enough player to build around should he leave, and a great, affordable compliment to Pujols if he stays. I think they were comfortable with $21-22M/year for Albert and left that room available, but weren't going to go above that for the risk.
And they were almost right. If it wasn't for Arte Moreno blowing his load, he probably would have been back.
