Pujols, Cardinals agree on $100M deal
Feb. 18, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
Slugger Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals avoided arbitration in a big way, agreeing on a $100 million, seven-year contract Wednesday, a source told the Associated Press,
Advertisement
Pujols was scheduled for a hearing Friday -- he was asking for a $10.5 million salary and the team offered $7 million. Instead, the sides settled, according to the source, who was familiar with the negotiations and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
An option for an eighth year could make the contract worth $111 million. The deal was contingent on Pujols taking a physical.
At 24, Pujols led the major leagues in hitting at .359 last year. He hit 43 home runs with 124 RBI and topped the majors with 51 doubles.
Pujols finished second behind Barry Bonds in voting for the NL MVP award. He made $950,000 last year.
St. Louis made Pujols the ninth baseball player to receive a $100 million contract, the first since Jason Giambi's $120 million, seven-year agreement with the New York Yankees in December 2001.
The Cardinals lock up the game's best young hitter with a mega-deal.(Getty Images)
Pujols has played only three full seasons, making him the fastest player to receive a $100 million contract. Colorado's Todd Helton signed a $141.5 million, nine-year extension in March 2001 after three-plus seasons in the big leagues.
"He called me to give me the good news early in the morning," his aunt, Miriam Pujols, told the Associated Press in the Dominican Republic.
In three seasons, Pujols is hitting .334 with 114 homers and 381 RBI.
Pujols played a lot in left field last season and also spent time at first base. He is likely to move to first base full-time this season after Tino Martinez was traded to Tampa Bay.
The Cardinals open spring training Friday at their camp in Jupiter, Fla.
Last month, Pujols said he wanted a long-term contract from the Cardinals. Asked whether he would give the team a break in price, he said no.
"What do you mean?" Pujols said during the Cardinals' annual winter fanfest. "This is business. There's no break here.
"You try to get what you deserve and that's what I want. I've taken care of my business in the field the last three years and hopefully I get treated respectfully, that's all I ask for."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Feb. 18, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
Slugger Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals avoided arbitration in a big way, agreeing on a $100 million, seven-year contract Wednesday, a source told the Associated Press,
Advertisement
Pujols was scheduled for a hearing Friday -- he was asking for a $10.5 million salary and the team offered $7 million. Instead, the sides settled, according to the source, who was familiar with the negotiations and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
An option for an eighth year could make the contract worth $111 million. The deal was contingent on Pujols taking a physical.
At 24, Pujols led the major leagues in hitting at .359 last year. He hit 43 home runs with 124 RBI and topped the majors with 51 doubles.
Pujols finished second behind Barry Bonds in voting for the NL MVP award. He made $950,000 last year.
St. Louis made Pujols the ninth baseball player to receive a $100 million contract, the first since Jason Giambi's $120 million, seven-year agreement with the New York Yankees in December 2001.
The Cardinals lock up the game's best young hitter with a mega-deal.(Getty Images)
Pujols has played only three full seasons, making him the fastest player to receive a $100 million contract. Colorado's Todd Helton signed a $141.5 million, nine-year extension in March 2001 after three-plus seasons in the big leagues.
"He called me to give me the good news early in the morning," his aunt, Miriam Pujols, told the Associated Press in the Dominican Republic.
In three seasons, Pujols is hitting .334 with 114 homers and 381 RBI.
Pujols played a lot in left field last season and also spent time at first base. He is likely to move to first base full-time this season after Tino Martinez was traded to Tampa Bay.
The Cardinals open spring training Friday at their camp in Jupiter, Fla.
Last month, Pujols said he wanted a long-term contract from the Cardinals. Asked whether he would give the team a break in price, he said no.
"What do you mean?" Pujols said during the Cardinals' annual winter fanfest. "This is business. There's no break here.
"You try to get what you deserve and that's what I want. I've taken care of my business in the field the last three years and hopefully I get treated respectfully, that's all I ask for."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
