Friday, November 11, 2011

Still Holding Out For Pujols

Yes, I'm still dreaming. As Jayson Stark of ESPN says, however, the Dodgers landing Albert Pujols might be within some realm of possibility:

There's also the Franchise Changer sales pitch. If you're just looking at signing Albert Pujols the baseball player, you might not give this man eight or 10 years at age 32, no matter how great a player he is. But say you're a team like the Marlins, trying to put your franchise on the map as you move into a new ballpark. Or say you're the Dodgers, desperate to restore the luster of the franchise. Then signing The Best Player in Baseball becomes more than just a baseball transaction. "If I was running the Dodgers, I'd sign Albert Pujols in a heartbeat," one veteran agent said. "He could enhance the value of the franchise by $200-250 million. I know that sounds high, but you have to look at the ability to market [the player], the ability to raise prices. The TV contract alone would go up at least 20 percent. This isn't just another player we're talking about. This is Albert Pujols."

9 comments:

Greg Hao said...

Ya, that's exactly what the dodgers need, an albatross of a contract and to have Albert pujols trot out to first base as a 42 year old.

Kyle Baker said...

Exactly, Greg. I'd rather go long on our young, good players then add some crafty mid-level buys. A name on the back of the shirt means nothing if the person is 176 years old.

Steve Sax said...

Okay, then no yipping from you guys about FJL next year.

Or the year after that.

Or the year after that.

Or the year after that.


Greg Brock, anyone?

Jason said...

It seems so simple, take the projected Pujos offer (say, 7/$210M), add 3 years while keeping the total dollar value constant, offer to Matt Kemp.

Along the same lines, take the projected Fielder offer (say, 7/$168M), knock $35 million off the total, offer to Clayton Kershaw.

Kyle Baker said...

That's what I was thinking, Jason.

You lock up the Cy Young winner and the MVP who you have cultivated in your own system and make them franchise players. But you don't splash it on a still good but quickly aging star. Spend the rest on a catcher, a couple infielders.

Hell, we should pay the Wilson Ramos kidnappers the ransom then just bring him to LA.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'd rather have Fielder, but I'll settle for Pujols.

Fernie V said...

Mattingly, Is going with Loney, til little Mattingly can take the job.

Nostradamus said...

I got no issue with FJL as long as the power numbers come from somewhere else. Unless you're going to put Yanquis money out there, you're not going to get plus power from every position. Don't we need find a real solution for 2B, 3B, and LF first?

Kyle Baker said...

I"m feelin' you, Mr. C. Exactly.