The deal will reportedly pay the two-time all-star $100 million USand avoids an arbitration hearing, which was scheduled for Friday. Pujols had been seeking a raise from $950,000 to $10.5 million, with the team countering at $7 million. Those figures are out the window now with the new contract that will reportedly pay the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year in deferments until 2029.
According to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Pujols will be paid $7 million this season, $11 million in 2005, $14 million in 2006, $15 million in 2007 and $16 million each year from 2008-10. The option for 2011 would be worth $16 million.
"It's not about the money. It's about myself getting ready for the 2004 season and for the team," Pujols said during a news conference Friday.
Albert Pujols agreed to a longterm deal with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. (CP Photo)
"If you play this game for 20 years and you don't win a championship it doesn't matter how much money you make. If you win a championship everybody is going to recognize you. It's about winning." The 24-year-old Pujols topped all major leaguers with a .359 batting average, had 43 homers and 124 RBI last season and finished second in the NL MVP balloting behind Barry Bonds. It marked the second consecutive season he finished second in the MVP voting.
"This deal not only recognizes Albert for his accomplishments over the past three seasons," said Cardinals Senior Vice President/General Manager Walt Jocketty, "but all along, we felt that it was important to retain a player such as Albert who came up through our farm system, and see to it that he remained a part of the club's nucleus well into the future."
Pujols has primarily played left field for the Cardinals, but this season he's been pegged to start at first base following the trade of Tino Martinez to Tampa Bay. Pujols' 51 doubles last season were the most by a Cardinal since 1953 when Stan Musial hit 53. Pujols also became only the second Cardinal ever to hit 40 or more home runs while also collecting 200 hits in the same season –matching the accomplishments of Rogers Hornsby, who in 1922 had 42 home runs among his 250 hits.
The Cardinals finished third in the NL Central last year, three games behind the division-winning Cubs. Chicago and Houston have improved drastically in the offseason with more pitching and Pujols knows winning the division will be a tough task this year.
"Everybody is talking about them and forgetting about the Cardinals, but we're going to be great," Pujols said. "We all can look good on paper...but you need to go out there and prove yourself."
