Albert Pujols negotiations with the Cardinals not going so well

Albert Pujols/Courtesy: chris lee-stltoday.com

And quite honestly, the folks in St. Louis may not have their hero after this season because of it. Pujols, whose contract is essentially up after the 2011 season could be a free agent if he and the Cardinals don't agree to a deal.

Now. Is the hullabaloo in St.Louis right now much ado about nothing? Probably. Like most negotiations, each side has a motivation for saying what they are saying. And right now, after the Cardinals G.M John Mozeliak mentioned that Pujols's agent put a hard deadline on negotiations, Pujols is starting to look a bit like a bad guy where he's beloved.

Read more from Bernie Milkasz of Stltoday.com RIGHT HERE

Apparently, the Cardinals held their fan based "Winter Warmup" this past weekend. Pujols was there and spoke to the assembled media. He didn't say much other than he was more "Professional" than taking negotiations to the media. In fact his representative wouldn't let the topic be broached in the press conference....at all.

Again, as always, this is all posturing. It's what the modern day negotiation involves. It always is. One side leaks something to the media to put the other on the defensive. The other says we won't talk about it...and then they talk about it. Ultimately, they'll get a deal done. They have to. Pujols is St.Louis baseball. They always seem to have the money to get the players they want there, but to let Albert walk would be....the worst PR decision that they could possibly make and both sides know it. It's just a matter of who uses who to get the best deal possible for their respective side.

Here's Pujols his ownself. Thanks KSDK-TV:

Cardinals "Very Serious" About Smoltz

((HT: St Louis Post-Dispatch/Strauss))

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak called the agent for free agent pitcher John Smoltz ((pictured, thanks Boston Globe file)) on Monday to convey what one official described as "very serious" interest in the 42-year-old righthander.

The Boston Red Sox released Smoltz, making the likely future Hall of Famer available to any club willing to play him a pro-rated share of the major-league minimum $410,000 salary. The Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Florida Marlins are thought to be the leading contenders, with the Cardinals eyeing Smoltz as a possible answer for a nagging eighth-inning question.

"I can confirm that a call was made today," Mozeliak said. "We're looking at a number of options for our bullpen right now. It's fair to say he is someone we have legitimate interest in."

Widespread support exists within the Cardinals' clubhouse for bringing Smoltz on board. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright and third baseman Mark DeRosa previously played in the same organization while with the Atlanta Braves. Wainwright, traded over Smoltz's dissent to the Cardinals in December 2003, considers Smoltz something of a mentor.

Manager Tony La Russa acknowledged the club's interest before Monday's series opener against the Dodgers and said he would be open to contacting Smoltz or his agent, Lonnie Cooper, should Mozeliak think it beneficial.

"I know he's one of the guys we've been looking into. When he's healthy, he's a weapon," La Russa commented, adding, "I'll do whatever I'm asked to do. I think it's enough to say we have interest. We have since the day he was designated."

Flashback to Smoltz's last days in Boston, where he talks about what he isn't...
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