SCOTT JACOBS

There’s lots of dollars and minimal sense in the wild Albert Pujols bidding war.   Three teams, including the previously penny-pinching Marlins (more on them in a moment) and the hometown Cardinals are apparently all willing to give a decade long deal to a guy who is 31, and closing in on 32.  They’re ready to fork over north of $200 million to a guy whose numbers went down last year.

Pujols may be a once in a generation kind of hitter, but this is the kind of once in a decade type of contract that could cripple any of his suitors for years.  Especially the Marlins.  I get that Pujols is the type of big ticket, box office draw that the team has probably been dreaming about as it prepares to open its new palace.  I get that the Miami Marlins are trying to disconnect themselves (in every way possible) from their past (though last time I checked they won 2 World Series, including one in their 5th year of existence). But I digress.

The point is I don’t get it.

Alex Rodriguez’s 10 year, $252 million contract hamstrung the Rangers for years as they plummeted to the bottom of the AL West.  Then in 2004, they dealt him to the Yankees in one of the most publicized trades in the history of existence.  Texas actually agreed to the deal knowing they’d still be on the hook for $67 million of the $179 million that was remaining on his absurd deal at that time.  It was also the most cash included in a trade in Major League history.  And here’s a fun fact, Texas will be paying A-Rod (or Roid) through the year – wait for it, wait for it – 2025!

Just think about that for a minute.  2025! If we just close the book on 2011, and proclaim that it’s basically 2012 now, the Rangers will continue paying for the services of a player they haven’t had in 8 years, for the next 14. Fourteen.  That isn’t just hilarious. It’s astounding.  So if Rodriguez somehow manages to blow his most recent absurd contract ($275 million for 10 years from the Yankees, signed in 2007) he’ll still have money coming to him over a decade from now.

And now, the Marlins and Cardinals, caught in all the hoopla of the generation’s other great player, are haggling over 10 year deals.  St. Louis is reportedly now offering the slugger $220 million.

It’s so mind-blowingly absurd that it’s hard to fathom how either of these teams could make their offers without either being drunk.  Or high.

Pujols is a fabulous player.  A 3 time MVP.  An all-world superstar who may go into the books as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.  But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s almost 32, coming off an injury-plagued season, and that this contract would be paying him $20 million+ as he gets into his late 30’s and early 40’s.

To get the prize, sometimes you have to overspend, but this is just stupid.  Especially for the Marlins.  Miami already has a pretty good 1st baseman in highly thought of Gabby Sanchez, but he doesn’t bring the star appeal or the latin passion that Miami wants to engrave into their franchise.  Or the leadership for that matter.  If it was an 8 year deal I’d question it.  Pujols’ window for greatness probably stands at 5 years.  After that it’s only fair to expect his numbers and production to decline. You can’t predict injuries and if you’re the Marlins, you can’t predict revenue stream.  Fans will literally revolt if the Marlins buy another high priced team and sell the parts off a few years later, because they spent over their heads.  That would be the franchise’s final straw.

So instead of throwing a boatload of money at a slugger in his 30s, why not sign a pitcher or two, and build the team through a strong farm system.  As is, you’ve got a guy in Mike Stanton, who many suggest could be the next $200 million player when his rookie contract expires. So from a pie in the sky standpoint, it sounds amazing.  It’s unprecedented for Marlins fans to fathom this.  But this isn’t signing Pudge Rodriguez to a 1 year $10 million deal in 2003.  Even that was considered a bit of a risk.  This is a decade long commitment.  This is getting in bed with Pujols and telling him you’ll still love him even when he’s old.  This is a contract that runs till 2021.

As for the Cardinals, well Pujols embodies that franchise.  He’s been the face of 2 World Champion teams, and he is beloved.  He is the heart and soul of their offense and he’s been with St. Louis since the start.  They will build him a statue in St. Louis and idolize the ground he walks on.  Miami will embrace him and celebrate him in their usual fickle way, and then when his talent dries up and he’s no good, they’ll be ready to dispose of him like a prom night dumpster baby.  St. Louis is loyal.  Miami has a short memory.  St. Louis is the All-American heartland.  Miami is trendy and unforgiving.

Maybe the Angels jump in, or another surprise team.  Who knows.

And the fact that Miami refuses to put a no-trade clause in his deal (stating that they wouldn’t for anyone) leads me to believe that if this multi-million dollar experiment of theirs fails, that Pujols would be the first one sent out of town.  This is the Marlins we’re talking about.

The upside of course is that you bring Pujols into town, become the hottest story in baseball, and you join the Heat as the most fascinating purchased team in the sport.  And if he wins you a few titles and collects some hardware along the way, maybe swallowing the final 4 or 5 years is worth it.  But if you bring him in at this price, you better know he’s going to deliver.  It’s a risk of course, but it’s a high-risk, high-reward.

A quick story:  In 1920 the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in what is widely considered the most famous trade in sports history.  Boston owner Frankie Frisch sent the Bambino to the Bronx, not for money, but for players.  The final amount: $125,000, or in laments terms, $1.37 million in current dollar terms.  New York also loaned Frisch $300,000 or $3.29 million in current terms, with a mortgage on Fenway Park as collateral.

The point to the story: in current dollar terms, Ruth was worth $1.37 million dollars to the Red Sox.  The reason he was traded: he wanted a raise double that of his salary.  His salary at the time: $10,000.

If Pujols gets a 10 year contract worth, let’s say $23 million a year, it would amount to $141,975.309 a game, $15,775.03 an inning, $5,258.34 an out.

For a decade (before taxes).

If only Babe Ruth were still alive. Could only imagine what he’d be thinking.

Photo: Getty

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