2012 MLB Free Agents: Marlins Offer Albert Pujols Ten-Year Deal
By Editorial Staff
It has been reported that the Miami Marlins have offered top free agent first baseman Albert Pujols a ten-year contract. The Marlins continue to push hard to bring in the future Hall of Famer, and it is reported that the St. Louis Cardinals now view Miami as “a real threat” to sign Pujols.
Over the past two days the Marlins have reached an agreement with top free agent shortstop Jose Reyes and introduced top free agent closer Heath Bell. Both players cost the Marlins money that would have taken the club years to spend in the past.
But not these Marlins.
Even after their two big-name additions the Marlins are back on the recruiting trail trying to reel in the largest fish of them all.
In upping their offer to Pujols, the Marlins have placed themselves in the “serious bidder” category. Miami’s first offer was thought of by many to be more of a gesture, a simple “hey, we’re making an effort to sign Albert Pujols”, when really they were hardly bidding enough to get into the discussion.
But now the Marlins have increased their offer to 10 years. While no dollar figures have been announced, you’d have to figure that this deal puts them in the same category as the Cardinals original offer.
Up until last night, the Cardinals did not feel the need to increase their offer to Pujols. That was because a market never really developed for the All-Star first baseman. Now, with the Marlins aggressive surge, the Cardinals will likely have to re-think their position.
This is exactly what Pujols and his agent Dan Lozano were banking on. Jim Bowden of ESPN says that Lozano is the real winner of last nights’ discussions, as the agent now has the offer from the Marlins he needs to return to the Cardinals and “get them to increase their offer”.
For more on the Marlins, be sure to check out Marlin Maniac.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.