The Cardinals’ Albert Pujols and Rafael Furcal appear on a regional cover of the Nov. 7, 2011, issue that is now available on newsstands in the St. Louis area. (Subscribers in the state of Missouri will also receive the issue with this cover.) It is the Cardinals’ 41st cover. Only the Yankees (73) and Red Sox (46) have more appearances among MLB teams.
With St. Louis’ 2011 World Series title in the books, the focus now turns to free agent Albert Pujols. Even though he finished this season as one of the 10 best hitters in the league, his market is not limitless. SI contributor Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) says that fellow free agent Prince Fielder—four years younger than Pujols—is a better investment, even if Pujols is the best player available.
Sheehan predicts: “Everything points to Pujols’s re-signing with the Cardinals. His market price will remain within their range, and his importance to St. Louis as a franchise means they can afford to pay a premium to keep him. The Yankees paid Derek Jeter a significant multiple of his market value last off-season in a decision that had little to do with baseball. The Cardinals will also pay extra, perhaps in years rather than dollars, to retain the face of their franchise.”
