White Sox general manager Kenny Williams says that $30 million annually is too much to pay for first baseman Albert Pujols. "For the game's health as a whole, when we're talking about $30 million players, I think it's asinine," Williams said. "We have gotten to the point of no return. Something has to happen. And if it means the game being shut down for the sake of bringing sanity to it, to franchises that aren't going to stop the insanity, I'm all for it." Heading into last season, the Pirates and Padres had payrolls of $35 million and $38 million, respectively, for their entire rosters. "If [owner Jerry Reinsdorf] gave me $30 million right now, I'm not going to spend it on one guy. Sorry, White Sox fans," Williams said. "But I tell you what, I'm going to take that $30 million and I'm going to distribute it around. My team is going to be better as a whole than it is with one player who might get hurt. Then you're done. Sorry, that's just me. And that's no disrespect to a future Hall of Famer, first ballot, one of the greatest players in history."

Bengie Molina still hasn't decided if he'll play this season. He would fit well with the Red Sox, but they don't have the semi-starting job that he desires.

Kevin Millwood recently rejected the Yankees' offer of a minor-league contract, according to a report by The New York Post. The sides continue to talk, but Yankees officials are adamant they will not give Millwood a major-league deal to compete for a back-of-the-rotation job. The deal offered to Millwood was similar to the one Freddy Garcia signed with New York earlier this offseason.

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts did nothing to diffuse the idea that the team could pursue first baseman Albert Pujols if he hits the free agent market in 2012. "All that stuff's in [general manager Jim Hendry's] court," Ricketts said. "There's going to be a little more financial flexibility at the end of the season than we've had in years past. We'll have to assess the situation when we get there and see what's available." It's been reported that Pujols, 32, is looking for a 10-year, $300-million deal with the Cardinals.

The deadline for Albert Pujols and the Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement passed Wednesday with no new deal. The development likely means the first baseman will become a free agent after the 2011 season. "We are greatly disappointed at this outcome," Cardinals chairman William DeWitt Jr. said at a news conference. "We will revisit it again following the 2011 season, at which time we will again make every effort to keep him as a Cardinal." Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons.

With the deadline for a long-term extension looming Wednesday, there were reports that the Cardinals extended a new offer to Albert Pujols on Tuesday. However, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports writes that no such offer was made. A source close to the first baseman said such a claim was, "inaccurate, reckless and outrageous." Pujols is believed to be seeking about $275 million over 10 years, similar to the contract Alex Rodriguez received from the Yankees.

Jason Isringhausen auditioned for Mets assistant general manager J.P. Ricciardi at the team's Florida complex on Tuesday morning. He last pitched in the majors when he made nine appearances for the Rays in 2009. Isringhausen, 38, originally was drafted by the Mets 20 years ago and pitched in the majors with the club from 1995 through 1999. "We've got a history from Oakland, things like that," Isringhausen said, referring to his relationship with Ricciardi. "We've always been cordial friends. So I talked to my agent, my agent talked to J.P., and I just came down here and threw a little bit. All I need is a chance to throw in the spring somewhere."

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson says "it's unlikely" contract extension talks with Jose Reyes would take place this spring. Reyes will earn $11 million this season and is eligible for free agency next winter. Alderson added that he did not expect the $1 billion lawsuit against Mets ownership would impact his ability to sign Reyes to an extension if the general manager wanted to pursue it. "Now, I'm confident I can do anything with any one individual player," Alderson said. "Anything we do is going to be viewed through the prism of what's going on in New York. There's no question about that. All I can do is try to make the best baseball judgments. And at this point I'm not facing any limitations. At this point I don't expect to."

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa believes the Major League Baseball Players Association is attempting to "beat up" Albert Pujols and his agent in an attempt to get the first baseman to sign a record-setting contract. La Russa said emphatically that it "is bull----. That's not the way it should be." He contended that a player in Pujols' position should "look at all the factors. ... It shouldn't just be the most money." "I'm not saying that if I was a union representative I would do it differently," the manager said. "I'm just saying I think it diminishes the other factors that a player looks at. ... I think each negotiation should be based on what's the best decision -- taking everything into account, not taking one thing into account."

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak says the first baseman's deadline of Wednesday will be the end of talks with Albert Pujols on a contract extension if no agreement is reached. Mozeliak indicated that it's not necessarily a requirement that a deal be signed by that time, but that terms would need to be agreed to. Multiple reports suggest that the two sides are far apart on an agreement. "I don't want to sit here and lead people on or characterize something one way or the other," the GM said. "Our approach has been pretty consistent since Day 1, and that's really to allow this to be done in a confidential state. Given that we're only 48 hours away from the deadline, I'll remain that way."