St. Louis Cardinals Wiretap

Is Pujols Worth $50M Annually?

Braves manager Bobby Cox says that Albert Pujols is worth $50 million per year.

Discussions of Pujols' worth have spiked since the Phillies gave Ryan Howard a five-year, $125 million extension on Monday.

"We'll double [Pujols' salary], because he's twice as good as anybody else," Cox told reporters.

"It's his all-round ability to play the game. He's the best hitter in the game -- for me. And you're not going to find anybody that plays first base much better than he does or has better instincts of playing the game of baseball.

"It's a pretty good package."

Pujols is in the final year of a seven-year, $100 million contract with St. Louis.

Via ESPN

Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Misc Rumor

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Pujols Says Howard Is Worth $125M

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is "happy" for Phillies contemporary Ryan Howard.

Howard got a five-year, $125 million contract extension from Philadelphia on Monday.

Early in Howard's career, the two spent winters hitting together at the same St. Louis facility.

"Good things happen to good people like Ryan," Pujols said. "He's worth everything he gets because he's proved it."

Pujols is in line for an extension of his own soon.

Via St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Misc Rumor

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Relief Appearance Hurt Felipe Lopez

The Cardinals hope to get infielder Felipe Lopez back on Friday night against the Giants.

He was all but unavailable for the team's last two games this week against the Diamondbacks.

Lopez insisted Wednesday that elbow discomfort that had followed him since the team's first road trip has gradually gone away, though he did feel more discomfort after pitching a scoreless inning in last Saturday's marathon against the Mets.

"It's a lot better than it was a couple days ago," said Lopez. "I'd be surprised if I couldn't go (tonight). It bothered me the other night, but it's improved a lot."

Lopez pulled himself from his relief appearance against the Mets, saying afterward that "I didn't want to overdo it."

At the time, the Cardinals didn't know Lopez had hurt himself while making a sliding defensive play in Milwaukee more than a week earlier.

Via St. Louis Post-Dispatch

St. Louis Cardinals, Injury

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Mets Beat Cards 2-1 In 20 Innings

The Mets defeated the Cardinals 2-1 in an epic game that lasted 20 innings in St. Louis on Saturday.

New York closer Francisco Rodriguez got the victory, while Mike Pelfrey earned his first-ever save.

Young outfielder Joe Mather got the loss for the Cardinals.

The game was the longest in the majors in two seasons.

Both teams scored in the 19th inning, breaking a scoreless tie that lasted more than 18 innings.

The game included 19 pitchers and lasted 6 hours, 53 minutes.

Via Andrew Perna/RealGM

New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Misc Rumor

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Pujols Urged Edmonds To Return

Albert Pujols helped encourage Jim Edmonds to give baseball a chance again after taking off the 2009 season.

"He said I was crazy not to try it," Edmonds said.

Three months after Pujols and Edmonds discussed a return, the outfielder is with the Brewers.

"I hate to see him playing against us in the division," Pujols said. "He's always going to be a Cardinal forever."

Via MLB.com

Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Free Agent Rumor

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