Albert Pujols will become a free agent this winter. The long-time Cardinals first baseman didn't want to hit the market, but it has come to this with the two sides holding no discussions since an offer was made last winter. "I don't want to think about it," Pujols said recently. "Really, I've been doing my best not to think about it all year. But I know it's coming. "It was crazy during the whole offseason. In a couple of weeks, things will start to get crazy again. Real crazy. "This time, there's nothing I can do about it." St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak and agent Dan Lozano have only spoken twice since spring training. "I don't know what's going to happen, I don't think anyone does," Pujols says. "But I think I handled it right. I just went out there every day trying to help my team win. "All I know is that I'll be a free agent. We'll see what they want to do. There are some things that you can control in this game, and other things you cannot control, and I can't control this. "I'm in a great place. A peaceful place. The fans are awesome. But I can't put a gun to their head and make them sign me."