They've said they are going to substantially raise their salary cap because of their new stadium but... They've been linked to pretty much every top FA on the market. I don't buy what the Marlins are sellin.

The Cards are going to be competing with Cubs, Rangers, and Angels for Pujols.

He's coming through Miami on his way back to the St. Louis area from the Dominican. Miami's a stop of convenience; I don't think they're real players for him. Besides, they have some pretty decent 1b options in-house already w/ Gabby Sanchez and Logan Morrison (LoMo looks like a 1b to me).

They need to attack the 3b position pretty badly; maybe Aramis Ramirez on a 4 year deal.

Ryan came out today and said the Rangers wouldn't make a play for Pujols, he doesn't seem to be the full of shit type.

The Angels are the real competition here, IMO. The Cubs have a ton of dead money on the payroll still and have no pitching staff to speak of. Besides, spending $30 million on an import 1b just doesn't seem like an Epstein move.

Arte Moreno, OTOH, desperately needs a draw in the SoCal area and has a dire need of an impact bat in the middle of the lineup. He also sees the Dodgers slipping and may see a chance to make the Angels the alpha dog in the region. I could absolutely see him blowing up the whole thing with a $250 million offer.

There's nothing the Cubs can do with the pitching staff for at least another year. They are stuck with Z and Demp. Garza is going to be the ace. 4-5 will be in house options.

2013 FA pitchers include Cain, Hamels, Greinke, Danks, Shields*, Haren*, Floyd*

*- club options.

Shields is most likely going to be traded. The Rays wont be able to afford him.

Agreed, but don't fall asleep on the Nationals. The only reason he would go to Anaheim over Washington is because the Angels are contenders, and Albert said he wants to play for championships. Washington is nearly as far away as the Cubs.

The Rays have him on an absurdly team-friendly deal for at least 2 more seasons (and maybe 3, if memory serves).

If they trade him, it will be because they need offense badly and they have an absolute embarrassment of riches in their pitching staff. Honestly, I think I'd keep him and just bury Niemann or convert him to relief. A staff fronted by Price, Shields, Hellickson, Davis and Moore could very easily be the best in baseball, Philly included.

With the absurdly undervalued deals they have guys like Longoria and Zobrist on, they can absolutely keep Shields in their salary structure if they want to. The only question is whether or not they can get a good enough player in return for him to make up for the loss. It won't be a money trade, but a baseball trade.

Look at this: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?...Qg&output=html

It's incredible how much cheap talent they have on that team. Every major component of last year's team is locked up next season and they only have $23 million in payroll committed. Upton will probably count for an extra $7 million and Joyce may come in around 2, but you're still looking at no more than $35 million for their 25-man roster if they felt so inclined and they wouldn't take a talent hit for it.

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/200...267025321.html

He will make 9mil in 2013 and 12mil in 2014. Thats do able for a team not in Florida.

He'd be more than a 1/4 of their payroll. They'll trade him for more young studs like they do every other player that gets to be too much $.

Price's contract is also up next year so they are going to have to pay him aswell. They are going to have to choose between Price or Shields. Who would you pick? I'll take Price.

That's easily doable for Tampa Bay as well. They had a $70+ million payroll in 2010, they can do it again if they need to. Last season they simply didn't need to because they were committed to a youth movement.

The way the revenue sharing works, every single team in the league could have a $60 million payroll with only nominal attendance. Failing to do so is either 1) Dereliction of duty by your owner or 2) A simple concession to the fact that young players (even very good ones) are cheap.

The Royals, for instance, have no business carrying a $70 million payroll. It's not economics, it's that they have a shitload of cheap young players that should be playing. So a cheap payroll is actually preferred for the Royals because it means they're learning about these young guys. However, it also means that they should be willing to raise payroll as these young guys get more expensive.

The Rays are in the same boat. They've shown a willingness to spend a bit of money in the past and they'll do so again if the situation calls for it.

Shields will not be a salary dump. Nor will they have to choose between Shields and Price; they can easily do both. If they trade him, it will be for baseball reasons (to get a better offensive part in return), not salary reasons.

And dont forget Fielder will land at one of these spots taking one of the clubs out of the mix.

The winter meeting are going to be alot of fun this year.

Fielder probably wont be signed until after Pujols is. Pujols is going to set the value for Fielder.

I would think they would be making the announcement about the new manager shortly now that the Paterno crap isn't sucking up all the media coverage.

"The Marlins are serious about signing Albert Pujols and intend to make a competitive offer, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria covets Pujols and envisions him at first base in 2012, according to Spencer."

Sounds like the Marlins are actually pretty serious about bringing people into their new stadium.

I would be shocked if Pujols signs that dotted line.

If he is serious about playing for a contender he can't go to the Marlins. That would make him all about $ and full of shit because even with him they aren't a contender.

Was a great run, Wont be repeated this year. Bet???