MLB Winter Meetings 2011: Yankees Not the “Mystery Team” for Albert Pujols
December 8, 2011 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
UPDATE (10:13 a.m.): According to Tim Brown of Yahoo, the Los Angeles Angels will sign first baseman Albert Pujols to a 10-year deal worth around $250 million to $260 million.
Looks like the Angels were the team after all and landed their guy.
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Ah, the “mystery team.”
A phrase in free agent negotiations that can either spoof an agent or a team into doing wild and very crazy things in regards to a contract.
Last year, the Yankees and Rangers dealt with that when they were negotiating with pitcher Cliff Lee and a mystery team was involved with them.
And it turned out the Phillies were that team to swoop in and land Lee.
A year later, the negotiations for free agent first basemen Albert Pujols have been furious, especially at the baseball winter meetings in Dallas.
We know the Marlins were in on Pujols, but were dropping out of the race. The Angels, Cubs and Cardinals are all rumored to have major interest for Pujols.
And then, there is supposed to be a mystery team who has an offer for Pujols for somewhere near 10 years and over $200 million.
Of the identity of the mystery team, ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote, “The identity of the reported third team remained unknown. But people within the sport suggested it was likely to be a club that has an established, big-name first baseman it would need to trade before it could complete a deal with Pujols.”
Complete a deal of an established before landing Pujols…which to me means two teams.
The Angels have Mark Trumbo and Kendry Morales, but it’s been made aware that they are in on Pujols, so them being this mystery team makes no sense.
Or, it could be the Yankees, because they have Mark Teixeira. Teixeira does have a full no-trade clause in his contract, though.
One writer on this site even speculated as to if the Yankees could in fact be the mystery team trying to land Pujols.
However, around 8:45 this morning eastern time, according to Buster Olney of ESPN, it looks like the Yankees are not in on Pujols and are not the mystery team.
Now, Olney is a very credible source, and with Teixeira’s no-trade clause, you have to think the they’re are sticking to their word and not pursuing Pujols.
But when you look at Stark’s quote of an established first basemen needing to be traded, which team is he talking about?
The Red Sox have Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers have James Loney and major financial issues to overcome. The Mets have Ike Davis and are also having financial issues. The Phillies have Ryan Howard. The Tigers have Miguel Cabrera.
So I’m kind of scratching my head here on who Stark is claiming the mystery team to be.
But as of right now, it looks like the Yankees still will not be in on Pujols.
It makes sense for the Yankees not to pursue Pujols with the roster as is right now.
He’s 31, potentially could get a 10-year deal and would be another huge salary for the Yankees while they have Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and CC Sabathia all making big-time money with Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson eventually due for pay raises in the future.
Plus, Teixeira’s still there with the full no-trade clause. And I honestly doubt Pujols will want to be a full-time DH anytime soon.
So for those who had some hopes and dreams of seeing Albert Pujols in pinstripes…sorry guys. May as well put on MLB 11: The Show and get Pujols on the Yankees that way.
These Pujols negotiations are really starting to get more interesting by the hour.
Stay tuned.
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