Marlins Meet Again With Pujols' Agent
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – The Miami Marlins spent almost an hour and a half Tuesday afternoon trying to sway the best player in baseball to sign with the team.
According to Clark Spencer of CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, the Marlins met with Pujols' agent for 75 minutes Tuesday afternoon.
The meeting ended just after 1:15 p.m. central time, Spencer reported.
As they were walking out, the Marlins brain trust of owner Jeffrey Loria, general manager David Samson, and team president Larry Beinfest made no comment to reporters.
Multiple reports have indicated the Marlins have increased their offer to Pujols to a 10-year contract, with financial numbers that are well north of $200 million.
The Marlins have met with Pujols' agent three times and are scheduled to meet with him again on Tuesday.
The biggest holdup is likely over the money, which hasn't been a problem for the Marlins this offseason.
Pujols, who played in St. Louis, was offered a nine-year contract by the Cardinals that was in the neighborhood of $200 million. The exact numbers aren't known, but the contract would pay him roughly $22 million per season.
ESPN.com reported that a key question remaining in the negotiations would likely be a no-trade clause, which the Marlins have never done in the past. Then again, the team has never been after a player of Pujols' magnitude before.
But the Marlins have serious company in the pursuit of Pujols. The Chicago Cubs have also made a qualifying offer to Pujols, according to ESPN.com.
CBSSports.com reported that "one person with knowledge of the talks said negotiations will likely play out more before a decision is reached."
For perspective, if Miami is able to sign Albert Pujols to a contract that would pay him $22 million per season; that would mean they would spend more on 3 players this winter than they have on the entire team's payroll for the last nine years, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
