CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 20: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals stands on the field against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 20, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Cardinals 3-0. (Photo by Brian D. Kersey/Getty Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals and three-time MVP, 10-time All-Star Albert Pujols are reportedly reuniting on a one-year deal.
St. Louis Cardinals media reported late Sunday evening that the Cardinals and Albert Pujols are reportedly working to finalize a one-year deal pending a physical.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feisand, the deal is worth a reported $2.5 million.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported earlier in the day Sunday that the Cardinals interest was growing in bringing Pujols back. By late Sunday, Goold tweeted that the deal was being finalized.
Katie J. Woo of The Athletic added that Pujols will be arriving at the Cardinals spring training facility in Jupiter, Fl., within the week.
Per Woo’s reporting, “Pujols, 42, would not be an everyday player. Rather, he would serve as a right-handed bench bat, similar to the role St. Louis identified when they inked outfielder Corey Dickerson to a one-year deal last week.”
Woo said that Pujols will not be a regular starter and would not try to replace Paul Goldschmidt as first baseman. “He would primarily be used off the bench as a late-inning power bat. He could also serve as a mentor for Juan Yepez, a promising 24-year-old reserve first baseman and sometimes corner outfielder who is hoping to make the big-league club when camp breaks.”
The signing would reunite Pujols with Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. The last time these three played together was in the 2011 World Series.
Fansided’s MLB insider Robert Murray tweeted about the reunion perfectly:
This is definitely exciting news for Cardinals fans nostalgic for this reunion. Details of the reported deal should be more clear in the coming days. The deal comes with plenty of time to allow Pujols to get acclimated to his… new team.