The Cardinals Would Like Pujols to Be a Cardinal For Life

Earlier this month Albert Pujols made some waves when he said that once he becomes a free agent in two years money will not be the most important factor in his decision. The Cardinals could offer him more money than anybody else, but if he felt that the team wasn't doing enough to try and win another World Series, he'd "somewhere else that I can win."

Well now his owner and general manager have responded, sort of. While they didn't say anything about doing whatever it takes to keep Albert in a Cardinals uniform, they did say they'd love for him to be a Cardinal for life.

"If there's a way to keep Albert a lifetime Cardinal, that makes a lot of sense for everyone," GM John Mozeliak said, seconding DeWitt's desire. "He's very much an iconic player there, and if he wants to stay, we're going to try to find a way to make that happen."

Now there haven't been any talks about a new contract between either side, but that's not necessarily a bad sign. They still have two years before he becomes a free agent, so there's no real need to rush things, and with the state of the economy right now I'm not sure the Cardinals want to commit $250 million to anybody right now.

Still, you have to wonder if Pujols will realize when he is a free agent that by signing him the Cardinals are doing exactly what he wants them to. Giving themselves a chance to make the playoffs and World Series every year. Pujols is just that good.