St. Louis Cardinals-Albert Pujols=????

Could it really be true? Is Albert Pujols really separating from the St. Louis Cardinals? Let's try to imagine a Cardinals team without Pujols. Now let’s imagine Albert Pujols without the Cardinals. They are both utterly inconceivable.

Regardless of that fact, Pujols and the Cardinals have terminated all talks about deals until the season has ended. Meaning that they will not have met before the contract agreement deadline at noon today. Pujols has made it a significant point that he refuses to talk about contracts terms, meaning length of a contract and the money he would receive, while he is focused on the season and the success he hopes will come with it. This has been how he has felt all throughout his career; no distractions to the game by talks of contract agreements.

The chairman of the Cardinals has said that he hopes Pujols will finish his career as a Cardinal, being that he started it there a mere nine years ago. Is that what the rest of the baseball community wants, though, too? I have no doubt that most clubs would be ecstatic to acquire Pujols, a nine-time all-star who will be a free agent come seasons end if no agreements are made, as he would be a major contribution to any line-up . However, I am also positive that all Cardinals fans would be absolutely furious. There is no denying that Pujols is the face of the Cardinals, and accordingly so, so for Cardinal fans have their main player go would be a tragedy in the baseball community. Plus, what would the Cardinals-Cubs rivalry be without Albert Pujols in the mix? I would miss walking up to Wrigley and seeing the t-shirt vendors have shirts that say "The Cardinals take it in their Pu-jols." Those shirts just make me smile every time I see them.

So whether or not Pujols will stay with the Cards come seasons end has yet to be decided. And unfortunately, you will have to wait until next off-season to hear the answer.