Doug Saffir

Photo Credit: Albert Pujols Club

In the wake of Albert Pujols signing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, we have hardly heard a sound out of St. Louis. There haven’t been any complaints, no burning jerseys, no tears being shed. It has honestly been one of the most remarkable displays of acceptance we have seen in sports.

Since Lebron’s “Decision,” it has been customary for a city to erupt upon losing a star. Almost immediately, there is the typical public outcry that athletes are nothing but dirty, greedy parasites that use a city and its franchise until it finds a better vessel to attach itself to. But in St. Louis, the vibe is much different. After two World Series championships and over a decade with Pujols leading the way, it makes sense that Cardinals fans are moving forward quietly. I mean, what more could Pujols possibly owe them? The short answer is nothing. He has been a role model in the community, an all star on the diamond, and a great reason to love the game of baseball. But after a 11 years, Pujols felt it was time to move on, and no one is blaming him for that.

And St. Louis is smart not to. What those Cardinals fans are quietly chuckling about is the fact that Pujols is 31-years-old. Sure, he’s a freak. He was built to play the game and he’ll probably have an impact in LA into his mid-30s. But for every athlete, the fourth decade of their life is going to be a tumultuous one – and Pujols is no exception. He is almost certainly past his prime and within the next five years his numbers will slowly start to taper off. And then what? LA will be stuck with a 36-year-old Pujols whose bat speed is significantly slower and whose power is fading. But they’ll still be committed to paying his obscene salary, all the way through Pujols’ 41st birthday. In St. Louis, the Cardinals will be $250 million richer than they could have been, and will be using all that extra money to buy up young talent and prepare for another stretch of runs at the title.

So kudos to St. Louis. They have handled the Pujols signing with incredible integrity, all because they’re very aware of something LA clearly doesn’t notice. That’s some classy deception, if you ask me.