Dallas, TX – While the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals wait for superstar Albert Pujols to make a decision, a third "mystery" team has apparently entered the picture.
The thought earlier in the day on Tuesday had been that given how aggressive the Marlins were it had essentially become a two-team race between them and the Cardinals for the three-time National League MVP's services.
However, reports have circulated that a third team has offered a deal worth more than $200 million to Pujols. Fox Sports is reporting that the third team is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who already have Mark Trumbo at first base and Kendrys Morales returning from injury.
Still most believe that this is still a two-team race between the Marlins and Cardinals, despite this last ditch effort from the Angels.
Miami, which has already locked up closer Heath Bell and shortstop Jose Reyes, met with Pujols early on in the free agent process, offering him a nine-year deal that was believed to be less than what the Cardinals offered last spring.
Marlins officials met with Pujols' agent Dan Lozano on Monday and increased their offer to 10 years. Financial figures were not known, but it is believed to be more than the $22 million per year that was originally offered. Miami is also insistent on not giving Pujols a no-trade clause in any deal.
St. Louis upped its offer to Pujols, as well, on Tuesday.
Pujols, who has spent his entire 11-year career with the Cardinals, had a sub- par season by his standards in 2011. He hit under .300 with fewer than 100 RBI for the first time in his career (.299, 99 RBI), while swatting 37 homers.
The 31-year-old superstar is among the Cardinals' all-time leaders in numerous categories. His 445 career homers are just 30 shy of Stan Musial's club record, and he also ranks second to Musial in runs batted in, walks, extra- base hits, doubles, and total bases.
