But what I heard was that the Cardinals offered Pujols a share of team ownership and he turned it down.
Either way, that would be a bad, bad, bad idea to offer to an active player. Could you imagine if Brett Favre had a share in the Packers before he left for the Jets and then Vikings? What if the team has to let Pujols go after they sign him to a new long term contract?
I know the arguements for not signing him to a 10 year deal- which are all valid, but to be honest, as much as he has done for the team, if I were the Cardinals ownership, I would just say, "How much and for how long?" And really, 30 million for 10 years, say six are productive and he is decent the other four. And that's not counting all of what he has brought the team over the other 10 years he was with the team- including a World Series Championship- it's gotta be worth the windfall when it's all said and done. I wonder how much the Cardinals make off of Albert Pujols merchandise a year. If he does put them in a crunch- just jack up ticket prices and make that 10 bucks for a beer.
This is typically how it happens- it's like buying a car. Player and agent make offer- let's say in this case they want 30 million at 10 years.
The team- Cardinals- counter with something like let's say 28 million at 8 years.
I bet when it's all said and done they settle at something like 30 million at 8 years, 28 million at 10 years, or something like 28-29 million at 9 years with a club option for the 10th year.