Report: Albert Pujols would veto any trade

According to ESPN.com, Albert Pujols — who will play for $16 million this year under the option campaign of a seven-year, $100 million deal he signed prior to the 2004 season — would exercise his right to veto any trade proposed by the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols has the right to block a deal as a player with at least 10 years of major league service time and five consecutive seasons with his current club.

As such, given that Pujols has made it known that he does not want to negotiate a contract extension once spring training begins, the Cardinals face the prospect of negotiating an extension with him prior to the start of spring training or having Pujols test the free-agent waters following the 2011 season.

Pujols is reportedly using the 10-year, $275 million deal between Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees as his point of reference in negotiations. He is coming off a season in which he led the National League in homers (42), RBI (118) and runs (115) while hitting .312/.414/.596/1.011. In his 10-year career, he has assembled one of the most impressive lines in big league history, hitting .331/.426/.624/1.050 with 408 homers and 1,230 RBI.

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