Published: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 8:12 AM     Updated: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 3:20 PM

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols is seeking a new contract that would make him the highest paid player in baseball.

But despite his contract demands, Pujols does not consider himself to be the best player in baseball. That honor, according to Pujols, belongs to Miguel Cabrera.

“I like his swing, his work ethic,” Pujols told FoxSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi. “He works really hard. The consistency he has.”

While most of the players Morosi spoke with tended to vote for Pujols, Ricky Romero of the Toronto Blue Jays said he thought Cabrera was at the top of the game. Johnny Damon, who played with Cabrera last season in Detroit, told Morosi he thought Mark Teixeira or Robinson Cano, both New York Yankees, should be considered the best players in baseball.

Pujols, 31, is four years older than the 27-year-old Cabera, and his career averages are slightly more impressive. Over his 10 year career, Pujols has a .331 batting average and averages 42 home runs and 128 RBIs each year. He also has 75 career steals, with 30 coming in the past two seasons.

Cabera, on the other hand, in his 7 1/2 seasons, hits .313 at the plate while averaging 34 home runs and 120 RBIs per season. He’s also not a threat on the basepath like Pujols with only 27 career steals.

JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright injured his elbow Monday and is returning to St. Louis to have it examined by team doctors.

General manager John Mozeliak said Wednesday that “things do not look encouraging” for the 2010 Cy Young Award runner-up, based on the initial evaluation by the training staff, and believed it is a “significant injury.”

He said the right-hander injured his elbow in Monday’s bullpen session.

Adam Wainwright

#50 SP
St. Louis Cardinals

2010 STATS

• GM33
• W20
• L11
• BB56
• K213
• ERA2.42

“There’s a problem with the ligament,” Mozeliak said, according to the New York Daily News. “But it doesn’t look good.”

An update is expected Wednesday afternoon.

Wainwright went 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA in 2010, finishing second in the Cy Young Award balloting to Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay.

He won his 19th and 20th games while nursing a strain in his right forearm, which was hurt in a freak accident at home. He was shut down for the rest of the season, based on the recommendation of the team doctor.

An MRI exam in late September showed a strained muscle in his forearm and inflammation near the elbow. At the time, the Cardinals believed Wainwright would be fine with rest, and the pitcher said the elbow ligament was not an issue.

Wainwright said he had slept on the arm earlier in September, woke up, found the arm numb and flung it aside instead of waiting for feeling to return.

In 2009, Wainwright led the NL in wins (19), innings (233) and starts (34), winning a Gold Glove while finishing third in the Cy Young Award voting.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

JUPITER, Fla. — St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright injured his elbow Monday and is returning to St. Louis to have it examined by team doctors.

General manager John Mozeliak said Wednesday that “things do not look encouraging” for the 2010 Cy Young Award runner-up, based on the initial evaluation by the training staff, and believed it is a “significant injury.”

He said the right-hander injured his elbow in Monday’s bullpen session.

Adam Wainwright

#50 SP
St. Louis Cardinals

2010 STATS

• GM33
• W20
• L11
• BB56
• K213
• ERA2.42

“There’s a problem with the ligament,” Mozeliak said, according to the New York Daily News. “But it doesn’t look good.”

An update is expected Wednesday afternoon.

Wainwright went 20-11 with a 2.42 ERA in 2010, finishing second in the Cy Young Award balloting to Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay.

He won his 19th and 20th games while nursing a strain in his right forearm, which was hurt in a freak accident at home. He was shut down for the rest of the season, based on the recommendation of the team doctor.

An MRI exam in late September showed a strained muscle in his forearm and inflammation near the elbow. At the time, the Cardinals believed Wainwright would be fine with rest, and the pitcher said the elbow ligament was not an issue.

Wainwright said he had slept on the arm earlier in September, woke up, found the arm numb and flung it aside instead of waiting for feeling to return.

In 2009, Wainwright led the NL in wins (19), innings (233) and starts (34), winning a Gold Glove while finishing third in the Cy Young Award voting.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

JUPITER, Fla. — The deadline for Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement passed Wednesday with no new deal.

The Cardinals say no more talks will be held until the end of the season.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is eligible for free agency after the World Series.

“While we are disappointed that we did not reach an agreement, we remain hopeful that Albert will finish his career in St. Louis,” Cardinals chairman William DeWitt Jr. said in a statement.

Pujols is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons – all with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

But the sides failed in recent months to reach common ground, raising the possibility the three-time NL MVP may be on the cusp of his final season in St. Louis.

The Cardinals said they made a “substantial, long-term offer,” to no avail.

“We respect Albert’s decision,” DeWitt said.

The closest Pujols came to an appearance at camp Wednesday morning was a sighting of his black pickup with Missouri license plates in the parking lot of the team’s spring training complex.

Pujols was not with the vehicle. The team expects him to arrive Thursday, and teammates say they can’t wait to see him.

“It really doesn’t matter to us,” said Cardinals pitcher and union rep Kyle McClellan, when asked about the ongoing Pujols contract watch. “It’s none of our business. It’s none of anybody’s business. … The truth is, I’ve never been on the mound and thinking of Albert Pujols’ contract.”

A handful of St. Louis position players were at work ahead of schedule; pitchers and catchers are in camp, and position players weren’t required to arrive until Saturday.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday that he believes Pujols was feeling pressure from the union to “set the bar” with his next deal. The baseball record is Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million, 10-year pact with the Yankees.

On Wednesday, La Russa insisted that he’d said too much already.

“It was kind of omitted. I said if I was running the union or part of the union, I’m not sure I’d handle it any different,” La Russa said, about two hours before the noon deadline passed. “I checked with some of our veteran coaches. It strains credibility a little bit to think there hasn’t been any contact or mention. He’s too significant.”

Union officials have denied pressuring Pujols or his agent, Dan Lozano. And McClellan said La Russa’s comments did not create an awkward situation for him, even though as the union rep in the Cardinals’ clubhouse, he had to take a decidedly different stance than his manager.

“It doesn’t really have anything to do with me. I just represent the players,” McClellan said. “All I can do is get the facts that I know, that the union’s job is to make sure that the players and agents are informed. They’re not going to overstep any boundaries and tell anybody what to do. Everybody’s a grown man. They can make a decision for themselves.”

La Russa said often Wednesday morning that his focus is on spring training and the NL Central, not what will or won’t happen with his slugger.

“We don’t want to get our minds cluttered as a team,” La Russa said. “There’s enough to do. … The competition in the Central and the National League has got our complete attention. And that’s just what we’re going to think about. You can choose what you think about. That’s what we’re going to think about.”

General manager John Mozeliak has said it was not necessary that a deal be signed by noon Wednesday, but the sides would need to have agreed to terms.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons – all coming with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

He has a .331 career batting average and averaged 41 homers and 123 RBIs. He’s also won six Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Gloves.

Last year he batted .312 with 42 homers and 118 RBIs and finished second in MVP balloting.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy for us to have on the team,” Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker said. “He’s the face of the franchise. You respect both sides of it. You respect what the Cardinals are doing, you respect the management and what Albert’s agent is doing. It’s a tough situation, as everybody knows. He’s an iconic player.”

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The deadline for Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement passed Wednesday with no new deal.

The Cardinals say no more talks will be held until the end of the season.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is eligible for free agency after the World Series.

“While we are disappointed that we did not reach an agreement, we remain hopeful that Albert will finish his career in St. Louis,” Cardinals chairman William DeWitt Jr. said in a statement.

Pujols is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons — all with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

But the sides failed in recent months to reach common ground, raising the possibility the three-time NL MVP may be on the cusp of his final season in St. Louis.

The Cardinals said they made a “substantial, long-term offer,” to no avail.

“We respect Albert’s decision,” DeWitt said.

The closest Pujols came to an appearance at camp Wednesday morning was a sighting of his black pickup with Missouri license plates in the parking lot of the team’s spring training complex.

Pujols was not with the vehicle. The team expects him to arrive Thursday, and teammates say they can’t wait to see him.

“It really doesn’t matter to us,” said Cardinals pitcher and union rep Kyle McClellan, when asked about the ongoing Pujols contract watch. “It’s none of our business. It’s none of anybody’s business. … The truth is, I’ve never been on the mound and thinking of Albert Pujols’ contract.”

A handful of St. Louis position players were at work ahead of schedule; pitchers and catchers are in camp, and position players weren’t required to arrive until Saturday.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday that he believes Pujols was feeling pressure from the union to “set the bar” with his next deal. The baseball record is Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million, 10-year pact with the New York Yankees.

On Wednesday, La Russa insisted that he’d said too much already.

“It was kind of omitted. I said if I was running the union or part of the union, I’m not sure I’d handle it any different,” La Russa said, about two hours before the noon deadline passed. “I checked with some of our veteran coaches. It strains credibility a little bit to think there hasn’t been any contact or mention. He’s too significant.”

Union officials have denied pressuring Pujols or his agent, Dan Lozano. And McClellan said La Russa’s comments did not create an awkward situation for him, even though as the union rep in the Cardinals’ clubhouse, he had to take a decidedly different stance than his manager.

“It doesn’t really have anything to do with me. I just represent the players,” McClellan said. “All I can do is get the facts that I know, that the union’s job is to make sure that the players and agents are informed. They’re not going to overstep any boundaries and tell anybody what to do. Everybody’s a grown man. They can make a decision for themselves.”

La Russa said often Wednesday morning that his focus is on spring training and the NL Central, not what will or won’t happen with his slugger.

“We don’t want to get our minds cluttered as a team,” La Russa said. “There’s enough to do. … The competition in the Central and the National League has got our complete attention. And that’s just what we’re going to think about. You can choose what you think about. That’s what we’re going to think about.”

General manager John Mozeliak has said it was not necessary that a deal be signed by noon Wednesday, but the sides would need to have agreed to terms.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons — all coming with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

He has a .331 career batting average and averaged 41 homers and 123 RBIs. He’s also won six Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Gloves.

Last year he batted .312 with 42 homers and 118 RBIs and finished second in MVP balloting.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy for us to have on the team,” Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker said. “He’s the face of the franchise. You respect both sides of it. You respect what the Cardinals are doing, you respect the management and what Albert’s agent is doing. It’s a tough situation, as everybody knows. He’s an iconic player.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The deadline for Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement passed Wednesday with no new deal.

The Cardinals say no more talks will be held until the end of the season.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is eligible for free agency after the World Series.

“While we are disappointed that we did not reach an agreement, we remain hopeful that Albert will finish his career in St. Louis,” Cardinals chairman William DeWitt Jr. said in a statement.

Pujols is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons — all with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

But the sides failed in recent months to reach common ground, raising the possibility the three-time NL MVP may be on the cusp of his final season in St. Louis.

The Cardinals said they made a “substantial, long-term offer,” to no avail.

“We respect Albert’s decision,” DeWitt said.

The closest Pujols came to an appearance at camp Wednesday morning was a sighting of his black pickup with Missouri license plates in the parking lot of the team’s spring training complex.

Pujols was not with the vehicle. The team expects him to arrive Thursday, and teammates say they can’t wait to see him.

“It really doesn’t matter to us,” said Cardinals pitcher and union rep Kyle McClellan, when asked about the ongoing Pujols contract watch. “It’s none of our business. It’s none of anybody’s business. … The truth is, I’ve never been on the mound and thinking of Albert Pujols’ contract.”

A handful of St. Louis position players were at work ahead of schedule; pitchers and catchers are in camp, and position players weren’t required to arrive until Saturday.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday that he believes Pujols was feeling pressure from the union to “set the bar” with his next deal. The baseball record is Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million, 10-year pact with the New York Yankees.

On Wednesday, La Russa insisted that he’d said too much already.

“It was kind of omitted. I said if I was running the union or part of the union, I’m not sure I’d handle it any different,” La Russa said, about two hours before the noon deadline passed. “I checked with some of our veteran coaches. It strains credibility a little bit to think there hasn’t been any contact or mention. He’s too significant.”

Union officials have denied pressuring Pujols or his agent, Dan Lozano. And McClellan said La Russa’s comments did not create an awkward situation for him, even though as the union rep in the Cardinals’ clubhouse, he had to take a decidedly different stance than his manager.

“It doesn’t really have anything to do with me. I just represent the players,” McClellan said. “All I can do is get the facts that I know, that the union’s job is to make sure that the players and agents are informed. They’re not going to overstep any boundaries and tell anybody what to do. Everybody’s a grown man. They can make a decision for themselves.”

La Russa said often Wednesday morning that his focus is on spring training and the NL Central, not what will or won’t happen with his slugger.

“We don’t want to get our minds cluttered as a team,” La Russa said. “There’s enough to do. … The competition in the Central and the National League has got our complete attention. And that’s just what we’re going to think about. You can choose what you think about. That’s what we’re going to think about.”

General manager John Mozeliak has said it was not necessary that a deal be signed by noon Wednesday, but the sides would need to have agreed to terms.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons — all coming with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

He has a .331 career batting average and averaged 41 homers and 123 RBIs. He’s also won six Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Gloves.

Last year he batted .312 with 42 homers and 118 RBIs and finished second in MVP balloting.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy for us to have on the team,” Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker said. “He’s the face of the franchise. You respect both sides of it. You respect what the Cardinals are doing, you respect the management and what Albert’s agent is doing. It’s a tough situation, as everybody knows. He’s an iconic player.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The deadline for Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement passed Wednesday with no new deal.

The Cardinals say no more talks will be held until the end of the season.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is eligible for free agency after the World Series.

“While we are disappointed that we did not reach an agreement, we remain hopeful that Albert will finish his career in St. Louis,” Cardinals chairman William DeWitt Jr. said in a statement.

Pujols is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons – all with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

But the sides failed in recent months to reach common ground, raising the possibility the three-time NL MVP may be on the cusp of his final season in St. Louis.

The Cardinals said they made a “substantial, long-term offer,” to no avail.

“We respect Albert’s decision,” DeWitt said.

The closest Pujols came to an appearance at camp Wednesday morning was a sighting of his black pickup with Missouri license plates in the parking lot of the team’s spring training complex.

Pujols was not with the vehicle. The team expects him to arrive Thursday, and teammates say they can’t wait to see him.

“It really doesn’t matter to us,” said Cardinals pitcher and union rep Kyle McClellan, when asked about the ongoing Pujols contract watch. “It’s none of our business. It’s none of anybody’s business. … The truth is, I’ve never been on the mound and thinking of Albert Pujols’ contract.”

A handful of St. Louis position players were at work ahead of schedule; pitchers and catchers are in camp, and position players weren’t required to arrive until Saturday.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday that he believes Pujols was feeling pressure from the union to “set the bar” with his next deal. The baseball record is Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million, 10-year pact with the New York Yankees.

On Wednesday, La Russa insisted that he’d said too much already.

“It was kind of omitted. I said if I was running the union or part of the union, I’m not sure I’d handle it any different,” La Russa said, about two hours before the noon deadline passed. “I checked with some of our veteran coaches. It strains credibility a little bit to think there hasn’t been any contact or mention. He’s too significant.”

Union officials have denied pressuring Pujols or his agent, Dan Lozano. And McClellan said La Russa’s comments did not create an awkward situation for him, even though as the union rep in the Cardinals’ clubhouse, he had to take a decidedly different stance than his manager.

“It doesn’t really have anything to do with me. I just represent the players,” McClellan said. “All I can do is get the facts that I know, that the union’s job is to make sure that the players and agents are informed. They’re not going to overstep any boundaries and tell anybody what to do. Everybody’s a grown man. They can make a decision for themselves.”

La Russa said often Wednesday morning that his focus is on spring training and the NL Central, not what will or won’t happen with his slugger.

“We don’t want to get our minds cluttered as a team,” La Russa said. “There’s enough to do. … The competition in the Central and the National League has got our complete attention. And that’s just what we’re going to think about. You can choose what you think about. That’s what we’re going to think about.”

General manager John Mozeliak has said it was not necessary that a deal be signed by noon Wednesday, but the sides would need to have agreed to terms.

Pujols, a nine-time All-Star, is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons – all coming with the Cardinals, the franchise he has said in the past he wants to remain with for the rest of his career.

He has a .331 career batting average and averaged 41 homers and 123 RBIs. He’s also won six Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Gloves.

Last year he batted .312 with 42 homers and 118 RBIs and finished second in MVP balloting.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy for us to have on the team,” Cardinals second baseman Skip Schumaker said. “He’s the face of the franchise. You respect both sides of it. You respect what the Cardinals are doing, you respect the management and what Albert’s agent is doing. It’s a tough situation, as everybody knows. He’s an iconic player.”

Albert Pujols will either be walking around Jupiter, Fla., Wednesday afternoon with hundreds of millions of dollars tied to his name, teasing media and St. Louis Cardinals fans for another day or preparing to showcase himself for 29 other major league teams.

The first baseman’s self-imposed deadline for signing a new contract is noon ET Wednesday, and there’s widespread speculation the Cardinals’ slugger won’t have a new contract at that time.

Should that happen, Pujols has vowed not to discuss a contract during the season and the Cardinals would be left with a five-day window after the World Series to negotiate with the player. After that, he would be declared a free agent and available to the highest bidder.

“It’s important. You’re talking about the best player in the game and what’s at stake,” Cardinals pitcher and former Toronto Blue Jay Chris Carpenter told reporters. “You’re talking about a lot of money, a big contract, a big player [potentially] going into free agency [after the 2011 season], the No. 1 guy — so, yeah, people are going to talk.”

Pujols has repeatedly said he would like to stay with the Cardinals.

General manager John Mozeliak said it’s not necessary that a deal be signed by noon Wednesday, but the sides would need to have agreed to terms.

Reports circulated Tuesday evening that Pujols rejected an eight-year offer from St. Louis worth less than $30 million US per season, but a source familiar with the negotiations told CBSSports.com that no offer had been made and there was “zero momentum toward a deal.”

A source told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that discussions between Pujols and the team still have a “pulse” and that the Cardinals are debating guaranteeing an eighth season in a proposed deal or offering shorter term with a greater average annual salary.

The 31-year-old Pujols is a three-time National League MVP and coming off a 2010 season in which he led the league in home runs (42) and runs batted in (118). He is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first 10 seasons.

Despite hitting a career-low .313, Pujols still boasts a career .331 mark and is the all-time leader in homers (408) and total bases (3,580) among players in the first 10 seasons of their careers. He’s also won six Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Gloves.

A huge media presence is expected at Roger Dean Stadium Wednesday, but there have been reports that Pujols’s arrival could be delayed until Thursday.

Cardinals players have been greeted by a wave of television cameras and a barrage of questions about Pujols.

Catcher Yadier Molina called him the “mentally strongest” player, while relief pitcher Kyle McClellan added Pujols “shoulders attention better than anybody I’ve ever seen.”

“He’ll say what he has to say early [in spring training] and then move on,” St. Louis third base coach Jose Oquendo pointed out. “He’s not going to address the contract after that.”

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa cautioned his players not to be pulled in by the media regarding the Pujols contract talk.

“It’s not about whether Albert will be here in the future. … The goal for this ball club is to win in 2011,” Carpenter chimed in.

On Tuesday, La Russa said the players’ union is pressuring Pujols and his agent Don Lozano during contract negotiations. The veteran skipper added Pujols is being pushed to set a new standard with his contract, and he said that’s unfair to the player. Alex Rodriguez’s 10-year, $275 million US deal with the New York Yankees is baseball’s current high.

“Albert is very smart, very strong and is going to make a really good decision,” La Russa said. “I know that he’s getting pressured and it’s not arm twisting, it’s dropping anvils on your back through the roof of your house.

“There’s enough money, nobody is going to suffer.”

SAN DIEGO — St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager John Abbamondi on Wednesday was hired by the San Diego Padres as vice president of strategy and business analysis.

Abbamondi was the Cardinals’ assistant GM for three seasons under John Mozeliak after spending four years with Major League Baseball’s labor relations department, where he rose to senior director of labor economics.

A former U.S. Navy pilot, Abbamondi is a graduate of MIT and Stanford’s business school.

The Padres said Wednesday that he will start work with the Padres next month.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager John Abbamondi on Wednesday was hired by the San Diego Padres as vice president of strategy and business analysis.

Abbamondi was the Cardinals’ assistant GM for three seasons under John Mozeliak after spending four years with Major League Baseball’s labor relations department, where he rose to senior director of labor economics.

A former U.S. Navy pilot, Abbamondi is a graduate of MIT and Stanford’s business school.

The Padres said Wednesday that he will start work with the Padres next month.

SAN DIEGO — St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager John Abbamondi has been hired by the San Diego Padres as vice president of strategy and business analysis.

Abbamondi was the Cardinals’ assistant GM for three seasons after spending four years with Major League Baseball’s labor relations department, where he rose to senior director of labor economics.

A former U.S. Navy pilot, Abbamondi is a graduate of MIT and Stanford’s business school.

San Diego said Wednesday that he will start work with the Padres next month.

SAN DIEGO (AP)—St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager John Abbamondi has been hired by the San Diego Padres as vice president of strategy and business analysis.

Abbamondi was the Cardinals’ assistant GM for three seasons after spending four years with Major League Baseball’s labor relations department, where he rose to senior director of labor economics.

A former U.S. Navy pilot, Abbamondi is a graduate of MIT and Stanford’s business school.

San Diego said Wednesday that he will start work with the Padres next month.