JEBJJA
Active member
Times have changed since 2001....That was 15 years ago and the way things are with arbitration and free-agency, teams are trying to save themselves tons of money instead of spending tons of money in the long run. Pay $400,000 for one extra year vs 30 million or more for that year or lose him.....YES PLEASE!
Well, he has been mashing his entire minor league career, thus the excitement. Albert Pujols wasn't supposed to play in 2001, but he mashed in spring training and the Cards had no choice but to play him in the show. It doesn't matter if the guy can't play, but if he's a potential star talent, it's more evidence that you may have a special player on hand.