Bleacher Bums Forum

You can't say the Cubs wouldn't contend with Pujols in the line-up.  You don't know that.  A true middle of the order hitter makes everyone around him better.  The 1 and 2 hitters see more fastballs, the hitters behind him are hitting with a man on base more than 40% of the time.  He also plays excellent defense.  Winning baseball is about talent but it is also about confidence.  Pujols would bring that.  I'm not saying signing him guarantees a WS ring but for those who automatically assume his presence wouldn't be a game changer, there's no way to know that.  All that being said, I wouldn't give him any more than 6 years.  Those who mention players doing well into their late 30's aren't figuring in PED's.  Since baseball finally starting testing for real you see players fading in their mid-30's pretty much on cue.