Meet the new Chicago Cubs front office: devilishly sneaky, but ultimately aggressive. Albert Pujols? Prince Fielder? Yes. Yes. Theo Epstein and the Cubs want them.
Earlier this month, we brought you the news that Pujols was being pursued by a third mystery team, and we speculated that the team was Epstein's Cubs. Today, a report from Fox Sports' Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal confirms that the Cubs are after both Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder.
That news comes as a surprise only if you believe what Epstein says publicly. And here's a tip: don't believe anything Theo Epstein says publicly.
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Since taking over Chicago's loveable losers, Epstein has talked about building incrementally, and indicated that the team wasn't looking to blow a wad of cash on a big free agent splash.
"I'm going to look for moves that make us better in the long run, but don't negatively impact us in 2012," Epstein told media earlier this month -- leading everyone to believe that he'd be doing no big spending on the likes of Pujols or Fielder or everybody's favorite new Cuban, Yoenis Cespedes.
But, it now seems, no move is off limits for the Cubs -- though Epstein is trying to be as secretive as possible in his pursuit of big deals.
"Being unpredictable is a competitive advantage," Epstein told reporters in October.
Eptsein has even gone so far as to put a gag order on the agents he negotiates with. According to MLB.com, one MLB agent was asked if the Cubs has made inquiries into one of his free agent clients, and the agent replied: "You'd better ask Theo."
But back to Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. Is it possible that the Cubs, with openings at third base and first base, could sign both of them with Pujols moving back to third base?
No. That's idiotic thinking. Be reasonable.
But will they get after both of them, and see if one might fit into a reasonable payroll plan? Sure.
Epstein knows that to be an elite team on a yearly basis, he's going to need a premiere slugger to build the lineup around. Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena are very good big league hitters, but not bedrock pieces. The Cubs would be much better off investing in Pujols or Prince, letting Ramirez and Pena walk (and bolstering the farm with the corresponding draft compensation) and finding an adequate third base fill in.
Albert Pujols has received nine-year offers from the Marlins and the Cardinals, neither believed to exceed $200 million. It is less clear precisely what offers, if any, Prince Fielder has received -- but he'll surely get at least five years, and anywhere from $100 to $150 million.
We'll try to keep you updated on Epstein's stealthy hot stove pursuits, but it's going to be tough: Theo Epstein's first rule of Hot Stove is you don't talk about Hot Stove.
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[Sources: Cubs pursuing Pujols, Fielder]
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