It will never happen. It would take a 10 year 320mil contract to get him. It always takes added years and dollars for players to come to KC (Meche and Guillen ring a bell). He would be the starting 1B as soon as he showed up, anything else is a moot point. Move Hosmer to RF, put Kila on the bench as a LH power bat, and Butler would be DH.

If 2011 goes well, Moose is hammering everything out of the park and everyone continues to progress, maybe he’s worth a shot. It’d be a shot in the arm for the city and it’d bring in loads of fans who’d left years ago. A powder blue Pujols jersey would be a regular sight.

That being said, it’s tough to say this but where does he fit? With Butler and Hosmer set to be the 1B/DH combo…you’d have to move one of those. Maybe Butler could bring in a pitcher to fill in the rotation, but you can’t bank on being able to trade someone.

The hypothetical is fun to think about, and in a vacuum, of course I’d like Pujols…I just don’t see how it happens.

Never? I don’t know if 100 million is the magic number, but it’s not far from it when you talk about revenue sharing. If it takes a salary floor to get a salary cap, I’m all for it. In 2011 being in the 30-40 range makes sense – spending right now should be about the future (future draft picks, future international signings, future contracts and free agents).

The model for the Process may be the Braves in terms of scouting and development, but to me the team to look to overall is the Twins. The As and Rays have also had success, but they both have underlying issues (stadiums, fan bases, division) that have or will hold them back longterm.

The Twins drafted and developed superstars and complimentary players and pitchers and became competitve and stayed there, like the Royals hope to. They also got their stadium situation squared away, which the Royals have already done. With increased and projectable revenue, they signed their biggest star longterm and brought their payroll up to what was needed to be a credible franchise year to year, which I hoped is where the Royals are heading, until I read Dayton’s comment.

If the Process works and the Royals are winning and revenues increase, that final step of the payroll is crucial. If the Royals can’t or won’t go to 100, or at least 90, when it’s all working, what’s the point? Why should we care? If this goes back to the point about Glass not being able to profit from the franchise’s appreciation in value, then he needs to sell. If we can’t achieve a new normal in terms of payroll, I won’t blame anyone who gives up on Glass’ Royals for good.

Their payroll this year is looking like it will come in around $35-$40 mill. and with the farm system arriving next off-season the payroll, theoretically, could actually decrease in 2012 due to the small contracts each of the prospects will have. Each player’s contracts will see small increases for the next 2 years, followed by larger, but still not market rate, raises for the 3 arbitration years.

As to Pujols’ deal, most teams like to back-load a contract, but in the Royals situation it would make sense to front load it for the first 3 years followed by modest decreases for remaining 5 years (assuming Pujols would sign for 8 years $240 mill.). This would then mean that in Albert’s formative years his salary amount could be closer to his true value at that time.

As for what Albert could bring to the Royals, he would bring instant credibility to the Royals’ lineup and could really benefit the young batters surrounding him. For example, if you have a top 5 of Cain(CF), Myers(RF),Hosmer(DH), Pujols(1b), and Moustakas(3b) which players would you pitch too? The opposing teams would be forced to show Cain, Myers, Hosmer and Mous a better selection of pitches due to the concern of not wanting to have to pitch to Albert.

Additionally, having a run producer like him in the lineup and a Gold Glove in the field, the signing should benefit the young pitchers as well.

Finally, this could give DM the roster flexibility to trade a package of players headlined by Butler for a young front-line right-handed starter, if one were available, to fit in with the stellar crew of LH SP prospects that DM has assembled.

2) I remain firm in the stance that there is no reason for any major league team to have a payroll less than $100 million based on the revenues they all share from merchandising and online properties. Teams get an estimated $50-70 million per year before selling a ticket.

Giving Pujols $30 million/year with $100 million payroll still leaves $70 million to build the rest of a roster which is certainly doable for a well run organization.

For any team, the “Pujols effect” would increase revenue. In addition to more fans attending games to watch him play, his presence on a roster automatically raises the profile of that franchise on a national level. Of course, there is also the on-field aspect and no matter who you have at 1B, Pujols would be an upgrade.

I don’t believe the Royals should make a run at him based on the way their future is laid out, but I don’t think it is an entirely crazy notion for the org to look into it. The Royals, and pretty much any other team out there, could afford it if they really wanted to.