Marlins should be thrilled not to have signed Albert Pujols

I know I am in the minority but I am very happy the Marlins didn't sign Albert Pujols. To allocate a quarter of your team’s payroll to one player isn't a very smart baseball move. Don’t believe me,ask former Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks how well that worked out for him when he inked Alex Rodriguez to a 10 year $252 million dollar contract in 2001.

Baseball player aren’t like wine, they don’t get better with age. Players after the age of 35 aren’t as productive as they used to be. Their bodies start to break down due to injuries. Sure you might have four or five great seasons with Albert in the lineup, but when that clock strikes midnight and he turns 36, no one will want to touch or be around that contract.

Willie Mays was arguably one of the best players of all time. From 1963 to 1966, Mays was 32-35 years of age and posted outstanding numbers.

Willie Mays Batting Stats for Years 1963 to 1966

Year ▴	Tm	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1963-1966	SFG	623	2603	2284	453	694	103	23	174	429	41	13	294	307	.304	.382	.598	.980	170	1365	50	5	4	16	45
Average		156	651	571	113	174	26	6	44	107	10	3	74	77						341	12	1	1	4	11

From 1967 to 1966, after a few injuries Mays’ numbers drastically dropped. All after the age of 35.

Willie Mays Batting Stats for Years 1967 to 1973

Year	Tm	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
1967-1973	SFG,NYM	835	3227	2735	466	743	119	18	118	398	57	16	445	552	.272	.374	.458	.831	135	1252	64	15	8	24	41
Average		119	461	391	67	106	17	3	17	57	8	2	64	79						179	9	2	1	3	6

I agree Albert Pujols is the best player in all of baseball right now, and we would enjoy his next three to five years, but will suffer the last five.

Marlins fans should be happy with Bell, Buehrle, and Reyes and who knows who else they might be looking at. All I know that this is going to be a fun season here in Miami.