Woo: The Cardinals are bringing back Albert Pujols. Here’s how it could work, and how it could backfire

ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 27:  Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman of the St. Louis Cardinals score on the triple hit by David Freese in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game Six of the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers at Busch Stadium on Thursday, October 27, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB via Getty Images)
By Katie Woo
Mar 27, 2022

Editor’s note: Hours after initial publication, the Cardinals and Albert Pujols were finalizing a one-year deal, pending a physical, sources told The Athletic. Pujols is expected to arrive to Cardinals camp within the week.

The Cardinals have had increased conversations with three-time MVP Albert Pujols, and interest is growing in bringing back the former Cardinal for the 2022 season, multiple sources familiar with the situation told The Athletic. Pujols, 42, would not be an everyday player. Rather, he would serve as a right-handed bench bat, similar to the role St. Louis identified when they inked outfielder Corey Dickerson to a one-year deal last week.

Advertisement

The Cardinals, an organization rich in tradition, have tended to stay away from consistent lineup platoons. New manager Oli Marmol has expressed other plans. The expectation is the first-year skipper would prefer to modernize his roster, utilizing platoons, matchups and lineup fluidity on a game-by-game basis.

If president of baseball operations John Mozeliak decides to bring back Pujols to St. Louis, it would be under the following pretenses: Pujols would not be a starter and would not upend Paul Goldschmidt’s playing time at first base. He would primarily be used off the bench as a late-inning power bat. He could also serve as a mentor for Juan Yepez, a promising 24-year-old reserve first baseman and sometimes corner outfielder who is hoping to make the big-league club when camp breaks.

After being designated for assignment by the Angels last May, Pujols signed with the Dodgers where he put up a .254/.299/.460 line over 85 games, predominantly as a bench player or pinch hitter against left-handed pitchers. Pujols hit lefties significantly better than righties, posting a .939 OPS with 13 homers over 146 plate appearances against them. If the Cardinals sign him, it’s expected he would slot into that same role.

Should the Cardinals have 15 pitchers on their roster out of camp, there would be 13 position playing spots, five for reserves. The Cardinals have deeply lacked bench depth in recent seasons, which remained part of the reason why the organization was hesitant to utilize platoons. By adding Pujols, the Cardinals bench would feature better depth options than the last few seasons.

Utility infielder Edmundo Sosa and backup catcher Andrew Knizner are virtual locks as reserves, as is Dickerson. Right-handed Yepez and left-handed Lars Nootbaar, two talents who impressed the organization in 2021, are also under heavy consideration for the Opening Day roster, though one likely would be left off the roster in favor of Pujols.

Advertisement

The club also has utility reserve Cory Spangenberg and rising infield prospect Brendan Donovan. Spangenberg has a good relationship with bench coach Skip Schumaker from their time with the Padres and signed a minor-league deal Friday. Additionally, top prospect and true designated-hitter candidate Nolan Gorman is expected to debut at some point this season. Major-league rosters will expand to 28 from 26 to open the season, and there is no restriction to the amount of pitchers a team can carry. The number usually is 13, but pitchers are ramping up from an abbreviated spring, so that number is likely to increase.

Adding Pujols would virtually guarantee Gorman, Nootbaar or Yepez is left off the roster, but the front office could make the argument that consistent at-bats, something that would not be assured at the big-league level, is more important for younger players. For Gorman, a prized prospect who is expected to be a key part of the club’s future, the Cardinals would likely want to wait to promote the 22-year-old until they feel he is ready. St. Louis has been hesitant to promote top prospects out of necessity in the past, and some in the organization express concern that an early call-up for Gorman would hinder his development.

The Cardinals are high on all three players but remain particularly intrigued by Yepez. The organization wanted to give the 24-year-old an extended look at camp this spring and believe his ceiling is high. That factored into why the club wasn’t as aggressive in pursuing Pujols earlier. But the argument against Yepez is the same as the one against Gorman: It’s possible the best experience for Yepez is to start the season at Triple A, where he would see regular playing time.

Bringing back Pujols would ensure a bit of a logjam on the depth chart. However, the team struggled to find even one adequate reserve outfielder for much of 2021’s first half, so this depth would be a welcomed problem.

Yadier Molina is set to retire after the season and Adam Wainwright’s future is unclear, so the opportunity for the Cardinals to reunite three of their most prolific players holds weight. Pujols is just 21 home runs away from 700 in his career. Attempting to finish that chase in St. Louis would be a fitting bookend to his career. He spent the first 11 seasons with the Cardinals, making nine All-Star teams and winning two World Series.

Advertisement

But the Cardinals could also run the risk of the opposite result if his production tapers. The Angels shockingly elected to release Pujols in mid-May of last season, leading to an ugly split between the two sides.

Pujols coming back to St. Louis only works if he can impact the club. There are too many unproven young talents in the Cardinals system that are deserving of an opportunity. If Pujols can’t produce, St. Louis could face the same decision as the Angels did — and possibly come to the same conclusion.

It’s up to Mozeliak and the rest of the front office to weigh all these factors, and the expectation is that a decision should come soon.

(Photo of Albert Pujols during the 2011 World Series: Rich Pilling / MLB via Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Katie Woo

Katie Woo is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the St. Louis Cardinals. Prior to joining The Athletic, Katie spent two years covering the minor leagues as an editorial producer for MiLB.com and spent the 2018 MLB season covering the San Diego Padres as an associate reporter for MLB.com. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and originates from Northern California. Follow Katie on Twitter @katiejwoo