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No deal for Pujols today. Now what?

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. (via Wikimedia Commons/ Rafael Amado)
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. (via Wikimedia Commons/ Rafael Amado)

First basemen Albert Pujols is entering his eleventh season as a St. Louis Cardinal, and now, it's looking like it might be his last.

Albert Pujols' spring training deadline for a new contract with the St. Louis Cardinals came and went today without a deal.

The Cardinals say they tried to reach agreement with Pujols for several months and they are "greatly disappointed" they were unsuccessful. General Manager John Mozeliak says at Pujols' request, no more talks will be held until the end of the season.

"If they do not want us to talk about it or discuss it, we will not but we have also always had the policy that we're always open," Mozeliak said, "We have done contract extensions during the season in the past and we don't have any formal rule that would prevent us from pursuing something. But it's something that they want to do and we'll honor that."

Pujols is eligible for free agency after this season. He has said in the past that he would like to remain with the Cardinals for the rest of his career.

But what happens next? Might there still be time to reach a deal?

Matthew Leach writes about the Cardinals for MLB.com.  He told reporter Adam Allington that there may yet be time to reach a deal.

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-952791.mp3