Albert Pujols didn't play in the Dodgers' first contest at Busch Stadium on Monday, though his return to St. Louis sparked conversation about whether or not this is the last series in which he'll ever suit up in front of the Cardinals fan base before calling it a career. He'll suit up on Tuesday, however, and it will be a magical moment when his name rings throughout the stadium over the PA system.
For one prominent former member of the Cardinals organization, though, it's hopefully not the last time that Pujols plays in Busch Stadium. In fact, he doesn't want to see Pujols retire before returning to don the uniforms in which he began his career. According to Scott Merkin of MLB.com, White Sox skipper Tony La Russa, who spent many years coaching Pujols with the Cardinals, wants to see the future Hall of Fame slugger back where he started.
This was a popular hypothetical after the Angels cut ties with Pujols in May, but the Dodgers ultimately scooped him up and have liked what they've seen as a result. since joining the other Los Angeles team, the 41-year-old has 11 home runs in 165 at-bats and has greatly improved his .198/.250/.372 Angels slash line to a .261/.303/.479 line with the Dodgers. As it turns out, the Cardinals were never really that close to pursuing Pujols at the time, though they did consider it.
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"We gave it consideration. The biggest problem for us was how to get him playing time," Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times. "With Goldy at first base, you’re pretty limited there, and we play a very limited DH schedule. Clearly, I understand it would have been a nice story, but I don’t know how fair it would have been to either side."
As far as bringing him on board for 2022, Mozeliak called it "presumptuous" to fuel any speculation on the matter and mentioned that another key member of a 2000s Cardinals reunion, Adam Wainwright, has also yet to be re-signed past 2021.
And speaking of Wainwright: he's in on the whole idea of a reunion.
"I would probably do that," Wainwright said (via Fabian Ardaya, Katie Woo and James Fegan of The Athletic). "Just because why not? I don’t want to say it’d be a fun way to go out, because with these guys, they might play until they’re 50. But it would be a fun way to put a bowtie on it."
Whatever ultimately happens, we should just live this whole experience one day at a time, and that begins with Pujols' start in St. Louis on Tuesday night. There will probably be some special moments in store, and if the environment is magical enough, perhaps it'll be too good to turn down a potential return in 2022.
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