I'm not even sure why I am putting this up other than to prove how fucking mentally challenged some of ESPN's most respectable reporters are these days. Buster Olney is reporting the Phillies organization are having internal discussions on trading Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols. Umm...yeah...let that soak in for a while after you read this....
according to sources, an idea has been kicked around the Phillies' organization internally, with discussions about proposing a swap of slugger Ryan Howard for St. Louis superstar Albert Pujols....The logic for a Howard for Pujols swap, as discussed within the Phillies' organization, could fall along these lines: Pujols, 30 years old, is eligible for free agency after the 2011 season, and early conversations about a contract extension have not led to any long-term deal. The expectation within baseball is that Pujols may ask for a deal that would rival, in annual value, the record-setting 10-year, $275 million deal that Alex Rodriguez negotiated with the Yankees in fall 2007.
Of course Phillies GM Ruben Amaro came out firing yesterday calling it "LIES" and stating it specifically three times in one sentence. Where Buster Olney has the cajones to report this garbage and not get reprimanded is beyond me. Olney used to be a well respected baseball journalist who fought to get the inside scoop but this scoop he has is pure bull shit.
First of all there is no way the Phillies would ever offer just Ryan Howard for Albert
MVPujols. The Phillies organization is not dumb enough to think Howard alone could complete the deal. You would honestly have to throw in an Utley or a Roy Halladay to even make the Cardinals not immediately hang up the phone as soon as the name "Albert Pujols" was mentioned. Second of all this trade is never going to happen because Pujols isn't leaving the Cardinals. He will resign in the next year or two before his contract is up. The Cardinals run a classy organization and there is absolutely no way they will let a once in a lifetime player like Pujols walk away.
But thanks for reporting a complete garbage rumor Buster. It got me talking about baseball and mentioning the 4 letter word of "ESPN" which I'm sure the Disney executives love. Now go do some reporting on the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and leave the rest of baseball alone.