Where Will Albert Pujols Play in 2012?

The unthinkable came to pass on February 16, as the St. Louis Cardinals failed to sign a contract extension with first baseman Albert Pujols, whom many consider the best player (or at least hitter) in the game, before the Noon ET deadline that Pujols set for the negotiations. Whether the hangup was money per year, total years in the contract, or concerns over Pujols' real age, the fact remains that there is now a good chance that Pujols will test free agency next winter and NOT finish his career with the Cards. It's also possible that the Cardinals will attempt to trade Pujols this season in order to get something (other than a draft pick) in return for their legendary slugger. If any of this comes to pass, here are some of the places that Prince Albert could end up.

Baltimore Orioles
Peter Angelos is always looking to make headlines and/or get the Orioles back into contention. Signing Pujols would go a long way toward accomplishing both, and it would give Baltimore their first legend in uniform since Cal Ripken, Jr., retired.

Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays and their fans were once the toast of baseball, and they represent the last Canadian outpost of Major League Baseball. In the tough AL East, Toronto has found it nearly impossible to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox, but if the small-market Rays can do it, there is no reason that the Jays can't make up some ground. Pujols would be a giant leap forward, and Toronto recently gained some salary relief by unloading Vernon Wells.

Chicago Cubs
Pujols in Wrigley could be the all-time who Sammy Sosa was supposed to be, particularly if he could set some home run records and bring some winning seasons to the Northside. Landing Albert would also help the Cubs land a jaw-shot to divisional rival St. Louis.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Not since Darryl Strawberry have the Dodgers signed a marquee player in his prime, and Pujols' star would shine brighter than ever in Hollywood. The Dodgers, though faced with financial troubles, could be interested in bring Pujols in to drive up attendance, help in the standings, and make the franchise more attractive to potential buyers.

New York Yankees
Anytime a big, honkin' name comes on the market, you can be sure that the Yankees come a-calling. Whether or not the Yanks would actually pull the trigger or not is debatable, but can you imagine the baseball drama if Alex Rodriguez sets the all-time home run record as Pujols is marching in to the 600 Club. Could be fascinating.

St. Louis Cardinals
Despite the breakdown in negotiations, there is still an excellent chance that Pujols could remain with the Cardinals forever. There is motivation on both sides to make this happen, as Pujols' setting records as a Redbird would cement legacies for both the player and the team. The willingness of one or both sides to budge financially would seem to be the determining factor here.

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Wherever Albert Pujols ends up playing in 2012 (or 2011), you can bet that he'll be putting up some big numbers, and you can also count on there being countless story lines to explore between now and the time when he hits his big payday. It should be a fun ride.