The next time The University News publishes, Oct. 27, the major league baseball season will either be over or just a few hours from ending. But with the end of the season comes a new season for the St. Louis Cardinals. Whether or not they make the World Series is yet to be seen, but one thing is for certain–regardless of the outcome, by Oct. 28, everyone will be wondering, “Where will Albert go?”

Of course, I am referring to Albert Pujols, the first baseman for the Cardinals. In case you are blissfully unaware, Pujols becomes a free agent on Oct. 28 after spending 10 years with St. Louis. For Cardinals fans around the nation, it will be a more trying time than the prospect of Halladay, Hamels and Lee in the National League Division Series.

I do not know if the Cardinals will be playing for the World Series championship this year. But something tells me the last month of baseball ensures that Pujols will forever be a part of the team.

Look, I’m not going to pretend that El Hombre doesn’t deserve a fat paycheck. I don’t like reading  stats, but there’s no denying Pujols has been the best baseball player in our generation. In his 10 years in the majors, Pujols is batting .328 with 445 homeruns and 1,329 RBIs. Only once–this year–has he not hit in 100 runs and swung a .300 clip. He finished with 99 RBIs and a .299 average for the 2011 season. Close enough.

The only other batter that even compares to the collection of accolades that Fat Albert has collected is Alex Rodriguez. I was born and bred in St. Louis, and when I die, I’ll be a St. Louis dead. I do not like the New York Yankees. But you cannot dispute what A-Rod has done. He’s also had seven more years in the majors. For his 17 year career, he is batting .302 with 629 HRs and 1,893 RBIs. In short, he’s a helluva player.

And he’s paid like one. In December 2007, Rodriguez and the Yankees agreed to a 10-year, $275 million contract. That’s the biggest bank in baseball, folks.

Let’s compare it to Sir Albert–he has only made $89 million in the last 11 years. Chump change compared to Rodriguez. The Cardinals rightfully should offer him a 10 year, $200 million deal. Sure, it still falls short of the biggest in the game, but it’s a big pay raise over the $14.5 million he made this year, and it puts him on the level of Ryan Howard and Mark Teixara. If the Cards do not make a lucrative offer, then Pujols has every right to move on.

But if the Birds are willing to go the distance, Pujols better be ready to play ball.

Since Albert Pujols has worn the Cardinals uniform, the Birds have won over 950 games with seven trips to the post-season, including two trips to the World Series–in 2004 and 2006–and the championship in 2006. They have advanced to the National League Central Championship five times. Who else with the money to pay Pujols can match that? Chicago? Los Angeles? Please, spare me.

In the last 10 years, Pujols has played along MVPs, Cy Young Award winners, Gold Glove recipients and, oh by the way, the second-most winningest manager in the game, Tony La Russa. St. Louis is also consistently called the best baseball city in the world, with the greatest fans on the planet.

The only reason for Pujols to leave is his wallet. We’ve been spoiled here in St. Louis. We have gotten to see a first-ballot Hall of Famer take every swing of his career with the Birds on the Bat on the front of his jersey. Imagine the Cardinals without him.

In just two weeks, the Cardinals and Pujols will start a brand new game. Hopefully the price will be right, and both sides will make a deal.