It's not often one of my favorite baseball storylines comes into contact with Albert Pujols's free agency, one of my least favorite, but here's an exception: One of baseball's great recent developments involves New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman turning into a self-appointed truth-teller and minor-league sociopath. Since wresting control of the team from the Steinbrenners, Cashman has decided that he's best-served by saying the first thing that comes into his mind every time—and whether that's true or not, it at least best serves baseball fans who get to listen to him. Most recently he's admitted the Yankees won't be going after Albert Pujols. Dan Lozano wept.
↵If the Yankees weren't the Yankees, this would be no surprise at all—Mark Teixeira, their first baseman, is Albert Pujols's age and on a similarly enormous contract of his own, and their top prospect (Jesus Montero) and highest-paid player (Alex Rodriguez) are each on a course for the designated hitter role.
↵But the Yankees are the Yankees, and are therefore never out of any race until they say so, even if it's just to screw with the Red Sox.
↵Speaking of which: If the Red Sox wouldn't mind announcing they were out of the Albert Pujols race, too, I'd really appreciate it.
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