Buster Olney's Pujols-for-Howard rumor made everybody guano crazy for a few days, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss has some relevant information for us Astros fans.
First, we see that the rumor has really pissed off Tony LaRussa which, I think we can all agree, is satisfying.
Second, we see that the Astros are on his list of teams to which he would approve a trade:
Pujols said last month any talks regarding an extension will be placed on hold once the season starts. The narrow window for a deal has led to a widespread belief that the matter will push into next winter. Pujols currently enjoys partial no-trade protection that allows him to specify each November fewer than 10 teams to which he will accept a trade. Pujols cited the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Angels, the Houston Astros and the Florida Marlins as teams on his current list.
Good God...
But let's make a clarifying note: there is no way the Astros could pull this off. Cardinals fans would riot in the streets if they traded Pujols to Houston, and didn't get big-league talent in return. Even if the Astros traded Roy, plus the entire 2008 draft class, they would still have to sign him to that extension - around $300 million. An organization like the Astros, who are trying to contend and rebuild isn't doing both, even if they had the pieces to trade.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
