News and Notes

Cardinals: Fresh from winning his second NL MVP award, Albert Pujols is eyeing the future. As in, will St. Louis still be the right fit for him? The Cardinals star said the team’s commitment to winning will dictate if he re-signs when his contract expires in two years. “It’s not about the money all the time,” the first baseman said Sunday in Jupiter, Fla. “It’s about being in a place to win and being in a position to win. If the Cardinals are willing to do that and put a team [on the field] every year like they have, I’m going to try to work everything out to stay in this town. But if they’re not bringing championship-caliber play every year, then it’s time for me to go somewhere else that I can win.” Pujols arrived in camp Sunday and spent time in the batting cage. He’s signed to a seven-year, $100 million deal, and hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs last season. The Cardinals won the World Series in 2006, but have missed the playoffs the last two years.

Red Sox: Boston right fielder J.D. Drew is feeling back stiffness from a herniated disk that limited him in 2008. He said he had one MRI exam after the season and that it didn’t show any serious injury. “It’s still pretty stiff,” he said in Fort Myers, Fla. “I’ve been able to hit and run and all of that staff. I’m just in the maintenance stages.” The 33-year-old Drew hit 19 home runs and had 64 RBIs in 109 games last year. He said he could play right now if the team needed him. “The herniated disk seems to be the major cause of the stiffness and irritation,” he said. “As long as you can keep that from being too inflamed, I guess you’ll keep the back, as far as playing shape goes, in good shape. Everything is well enough to perform and play. I’m hopeful,” Drew said. “You can only do so much. I’m very, very hopeful that the program we have will work. My body will tell me. I know right now it’s stiff and I can play.”

Angels: The Los Angeles Angels lost Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Jon Garland, and Garret Anderson is expected to leave, too. So why is manager Mike Scioscia so upbeat? “This might be one of the first springs we can talk about having too many guys,” Scioscia said. The Angels were the only team in the majors with 100 wins last year, but lost to Boston in the first round of the playoffs. Rodriguez set the big league saves record with 62, then signed with the New York Mets. Colorado’s Brian Fuentes signed a two-year deal, fortifying a deep bullpen. “Anytime you can add depth to the back end of your bullpen, you’re a better team and we were able to do that,” Scioscia said. The Angels also signed free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu right before camp opened in Tempe, Ariz. “I don’t think the way to look at it as who’s not here. It’s really a deeper club than we’ve had in a while,” Scioscia said.

Associated Press