Mar

Trade Rumors: Reactions from Cardinals Albert Pujols, Phillies Ryan Howard and Buster Olney

By Allan

On Sunday, Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine reported that there were internal discussions regarding the swap of slugger Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies for St. Louis’ Albert Pujols. According to the Associated Press and ESPN.com, both of the players reacted to the rumors yesterday.

“I really don’t have anything to say about it,” Howard said at the Phillies’ camp in Clearwater on Monday.

“Truthfully, I can go back to all the stuff that happened when I was in Double-A — all the talk about trade rumors,” Howard said. “I don’t know anything about anything. I’m not really focused on it. If that were the case — I don’t know if it is or not — it is what it is. You just keep going out there and doing your thing. If you get a call saying you’re trade, then you’re traded. Until that happens, I’m still a Phillie. I’m still here. Let’s ride it out.”

“There’s people, stupid, that like to write something when it’s not the truth, and that’s all I have to say about that,” Pujols said.

“If I’m getting traded, they need to come to me. That’s not my job to go to them,” Pujols said. “I’ve been saying all along I want to be here, but whatever, it’s not up to me. I just think somebody tried to be funny, but it’s so stupid when somebody takes something like that serious.”

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said that the rumors were “lies”, “ridiculous” and “irresponsible.”

Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa said that the rumors could be a distraction for both the Phillies and the Cardinals. He adds that Pujols is somebody that wants to start and finish his career in St. Louis.

Buster Olney says what he wrote was “dead-on”. He adds, “I did not write that there were ongoing discussions between the two teams. I did not write that the Cardinals had an inclination to deal Pujols. I did not write that the Phillies are looking to dump Ryan Howard.” Olney goes on to say, “And as a reporter, when you have confirmed information that the Phillies have discussed internally an avenue through which they might pursue the best player in baseball — and you know exactly who said what to whom, and how sturdy the intent was — that is news.”