Yesterday, we learned that three baseball executives expect the Chicago Cubs to make a big push for Albert Pujols, given the fact the the Cardinals couldn’t sign an extension with the first baseman. One of them guesses that Chicago will give Pujols $33 or $34 million annually for seven years.

That doesn’t mean that the Cardinals and Pujols are done talking. Yesterday, reports indicated that Pujols is willing to revisit talks after the season and Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt said that he remains hopeful that Pujols will finish his career in St. Louis.

Today, Pujols stated: “what do I want? I want to be a Cardinal forever.” (via Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch).

He says that if they can’t work a deal he will go to free agency.  The team will likely have to settle for a small exclusive negotiating window after the World Series, and if he leaves, they’ll  get two draft picks as a (Type-A free agent compensation) for a player who could easily end up being one of the greatest hitters of all time.