Pujols sets deadline for contract

The agent for Albert Pujols has told the Cardinals that his client wants a new deal by the beginning of spring training. For the Cardinals, that is Feb. 18.

``We have been notified that spring training would be the deadline," general manager John Mozeliak told reporters in St. Louis on Saturday.

Pujols is entering the final season of an eight year agreement worth $111 million.

``The way I need to answer this, just to be consistent with ownership, management, the player and the agent, is really we don't want to sit here and handicap or guess or give any type of gut feels where this thing is headed right now,’’ Mozeliak said. `` think in respect to that, that's really all I can add to the topic at this time. Hopefully in the near future it's something we can talk more about, but right now I'm not prepared [to say more]."