While money is generally the biggest issue in contract talks, the Miami Marlins are concerned with another number when it comes to prized free agent Albert Pujols.
Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald wrote on Sunday that the Marlins are set on offering a nine-year deal to Pujols, although they, and other teams, are skeptical of the longtime Cardinals slugger's real age.
"The total dollars are in dispute, depending on whom you believe, but the number of years offered is not," Le Batard reports. "Nine years. That's insanity, especially since, like a lot of teams, the Marlins believe Pujols to be older than the 31 he claims to be."
Pujols, who has spent 11 years in the majors, entered the league in 2001, at which point he was 21 years old.
The Marlins' skepticism is a bit understandable, though, as they learned this past season that one of their relievers, Leo Nunez, was playing under an assumed name and was actually older than he claimed to be.
