Pujols, Cardinals Finalize Big Deal

Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals finalized their $100 million, seven-year contract Friday, the biggest deal in the history of the franchise.

“This is a big day in Cardinal history,” General Manager Walt Jocketty said at a news conference at the club’s spring training base in Jupiter, Fla. “Albert’s numbers are incredible.”

Pujols, 24, led the major leagues with a .359 batting average last season. He hit 43 home runs, drove in 124 runs, and also led the majors with 51 doubles

Pujols, who made $950,000 last year, could get a much as $111 million in the new contract if the Cardinals exercise an option for an eighth year.

St. Louis made Pujols the ninth baseball player to receive a $100 million contract, the first since Jason Giambi’s $120 million, seven-year deal with the New York Yankees in December 2001.

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Mariano Rivera, the Yankees’ career saves leader who is in the final season of a $39.99 million, four-year contract, would like to work out an extension that runs through 2007.

Rivera, 34, is coming off another stellar season, going 5-2 with a career-low 1.66 earned-run average. He had 40 saves in 46 chances, increasing his career total to 283 -- after sitting out the first 25 games because of a groin injury.

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Gary Sheffield denied ever using steroids, saying he would take a drug test if asked.

The outfielder, who signed with the Yankees as a free agent in December after two seasons with the Atlanta Braves, was one of several baseball players who testified before a grand jury in the case against the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative -- the San Francisco lab allegedly at the center of a steroid ring.

“The bottom line is that I did purchase vitamins from that company, being out there and working out with Barry Bonds,” Sheffield said.

“Besides that, I don’t know what else can come with that. I’ve been an honorable guy. I’ve been outspoken about testing guys. And anybody that wants me to say I’ll take the challenge of taking a test, I’ll be the first guy up there.”

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Mike Piazza took part in drills for first basemen as more than 2,000 fans watched the New York Mets’ first official workout of spring training at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

While only pitchers and catchers were scheduled to take part, new shortstop Kaz Matsui and second baseman Jose Reyes continued getting used to each other in the middle of the infield.

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The Oakland Athletics promoted David Forst to assistant general manager to replace Paul DePodesta, who was hired as the new Dodger general manager on Monday.

The 27-year-old Forst is in his fifth season with the A’s, having served as an assistant to General Manager Billy Beane and coordinator of professional scouting for the past two seasons.

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The man who ran onto the field at a Chicago White Sox game with his son and attacked Kansas City first base coach Tom Gamboa has tested positive for drug use, according to court records, and prosecutors intend to argue for a probation violation.

A violation would let prosecutors seek a harsher sentence for William Ligue Jr., 35, who was sentenced in August to 2 1/2 years of probation for two counts of aggravated battery in the September 2002 attack when he and his 15-year-old son assaulted Gamboa at U.S. Cellular Field. As a result, Gamboa lost his hearing.

Ligue tested positive for marijuana three times in December, according to a report from the Cook County Adult Probation Department.