Ask any baseball fan (particularly a Cubs fan) and he or she will tell you that there is one man who is head and shoulders above everyone in the game today – Albert Pujols.

In the decade since he first took the field as a rookie in 2001, Albert Pujols has hit for average, hit for power, reached base, and played Gold Glove caliber defense. He’s led the St. Louis Cardinals to the playoffs six out of ten seasons, including two World Series berths and one victory. His career numbers and accomplishments through ten seasons are astonishing enough that if he retired today, he would be a surefire Hall of Famer and the second greatest Cardinal of all time, behind only the immortal Stan Musial.

Considering Pujols’ resume (and the fact that, um… he’s still in the prime of one of the greatest careers in baseball history) one would expect St. Louis to bend over backwards to give him the money that he’s earned. The only dialogue going on between the two sides should be the Cardinals asking, “Hold on Albert, how many zeros was that again?”

Surprisingly enough, not only were Pujols and the Cardinals unable to reach a contract agreement before Pujols’ spring training deadline, but the two sides were supposedly not even close to one another regarding annual salary. Pujols is rumored to be seeking a ten-year, $300 million deal while the Cardinals, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, offered Pujols a 9-10 year contract worth upwards of $200 million dollars.

That’s a decent sum, with a salary likely between $20-23 million every season for as long as Pujols can swing a bat, but while that sounds like a significant amount of money, it really isn’t all that much when compared to other top notch players in the game today.

In December of 2007, Alex Rodriguez signed a ten year $275 million contract, the richest in baseball history, to remain a member of the New York Yankees. Last April, Ryan Howard signed a five-year, $125 million extension with the Phillies. Back in March of 2008, Miguel Cabrera signed with the Detroit Tigers for $153.3 million over eight years.

For those counting at home, that’s an average of $24 million per season for three sluggers who (with all due respect) just aren’t as good as Albert Pujols.

For sake of comparison, let’s take a look at some seasonal averages:

Rodriguez- 15 seasons, .303 AVG, 41 HR, 121 RBI, .387 OBP

Howard- 5 seasons, .279 AVG, 46 HR, 136 RBI, .372 OBP

Cabrera- 7 seasons, .313 AVG, 34 HR, 117 RBI, .388 OBP

Pujols- 10 seasons, .331 AVG, 41 HR, 123 RBI, .426 OBP

The first thing that should catch one’s eye is the fact that that Pujols’ career batting average is 17 points higher than the closest player. As a matter of fact, Pujols has never had a season in which he’s hit below .300, a claim no other player on this list can make. The gap between Pujols and the rest of the pack in terms of on-base percentage is even wider, with 38 points separating him and the runner-up, Miguel Cabrera, in that category.

Admittedly, Pujols’ power numbers and RBIs are a lot closer to the pack (he trails Howard in both categories) but his vast advantage in batting average and on-base percentage makes up for his slightly lower power numbers.

Furthermore, the above stats do nothing to address is how each star performs defensively. Of the four players listed above, only Pujols and A-Rod have won Gold Gloves. Pujols is still one of the best defenders in the game and won his most recent one last season while A-Rod hasn’t won the honor since 2003 when he was a shortstop with the Texas Rangers.

In short, that the St. Louis Cardinals have gotten away with paying the most consistent player of the past decade just shy of $9 million per season for the last ten seasons is nothing short of unthinkable. It’s impossible to listen to the Cardinals’ front office talk about their commitment to Pujols, when he’s been woefully underpaid for the majority of his tenure as a Cardinal. Furthermore, it’s hard to take their claims of financial responsibility seriously when they have $119 million committed to Matt Holliday over the next seven years.

There are those who believe that Pujols owes the Cardinals or their fans and that he should take a hometown discount or that it may put a stain on his legacy if he plays anywhere other than St. Louis.

The facts though, are simple: the Cardinals have been paying Pujols at a bargain basement rate for his entire career and this is his last chance for a big contract. If Pujols wants a raise, he should get it. Not just because other stars are being paid similarly, but because he’s proven that he’s worth it. If the St. Louis front office truly feels that they can’t field a competitive team while paying Pujols’ kingly salary, it’s an unfortunate cost of doing business.

Bottom line, Pujols is the best player in baseball today. He’s an impact player who can become the instant face of whichever franchise he signs with. If the Cardinals won’t pony up, some other big market team (Cubs, Angels, Orioles) will open their checkbooks wide without a second thought. He is that good. He deserves it. He’ll earn every penny.