The Cardinals and Albert Pujols confuse me.

If the Cardinals are offering Pujols a 10-year contract worth more than $200 million, it's a big risk. A foolish risk, even. Even if the St. Louis proposal is nine years, with an option to kick it to 10 years, the Cardinals are suspending caution.

Didn't Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak say the team would base its offer on forward projections instead of paying for past performance? Something changed.

Unless Pujols can reverse the aging process and sustain his production through his late 30s and early 40s, this large investment could turn rotten and grow into a heavy burden.

The only thing more puzzling than the Cardinals' largesse in length of contract is Pujols' refusal, so far, to accept it. At this point I don't know who has gone more loony-tunes in this craziness: the Cardinals for offering the contract or the superstar that won't agree to it.

By every indication Pujols is winning the negotiation with the Cardinals. The Cardinals have improved their offer. They're willing to pay Pujols big money until he's at least 40. They're ignoring contract mistakes (Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer) made by other teams that took a blind leap into questionable long-term deals.

Pujols and agent Dan Lozano lucked out when those wild and wacky Miami Marlins rushed in to make it rain large bills in a frantic pursuit of Pujols. The Marlins withdrew, but only after forcing the Cardinals to play defense by increasing their offer to Pujols.

Say this for the Marlins: At least they pulled the plug instead of allowing themselves to continue to be manipulated by Lozano and Pujols.

Lozano and Pujols used the Marlins to their advantage, but the Marlins took their shot, whipped up some positive publicty, then moved on to another target, agreeing to terms with free-agent starting pitcher Mark Buehrle.

How long will Cardinals management sit by the phone and wait for a resolution as Lozano takes their offer and shops it to various "mystery" teams in the hope of securing more cheddar for his client?

If Mozeliak and Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. want to be used by Lozano, it's their business, their pride, their reputations. But from the outside it sure looks like the owner and GM are losing more spine with each passing day.

What does Albert want, anyway?

It was Pujols who told us that he wants to be a Cardinal for life. It was Pujols who told us that this is the best place in the majors for a ballplayer. It was Pujols who repeatedly stated his desire for an enduring legacy, and to be just like Stan Musial.

Maybe Albert was under the impression that the Cardinals were willing to pay him $25 million a year to play ball until he's as old, 91, as the beloved Stan the Man.

And now Lozano has a new bidder on the line. The Los Angeles Angels are aggressively chasing Pujols, reportedly offering $210 million over 10 years. This presumably is for real, but we'll know for sure if Pujols bolts and heads to Disneyland. 

The Angels seem to have more pressing needs than Pujols, but owner Artie Moreno may be tired of finishing second in so many free-agent auctions. This is the same organization that inexplicably traded for the declining Vernon Wells and his enormous contract, so it makes sense that they'd make the lunge for Pujols.

This is becoming more ridiculous by the hour.

As I've said repeatedly, Pujols has every right to take his shot at free agency. It makes sense to explore the market to see if a team will go berserk and present a record-setting deal. And give Lozano points for succeeding in establishing leverage on the Cardinals. It's all part of the game.

But how long will this go on? How many bids (real or concocted) will Lozano wave in the faces of DeWitt and Mozeliak before they stand up and set a firm deadline?

Does Lozano really believe that DeWitt and Mozeliak will cave and come up with 10 years and $250 million or more? The Cardinals have roster needs, especially with outfielder Allen Craig on the mend from major knee surgery. If Pujols doesn't want their money, the Cardinals can put it to work by signing other players. They can make a run at outfielder Carlos Beltran and perhaps a shortstop. They'd have more payroll flexibility.

The biggest mystery is this: Pujols' hesitance to re-embrace the good life he has in St. Louis. If Pujols agrees to the Cardinals' latest offer, he'll receive everything he needs, including more than $200 million in pay. He'll enjoy long-term security and the comforts of home. He'll experience the devotion of Cardinal Nation, which will stand by him even as his power begins to wane.

There is only one MLB market that would allow Pujols to age gracefully in a long-term contract, and it's St. Louis. He's established equity here. He's an icon. Sure, Pujols has his share of haters and critics. But overall Pujols can be confident in trusting the support of Cardinals fans that will remain appreciative of the many thrills he's provided during a remarkable STL career.

This isn't easy for the fans, either. It seems that many Cardinals fans share a similar view of this situation. Their pragmatic side knows it is probably insane to talk about a big-money 10-year deal (or nine) for an aging player. But the fans' sentimental side drifts in Pujols' favor; they want him to be a forever Cardinal. They want him to be our town's Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn, Derek Jeter.

If Pujols commits to the fans, they won't let him down. And that wouldn't happen anyplace else because Pujols doesn't have the history that he's established in St. Louis.

Surely, Pujols must realize this. OK, let's just say that the Angels are offering him $10 million more, in total, than the Cardinals are. Does it really make sense to give up peace of mind to chase every last dollar on the free-agent market? Does Pujols really want to leave one of the most exalted and successful franchises in sports history for what amounts to an extra $1 million a year? 

I'll also add this: if the Cardinals are willing to gamble on Pujols' future viability by offering $200 million, then why stop short when another $10 million would seal the deal? If Pujols' skills erode in a few years, that extra investment won't amount to much. At $200 million or $210 million, it would still be a bad deal, either way, if Pujols doesn't hold up. But if the Cardinals decide to increase their offer again, they need to slap a deadline on it. 

That said, the Cardinals need not apologize for what they've put on the table for Pujols. If he wants to be just another baseball mercenary, it's his choice. It's not as if the Angels (based on their reported bid) are setting up Pujols for a record deal, or topping the Cardinals' offer by a substantial amount. The difference, factoring in the cost of living, amounts to tip money.

Pujols has a chance to put himself in that increasingly rare but special category of professional athletes who appreciate what they have. Athletes willing to accept a little less money and count their blessings instead of a few extra dollars.

Pujols has it made here. There are separate rules for him. He runs the clubhouse. He's given space and freedom. People go out of their way to please him. They support his charitable foundation, his restaurant. No matter how poorly he plays, Pujols will never be treated like a loser here. He's family.

I hope Pujols understands that there's no way to quantify happiness. Even if the Angels, Cubs or a mystery team to be named later throws a slightly taller stack of money at Pujols, it's probably in his best interest to stay with the Cardinals. Unless, of course, he's pouting over the Cardinals' refusal to give him A-Rod money or thinks he can cash in as a commercial pitchman by setting up shop in Southern California. If Pujols wants to discard his legacy for that, then good luck. Thanks for the memories.

Heck, even the good-natured Musial is making a pitch. His grandson Brian Schwarze posted a photo Tuesday on Twitter. It showed a smiling Musial holding this poster-sized message: "All I want for Christmas is for Pujols to be a Cardinal."

Is Pujols really going to let The Man down?

Come home, Albert. This is where you belong. You can grow old here. In St. Louis you will always be The Great Pujols, even when you're 40 and limping and not so great anymore.