Cardinals GM John Mozeliak calls loss of Albert Pujols spilled milk - SportingNews.com

St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak on Saturday referred to the loss of free agent Albert Pujols to free agency as “spilled milk” in comments made to fans at the team’s annual Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up in St. Louis.

“With where we want to go and how we operate, it just creates new opportunities for us,” Mozeliak said, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “As I look back on it, I don’t think I can look at it any other way than spilled milk at this time. It’s not something I think we can sit here and (obsess over). It’s time to move on.”

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak has focused on rebuilding the Cardinals after their World Series championship rather than fretting over the loss of Albert Pujols. (AP Photo)

Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in December, almost six weeks after Pujols had won his second World Series championship with the Cardinals.

Mozeliak discussed the negotiations with the fans, calling the process, “exhausting, frustrating and very emotional.” But, he also said the “right decision ended up happening,” the Post-Dispatch reported.

When it was clear the Cardinals were going to lose Pujols, Mozeliak said he needed several hours to collect himself, the Post-Dispatch reported.

“The last thing we wanted to do was put ourselves in a position where we looked angry or upset,” Mozeliak said. “We understand that we put our best foot forward and it didn’t work out.”