Cardinals, Pujols extend contract deadline

The St. Louis Cardinals and representatives for Albert Pujols have agreed to a 24-hour extension on contract extension talks out of respect for Stan Musial.

The Cardinals Hall of Famer will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington on Tuesday and general manager John Mozeliak said Monday the club did not want to distract from Musial's special day.

Pujols' agent, Dan Lozano, originally set a Tuesday deadline, the first workout day for pitchers and catchers in Jupiter, Fla., to reach an agreement. Mozeliak said the new deadline is noon (EST) Wednesday.

The 31-year-old Pujols is seeking a contract, perhaps as long as a decade in length, that would make him one of the highest paid players in the major leagues and allow him to retire as a Cardinal.