Walt Jocketty/John Mozeliak Best/Worst #1

It’s the final entry in the best and worst moves of the Walt Jocketty & John Mozeliak eras.

Best # 1: Drafting Albert Pujols

# 5 is one of the best players in the league

Albert Pujols was drafted in the 13th round of the 1999 Draft. He would come up on the 2001 roster as a LF, and the rest is history. In 8 seasons, Pujols has compiled a .334 batting average, 1,531 hits, and 319 home runs. Like Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen, Pujols had his career year in 2004, hitting .331, hitting 46 homers and knocking in 123 runners. Albert Pujols is currently one of the best players in the league, and will probably be in the Hall of Fame when his career is over.

Worst # 1: The Mark Mulder trade

A good pitcher... for a while.

Mark Mulder was one of the best pitchers in the Majors in the early 2000s. The Cards traded for him by dealing Dan Haren, Kiko Calero and Daric Barton to Oakland. Mulder had a great 2005 season, going 16-8 with a 3.68 ERA and striking out 111. He started showing signs of trouble in 2006, when he began having shoulder issues. He would only pitch in 23 games between 2006 and 2008, compiling a record of 0-3 and having an ERA of over 10 in 2007 and 2008. Dan Haren and Daric Barton are both having success elsewhere, and now that Cardinals fans look back on the trade, they wish it never happened.

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