Pujols lobbies for signing of Ramirez

Albert Pujols is encouraging the St. Louis Cardinals to sign Manny Ramirez.

The Cardinals slugger, who won his second NL MVP award in November, acknowledged the team might not have enough money to land the free-agent outfielder.

"I speak with Manny every three days and he tells me, 'Man, no one wants to sign me,'" Pujols said Thursday during a news conference in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. "I'm not an agent or general manager, but I can't understand how Manny has not signed."

Pujols passed along Ramirez's telephone number to St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

"Maybe St. Louis doesn't have the money to sign him, but he could give them a discount because St. Louis is a great city that supports its players," Pujols said.

Pujols plans to play for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. He is coming off surgery on his right elbow.

"I'll represent the Dominican Republic while I'm healthy," he said. "The only thing that can stop me is if I feel any discomfort."

A's sign Springer

Right-hander Russ Springer agreed to a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, joining his eighth major league team as he heads into his 17th season.

Springer went 2-1 with a 2.32 ERA last season for St. Louis, ranking eighth among NL relievers in ERA. The 40-year-old pitcher held right-handed hitters to a .176 average.

Springer won a career-high eight games for the Cardinals in 2007.

-- The Associated Press