Cardinals exercise $16 million option on Pujols for 2011 season

Cardinals exercise option on Pujols, Miller

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals have exercised a $16 million club option for 2011 with three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols.

The Cardinals also announced Wednesday that left-handed reliever Trever Miller had met a vesting option at $2 million for next season.

The 30-year-old Pujols led the National League with 42 home runs and won his first league RBI title with 118, and tied Matt Holliday for the team batting lead at .312.

Pujols topped 400 homers last season and set a franchise record with his 39th career multihomer game.

The Cardinals were expected all along to pick up the option on Pujols’ contract. The team has said there’s no specific timetable for beginning negotiations on a new long-term deal with Pujols, who can be a free agent after next season.