Cardinals manager Tony La Russa claims the players' association is pressuring Albert Pujols and his representatives to set a contract record, an accusation the union denies.
Pujols is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series and has set an 11 a.m. deadline to reach agreement on a new deal.
Alex Rodriguez's $275 million, 10-year deal with the Yankees is baseball's current high.
"I know what he's going through with the union and to some extent his representatives, because his representatives are getting beat up by the union," La Russa said in Jupiter, Fla. "Set the bar, set the bar. You've got to deal with it. It's not the way it should be."
Etc.• Braves third baseman Chipper Jones took grounders and got in some swings on the first day of spring training, a significant step in his recovery from major knee surgery. "If I'm 80 to 90 percent, I still think I can go out there and play good third base and still be a factor at the plate," Jones said.
• Despite being sidelined because a strained left calf, Padres closer Heath Bell could throw as early as Wednesday. Bell was second in the NL with 47 saves last season.
• Second baseman Kelly Johnson and the Diamondbacks have agreed to a $5.85 million, one-year contract.
• Jorge Posada is not sure whether he will play after this season. Posada, entering the final season of a $52.4 million, four-year contract, is being shifted to designated hitter but also could see limited action at catcher for the Yankees. The 39-year Posada said Tuesday he'll assess his physical condition before deciding whether to come back in 2012.
