Albert Pujols is the Cardinals’ best player—now he’s the best paid. He has agreed to a seven-year $100-milion deal with the team. An official announcement is expected in Jupiter, Florida today, where the Cardinals are opening up spring training. The agreement means the two sides will avoid an arbitration hearing scheduled for today. Pujols will make $7-million this year, which is the amount the Cardinals had submitted in their arbitration bid. He’ll make $11-million next season, $14-million in 2006, $15-million in 2007 and $16-milion every year after that. $12-million of the deal will be deferred way down the road—Pujols will receive $1.2-million per year from 2020-2029.