Albert Pujols seems to be closer then ever to actually going under the knife to repair his UCL. This, according to a televised interview at Pujols’ annual charity golf tournament (via STL Today),

“I’m thinking about it; I’m thinking really hard,” the first baseman told the local station. “There’s just a lot of things next year going on, the All-Star Game (in St. Louis), the (World Baseball) Classic, you know. But I think in the long run the sooner that I get it done the better it’s going to be for me because I’m going to heal quicker than if I wait two or three more years. But it needs to be done.”

In the preseason, there was a lot of media speculation that Pujols would suffer this season and would go under the knife shortly after Spring Training. This, despite Pujols asserting that he has been dealing with the elbow troubles for a while.

Pujols has nothad any troubles with the elbow this season, although the club has been admittedly careful with him, telling Albert to avoid any long throws. Despite the ‘injury’ Pujols is in the midst of the best season of his career, one in which he should again contend for the National League Award, and in my opinion, should take home the hardware.

Had Pujols not missed time with a calf injury in June, he certainly would be an obvious MVP pick and the Cardinals would be much closer in the NL Central race.

With Pujols’ desire to play in both the World Baseball Classic and MLB’s Mid Summer Classic (I also hear speculation that he will somehow play in hockey’s Winter Classic earning him the ‘Classic’ Triple Crown) it is difficult to imagine him going under the knife any time soon.

If the results of rest and rehab are a repeat of the 2008 season, I can’t see why the Cards would want to encourage surgery onto the face of their franchise.