NL MVP Pujols Batting For St. Louis' MLS Bid

November 19, 2008 2:30 p.m. EST

St. Louis, MO (AHN) - Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has joined a group working to bring a Major League Soccer expansion team in St. Louis area.

A day after bagging his second National League MVP award Tuesday, Pujols announced his support to the St. Louis Soccer United in it's bid for a franchise in 2011.

Seven cities are competing for two expansion teams, which include Vancouver, Montreal, Atlanta, Miami, Ottawa and Portland.

The selection process is expected to end by March next year.

The addition of Pujols in the St Louis group will further boost the team's financial viability and spark involvement of business leaders in the area.

Pujols is the highest-paid player in Cardinals' history. He has two years left on a seven-year, $100 million contract.

Meanwhile, Vancouver's bid has also attracted star power with the inclusion of two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash in the bidding group.

The proposed St. Louis squad will be expected to play in an 18,500-seat stadium to be built Collinsville, Ill., near St. Louis.

The formal bid by the St. Louis group was submitted last October.