The deadline for first baseman Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals to reach a new contract agreement passed Wednesday with no new deal, making it likely the three-time MVP will test the free-agent market after the season. "After spending the last few weeks working toward an extension, we've suspended our conversations with the Cardinals, due to this morning's self-imposed deadline," Pujols said in a statement Wednesday. "Once the 2011 season is over, we hope to revisit those talks." Pujols arrived at Cardinals spring training early Thursday morning. Pujols pulled his black pickup into a spot at 7:35 a.m. ET, pulled two boxes and a backpack out of the truck and made the short walk into the clubhouse. "Better than ever," he said, when asked how he was feeling. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2011/news/story?id=6127623