The Hill News

Sen. Claire McCaskill lamented on Twitter Albert Pujols leaving the St. Louis Cardinals for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

"Oh no! Say it aint so Albert! #stlcards #11in11 #WSChamps," McCaskill (D-Mo.) tweeted Thursday.

Her tweet came shortly after news broke that Cardinals slugger Pujols, part of the 2011 World Series chamions, had agreed to a 10-year deal with the Angels. According to multiple reports, Pujol's 10-year contract was for at least $250 million. 

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) said she i! s upset that the St. Louis Cardinals were not able to retain Albert Pujols.

“I’m devastated,” she told The Hill.

“You can always play Monday morning quarterback but I think if we had gotten a deal last spring that this wouldn’t have been an issue.”

Emerson said she still thinks the World Champion Cardinals have a shot next year, though.

“I feel optimistic but we need some pitching. [Adam] Wainwright will be back but we need a really good left-handed pitcher,” she said.

“I was hoping we could get [Mark] Buerhle, the pitcher, I don’t know how you grab him back from the Marlins,” she said.

Buehrle was acquired by the Florida Marlins from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. A number of teams were said to be looking to sign the command pitcher.

â€"Erik Wasson contributed reporting. 

â€"This story was last updated at 3:01 p.m.