Pujols, the of Cubs GM Hendry share a very public hug

It was a very busy and controversial public, hug his arm between prominent members of the fiercest rivals in the NL Central. Linked to some of the fans of their teams strike as false, sounded Cardinals Albert Pujols star shared a brief hug bears with Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry before the victory of St. Louis, 6-4 in Chicago Tuesday.

The photo sparked wild speculation and a raft of conspiracy theories that the Cubs will be participating in the sweepstakes to Earth Pujols in November, when the first goal of the nine-time All-Star Game player can offiically became a free agent.

Jerry Lai / US PresswireJim Hendry left St. Louis star Albert Pujols gave a warm welcome - quickly nicknamed "The Hug" - in Chicago, but the Cubs GM said, "shame on me is it's the city and we are not a cat."

Hendry, shocked that Exchange, the national press, has denied media rumors, telling reporters, "he hugged me first." It is much larger and stronger than me. ?

Baseball a falsification of rules preventing any official team chat with players other teams on their future or contract status. Fines and suspensions were levied against the owners and senior managers in the past.

Hendry said that he had to know Pujols by former Director General of Cardinals Walt Jocketty and former pitcher Alan Benes, who threw for Hendry to Cardinals and Creighton.

"Albert and I had always had good relations," Hendry told ESPNChicago.com Wednesday. "I think that the world of him, and has nothing to do with what type of baseball player, it is.". I have all the respect in the world for him, well beyond him to be a great player, and he knows it.

Major League Baseball has worked to discourage the fraternization between members of rival organizations this spring, but it will not take any problem with the friendly between Pujols and Hendry contact, because it took place during batting practice, a time when there are generally few fans in the Parksources say.

And, according to sources, the Cardinals are not too concerned about hug Hendry with Pujols, who is eligible for free agency this fall. Hendry is appreciated and known as a gregarious person.

In its bid to protect themselves from any charge of falsification, Hendry said he and Pujols were simply commercial stick-cage plesantries rather than discuss financial conditions if (or when) bidding process begins.

"I can't win," Hendry was quoted saying by the Chicago Tribune. "I like Albert." We have always had the long. It is a great, great player. I admire the heck out of it. He plays the game in the right way every day. ?

Information from Buster Olney of The ESPN and Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago Magazine has been used in this report.