DALLAS -- The sum of money the Marlins pledged Tuesday to baseball superstar Albert Pujols is so substantial — more than $200 million — that it demands perspective.

It is approximately double the amount the Heat awarded to LeBron James. It is four times the figure the Dolphins gave to Brandon Marshall. It is three times what the Marlins guaranteed to Hanley Ramirez.

It would be no worse than the third-richest contract ever given to a Major League Baseball player, and the first two belong to one man, Alex Rodriguez.

And, yet, it still might not be enough to lure Pujols to South Florida.

The Marlins made one final sales pitch to Pujols’ agent Tuesday, as did the St. Louis Cardinals and, according to USA Today, a new “mystery team” for the 11-time All-Star. But there also was a chance the Marlins could pull out of the sweepstakes late Tuesday.

When a contingent of Marlins executives emerged from their second meeting of the day with Pujols’ agent, Dan Lozano, they had little to say and brushed aside questions while walking back to their hotel suite.

“Nothing to report,” Marlins president David Samson said.

The Marlins met briefly with the commissioner’s office to go over a contract proposal that has been described as creative, could involve deferred money, and will not contain the no-trade clause that Pujols requested. But it is a 10-year deal that would continue paying Pujols until he’s 42.

The Cardinals also made an offer to Pujols on Tuesday and, like the Marlins, waited for the outcome. Although the Marlins were mostly mum on the Pujols topic, Cards chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said he was “hopeful.”

“I don’t like to use the word ‘optimistic,’ ” DeWitt told FoxSports.com. “We’re realistic about the fact it may not happen.”

The Marlins pushed for quick resolution of the matter so that they could turn their attention elsewhere if Pujols chooses to remain a Cardinal. If Pujols doesn’t accept their offer, the Marlins planned to turn their focus to one of the two pitchers, either C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle, they have been courting.

The Marlins also met with Wilson’s agent Tuesday.

But Pujols was clearly their main target and kept them busy throughout the day. And for good reason. From 2000 through ’09, there was no better player in the majors, one so impressive that Marlins executive Larry Beinfest searched for the right words to describe him.

“Look at the numbers,” Beinfest said without confirming that the Marlins had even spoken with the Pujols camp. “He’s definitely one of the most celebrated [players], and I would say he’s trending to be one of the best ever.”

In his 11 major-league seasons, all with St. Louis, Pujols has combined power and average, clobbering 445 home runs while hitting .328. Along with his three MVP Awards, he has two Gold Gloves for his fielding.

With the additions of Pujols and Jose Reyes, a leadoff man with lightning speed that the Marlins could formally introduce Wednesday, the Marlins would have arguably one of the most potent lineups in the majors, one that would include three former batting champions, a two-time home run king and the most promising young slugger around in Mike Stanton.

New manager Ozzie Guillen was already salivating just thinking about it. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Guillen laid out his dream lineup: Reyes, Emilio Bonifacio, Hanley Ramirez, Pujols, Stanton, Logan Morrison, Omar Infante and John Buck.

Guillen said whatever players the team ends up acquiring, the Marlins remain “Hanley’s team,” but did so possibly to appease the temperamental shortstop, who will be asked to move to third base to make room for Reyes.

There was a report Tuesday that Ramirez was so unhappy about the position switch that, quoting an unnamed source, he was prepared to ask the team to be traded. But sources said that, though Ramirez isn’t thrilled by the move, he has no intention to demand a trade. Beinfest said he has received no inkling from Ramirez about such a demand.

“I don’t know where some of this stuff is coming from,” Beinfest said. “It’s news to me if he’s asked to be traded.”

It’s new to Beinfest and the Marlins to fall under the national spotlight, chasing after high-profile free agents the way they have at the winter meetings.

Beinfest, owner Jeffrey Loria, Samson and general manager Mike Hill were literally swarmed by reporters as they walked through the hotel lobby when they went to meet with Lozano on Tuesday morning.

They met again with Lozano on Tuesday night.

“I know we’re getting a lot of attention and we’re hopeful to still get something done while we’re here,” Beinfest said.