MLB, Team News / Analysis, Player News / Analysis, Los Angeles Angels, Albert Pujols, St Louis Cardnials, CJ Wilson
Sources are reporting that Albert Pujols, the 3-time MVP and best hitter in baseball, has agreed to a 10-year, $254 million deal with the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim. He is leaving the St. Louis Cardinals, where the star has played his entire career up to this points, just weeks after carrying them to a second World Series title.
The move comes as a shock because the race for his services had only been reported as being between the Cardinals and the recently located Miami Marlins. It is also the richest contract in baseball history, topping Alex Rodriguez's 10-year, $252 million deal.
The Angels also locked up arguably the top pitcher on the free agent market, CJ Wilson, to a 5-year, $77.5 million deal. The Angels are now rivaling the Marlins for the "most aggressive offseason" title.
12/9/11 |
WhoDat12
|
2231 respect
Pujols signing: EPIC. Phenomenal. Franchise Changing.
C.J. Wilson Signing: Darren Dreifort. A.J. Burnett. Chan Ho Park. Mike Hampton. Kevin Brown.
That is all.
12/9/11 | ML31 | 3529 respect
Can't say I ever recall him talking....
12/8/11 | mikeyintheoc1 | 35 respect
Arte, timing is everything. I believe you just cornered the MLB market in Southern Cali. You wanted to pull Dodger fans in and gain media from the Dodgers. Well sir congratulations. You did it. The hottest ticket from LA to Mexico for years to come. The Angels!
12/8/11 | ML31 | 3529 respect
Al gets homesick in about 2 months...
If he didn't get homesick for the D.R. in St. Louis he sure as hell won't get homesick in LaLa land.
12/8/11 |
Scott
|
41576 respect
I would agree but history will show you that the older you get, the amount of production from a player declines. I'm willing to take the bet that Pujols' first 11 years of his career will be a lot better then the last 10 years of his career. Short term, the Angels have the resources to call in and make a bold move like this. The Cardinals cant and kudos to the front office for not pushing all in. Had they done so, 4 or 5 years down the line when Pujols is struggling and/or injured, the Cardinals would've been screwed.
12/8/11 |
kramer
|
10788 respect
I can see where Scott is coming from though. And now that he has a contract that big, you can bet Prince Fielder will not be playing in a Brewers uniform in spring training, because they're an even smaller market than St. Louis, and would never be able to afford that kind of money.
12/8/11 | ML31 | 3529 respect
Better for an AL team to do it than an NL team. Assuming he is still an Angel in a few years he can DH to the end.
12/8/11 | persevering2 | 40 respect
* Scott. Sorry
12/8/11 | persevering2 | 40 respect
Sorry Scoot but he's year in year out the best hitter in the league. Power, average he doe's it all. And he's playing 1st base which is not a lot of wear and tear on his body.
12/8/11 |
Scott
|
41576 respect
For that price, the Cardinals are better off without Pujols. Any franchise giving a 32 year old player a 10 year contract is taking a huge risk. St. Louis isnt the same type of market as LA/Anaheim and a contract like that would cripple the Cardinals franchise for many years