Albert Pujols Agrees to 10-Year, $250 Million Deal: Angels

[Greg Ambrosius]

Okay, what do you think of this latest free agent signing: The Anaheim Angels have just inked Albert Pujols for 10 years, $250 million. Is this a good deal for the Angels? A good deal for Pujols? Crazy by both of them? Let's hear your opinions and we'll post some musings from around the country soon. WOW.

So much for enjoying the World Series title, huh?

[Winston's Empire]

I just walked out of a meeting, fired up the MLBTRADERUMORS.COM in my office and wowza! I am completely shocked!
I honestly thought when all was said and done, he would be going back to St. Louis. This move in my opinion will be looked at in 25 years by baseball history, as a HUGE mistake by Albert Pujols.
Good news is the Angels finally landed the big fish in Free Agency they always wanted to! WOW, overpay by much?

[Jarbel]

If true makes things real interesting. Especially if rumors of them non tendering Moralas is true. It also shows the lack of loyalty in baseball.

[Ryan C]

Please - leave loyalty out of it. I'd love to see how loyal any of us would be in ANY situation if it meant $25-50 million more dollars. It's not his fault someone came in and threw that kind of money on the table. Yes - he loses some goodwill - but this is not a LeQuit situation here - not even close.

Okay - he doesn't get to go down as a lifetime Cardinal. It's a different era. It will be rarer and rarer to see guys stay with teams for life. He still brought those Cards fans two WS titles. He will still be one of their All-Time greats. The Cards are a victim of the system. The market for Pujols just shot by where they realistically could go.

The other fact to remember and consider is that Pujols was possibly the BIGGEST bargain in baseball over the course of his Cardinals career. And as far as I can remember he never once complained about the fact that he was grossly underpaid the last few years. He earned the right to make this decision.

[Ryan C]

Reports have the Angels also getting real close to signing C.J. Wilson.

If that is true the Angels may have just jumped ahead of the Rangers in the AL West.

[Winston's Empire]

The other fact to remember and consider is that Pujols was possibly the BIGGEST bargain in baseball over the course of his Cardinals career. And as far as I can remember he never once complained about the fact that he was grossly underpaid the last few years. He earned the right to make this decision.

I could not agree with this fact more! He was a bargain the 11 years (most likely, his best career years) while in St. Louis and I don't blame the Cardinals one bit for not going to where the Angels went on this deal. Loyalty to a team is a tough in this spot and yes $25-50 million extra is a ton of money to walk away from. I think its the baseball historian in fans like me that hope and wish to see ALL TIME GREATS like Pujols stay with the team they originated with.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Agreed about leaving loyalty out of it. Loyalty left as Marvin Miller entered. Pujols shouldn't be held to a higher standard than any other player.
Actually, it is good timing for him to leave. The only Major League Manager he has known, retired.
He leaves the organization while it is at it's zenith.

Pujols will say all the right things about his former team and his current team, but when it came down to it, he went to the highest bidder, like most players.
The Cardinals could still rebound from this and sign Prince Fielder and may even come out ahead. Fielder will commit to less years and it'll take less money to sign him. Not to mention weakening a division opponent.

From a fantasy perspective, everybody in the Cardinals lineup takes a little hit. Although it does fortify a regular position for Allen Craig with Berkman moving to first base.
Cardinal pitchers also take a little bit of a hit. Pujols is an excellent first baseman. Berkman is not. It'll also mean less wins in all probability, and I don't know why, but I think of it hurting Jaime Garcia the most of any pitcher on the staff.

For the Angels, they went into 2012 with Trumbo as their best middle of the order hitter. Now, they have power to go with all the speed

1. Aybar, ss
2 Abreu, rf
3. Pujols, 1b
4. Trumbo, dh
5. Hunter, lf
6. Kendrick, 2b
7. Bourjos, cf
8. Ianetta, c
9. Somebody, 3b

There are rumors that Trumbo will be tried at 3b, making Morales the dh. It could happen, but probably not. In this lineup, both Morales and Vernon Wells are not listed. There are sure to be more dominoes falling as the Angels have 16 ounces of Doritos but only a 10 ounce bag to fit them.Izturis and Callaspo are utility players who could also play 3b.
This signing also will cement the idea that Mike Trout starts the year at AAA.
The Angels pitching staff gets yet another defensive boost to an already above average fielding team and also more run production for wins.
Pujols himself, should see little movement in his draft position. Having the dh option is nice for minor ouchies, but Pujols played through those anyway.

The Angels have served notice to the Rangers that the A.L. West is going to be a dogfight. If they still have enough money to sign CJ Wilson, they would probably take over the favorite role to win the division.

[Ryan C]

As a fan, I can sympathize with you Max as an Indian and Cleveland fan.

I still have my Jim Thome jerseys in the closet. He was the guy I hoped would always be an Indian.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Quite the day for the Angels franchise.
They have also signed CJ Wilson.

[Ryan C]

Nolan Ryan just reached for the Pepto Bismol

The Brewers and the rest of the NL Central have to be glad to see Pujols pack his bags. It will be interesting now to see if the Cubs get serious about Prince Fielder.

[Winston's Empire]

As a fan, I can sympathize with you Max as an Indian and Cleveland fan.

I still have my Jim Thome jerseys in the closet. He was the guy I hoped would always be an Indian.

Thome's Tribe, we could have all stood behind that!

[DOUGHBOYS]

As a fan, I can sympathize with you Max as an Indian and Cleveland fan.

I still have my Jim Thome jerseys in the closet. He was the guy I hoped would always be an Indian.

Thome's Tribe, we could have all stood behind that!

Was Thome illustrating how he felt about that uni in this photo?

[rockitsauce]

[quote="Winston's Empire"] This move in my opinion will be looked at in 25 years by baseball history, as a HUGE mistake by Albert Pujols.quote]

If somebody made a mistake here it sure as hell wasn't Pujols

[The Mighty Men]

The guy just signed for a quarter of a BILLION dollars. This is certainly not a Pujols' mistake. Why would it be? Just so he can be called a lifetime Cardinal? Please.

[DOUGHBOYS]

If Prince Fielder signs with the Mariners or another American League team, the difference between first basemen in the two leagues will be more than significant.
Leaving Fielder out of the equation, here is a list of the top A.L. first basemen-
Pujols
Cabrera
Teixeira
Gonzalez
Napoli/Young
Hosmer
Konerko

Here is the best the National League has to offer-
Votto
Freeman
Morse
Berkman
Howard

Joey Votto may have been bumped to near the top in National League only leagues.

[wahooblue]

Great deal for Pujols= 31 y.o. player getting a ten year 254 million contract in the A.L. when his later years or during the season he can preserve himself at D.H. and take stress of that balky elbow when needed .

Good deal for the Angels= If they can move Trumbo to 3B and get power at that position, Kendry Morales moves to DH and proves to be healthy . This signing of Pujols will put more fans in the stands,improves production from a corner position with the Trumbo move , and gives the Angels a great opportunity to compete for a World Series title. Imagine what CJ Wilson is feeling ? Nice Money,Pitching in his hometown, Nice Lineup producing runs and Wins.

2011 Pujols .299 105r 37-99-9 (25 million yr.)
2011 Trumbo .254 65r 29-87-9(Lge. min. ??)
2009 K Morales .306 86r 34-108-3 ( 2.975mil 2011)

[Gekko]

now poodles can rest at DH some days. primed for a nice comeback year

[Greg Ambrosius]

Here's a very interesting take on Albert's move to Los Angeles from ESPN.com's Jayson Stark:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/star ... e-st-louis

[Edwards Kings]

Been in conferences for the last several days, so I am just getting caught up on the story. Heard it of course and the CJ Wilson signing. In looking at it, I am going to have to go against the audience and choose Door #3, Monty. HOW STUPID FOR THE ANGELS! Already hamstrung with three more years of Vernon Wells ($63 million over the next three years), they now tie up $77.5m in CJ Wilson (great pitcher, but do you really need four starters of the caliber the Angels have....didn't really help the Phillies), and $254m on 31 year old (right...all who believe that stand up!) Pujols when they have a pretty decent 26 year old who cranked 29 HR last year. Trumbo will not play third or outfield (at least not well) and is no Pujols, but if you are going to spend $254m, why spend it in the one position that looks so strong already.

Predictions. Angels do not win a World Series. Pujols has his first major injury within two years, which would not be uncommon for a "31" year old (right!). In Angels year APC 5 (new calander "After Pujols Contract" as opposed to BPC "Before Pujols Contract"), the Angels are stuck with a $25.4m per year DH and bold predictions will be made by the new GM who says "I bet we get 125 games at least out of Albert this year!"

OK. I am going overboard, but the Angels will never get close to the value out of Pujols no matter what the TV contract will be.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Wayne, I think this explains why the Angels feel Albert's contract is going to pay for itself. They are reportedly set to sign a TV contract with Fox for the next 20 years at an average of $100 million MORE per year than they were getting under their old deal. And it starts right away. So they need a star to drive the ratings and drive the audience. Albert is now the star of this show:

The Angels have agreed to a 20-year TV contract with Fox Sports worth at least $3 billion, reports Bill Shaikin and Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times. With the Dodgers' deal with Fox struck down in court and the Lakers moving to Time Warner Cable, the Angels had a clear line to this huge new deal and revenue stream. As Shaikin and Baxter put it to Halos fans, Pujols was "brought to you by Frank McCourt and Kobe Bryant."

[Edwards Kings]

But is sounds like the complex media deal was all but done BEFORE the Pujols signing. I am guessing that after Pujols inked the contract, the amount Fox was shelling out did not go up $100m. I am also guessing that there are multipliers involved in the contract based on ratings. I readily admit I am not a media analyst, but I would think that long-term steady winning would build the ratings base. Pujols is certainly a winner and will be a big splash short term. But how about years five, six, et al in the contract when Pujols is "36", "37", "38", having lost his defense or power stroke due to elbow problems? And the Angels hamstrung with a huge contract they cannot unload?

Seriously though, with that pitching staff with Wilson, the Anaheim I-want-to-be-more-LA-than-the-lame-ass-Dodgers Angels will be winners. Very few teams have fourth starters the level of Ervin Santana. With Trumbo a rising star (unless Anaheim management think he was going to be another Joe Charboneau), why not use much less money to induce David Wright from the Mets? If you are determined to bury Trumbo, what is the differential (long-term) in games won between Fielder and Pujols when Fielder would cost you $50m less?

I am sure Anaheim thought of all these things, but Pujols for $254m just does not make good sense to me. Getting Wilson was already a stick in the eye to Texas. Maybe I am just too much an accountant.

[duesman24]

Hey guys,
Pujols moving to AL this yr will be wierd. I bet he struggles early seeing new sps in AL west while they pitch around him also for a while. He wont live up to contract without some new form of steroids to keep him healthy for last 5 yrs of deal even with the dh.(See Aroid..LOL)
Im sure angels will just worry about that when it happens though & will be top contenders for the next few yrs.
Either way i see Angels yanks boston texas in playoffs with extra wildcard team. Sure woudlnt want to be the 2 teams playign a 1 game playoff

[ToddZ]

I am sure Anaheim thought of all these things, but Pujols for $254m just does not make good sense to me. Getting Wilson was already a stick in the eye to Texas. Maybe I am just too much an accountant.

It's not just the TV contract, which helps. it is the additional playoff revenue (hopefully). It is the additional attendance as Pujols chases down records.

From an accounting perspective, the amount of money the club makes over the first half of the contract is more than it loses over the second half, resulting in a net gain. The problem is, you can't sign him for just 5 years, you will never get him obviously.

So while yeah, the club may not get its money's worth in years 8, 9 and based on Pujols' performance versus his paycheck, the money they are paying him is only PART of the profit they have already realized from the contract.

[Navel Lint]

Hey guys,
Pujols moving to AL this yr will be wierd. I bet he struggles early seeing new sps in AL west while they pitch around him also for a while...................

Pujols career numbers in 143 games vs AL pitching

PA-635
AB-541
R-104
HR-39
RBI-121
BA-.348

This guy doesn't care who is on the mound, he just hits

[duesman24]

Those are good #ers for sure but I bet the unfriendly confines of anaheim will hurt him plus just learning to hit everyday with new backgrounds at new stadiums is bound to take some time.
I have 4 pick in my slow draft & i wont be taking him...