Apparently, a quarter-billion-dollar contract to play a game you love is just too tempting to turn down. Just ask Albert Pujols. The free agent first baseman said adios to the World-Series champion St. Louis Cardinals and packed his bags for the west coast where he’ll spend the next 10 years with the Los Angeles Angels.
He’ll also be collecting pay checks totalling $254 million in the process. He can’t start spending his money yet though since he still has to pass a physical. The contract is the second-highest in MLB history after Alex Rodriguez’s 10-year $275 million deal with the Yankees.
The three-time National League MVP was also being courted by the Florida Marlins, but many fans and experts figured Pujols would re-sign with St. Louis, where’s he’s spent his entire 11-year career. The Cardinals offered him a 10-year deal as well, but it’s unsure how much it was for.
The Marlins signed Jose Reyes from the New York Mets and reliever Heath Bell from San Diego a few days before Pujols agreed to terms with the Angels on Dec. 8. They then spent more money by signing left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle from the Chicago White Sox. Those three contracts cost Florida a cool $191 million and they didn’t have much left to pursue Pujols with.
Pujols has enjoyed an excellent career so far and his .617 slugging percentage is fourth best in MLB history. Only Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Lou Gehrig are ahead of him. However, the 31-year-old suffered his worst season personally in 2011, but the Cardinals’ World Series overshadowed his numbers, which have declined in each of his past three seasons.
He still managed to belt 37 home runs in 2011 and added 99 RBI while batting for a .299 average. He’s hit at least 30 home runs in each of his 11 seasons and became the third player to hit three in a World Series game this season. It’s likely that Pujols will now be used as a designated hitter by the Angels most of the time now that he’s in the American League.
His last contract, which he signed in 2004, paid him $100 million over seven years. However, with his bonuses and options he made $112.55 million in eight seasons. Las year, Pujols was offered an extension by St. Louis that would have seen him receive a small percentage of the club, but he turned it down when spring training began.
Arte Moreno, owner of the Angels, said he’s excited as it’s a monumental day for the club’s fans since the team also signed free agent left-handed pitcher C.J. Wilson from the Texas Rangers to a $77.5 million contract.
