One of the greatest baseball players in history will have a new address for the 2012 season and apparently for the rest of his career since his newly announced contract includes a no-trade clause. Albert Pujols has agreed to a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels that will bring him somewhere between $250 million and $260 million. Remember when new ballparks didn’t cost that much to construct?
We have all heard the phrase “Franchise player.” Well, Pujols’ new contract will make him worth more than numerous professional sports franchises.
At 31, this would appear to be the final baseball contract Pujols ever signs, and with him switching from the National League St. Louis Cardinals to the American League Angels, he is protecting himself against the time when he slows down too much to play first base full-time and can extend his career as a designated hitter.
This is an earth-shaking baseball development truly affecting the balance of power in both leagues. Pujols has spent his entire 11-year career with the Cardinals and leaves with a surprising World Series title capping his resume in that town. I figured the odds were that Pujols was going to re-sign with the Cardinals after flirting with the entire baseball establishment and I will always wonder if things would have played out that way if manager Tony La Russa hadn’t retired.
Pujols was beloved in St. Louis and fans pleaded with him to stay. Without him the Cardinals seem likely to slip several notches in the NL Central Division standings. With him, the Angels, already generally the top dogs in the AL West, figure to be strong enough to take on anyone from the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for that league’s pennant. Now that they have swiped starter C.J. Wilson from Texas, the last two years’ league champ, for $77.5 million, they should be able to push past the Rangers, too. Wilson was said to have been leaning the California way because it is a homecoming for him. Probably ’cause the Angels made him rich, too.
Although it is a heap of cash, no one in the baseball world should be particularly surprised at the magnitude of Pujols’ contract. He has a lifetime batting average of .328 with 445 career home runs and 1,329 RBIs. His career on-base percentage is .420. Pujols has won the Most Valuable Player award three times, won a batting title, two home-run titles, one RBI title and led the National League in slugging percentage three times. Statistically, his numbers glitter like the inside of a jewelry store.
Those numbers rewarded Pujols with security more secure than some banks, especially in these financially perilous times. Before 2011 not a single Pujols critic could have been excavated. However, Pujols’ 2011 season was different from his first 10. He was injured and missed games. He started the year in the worst slump of his career. He finished with a .299 average and 99 RBIs, in both cases missing by a single digit the continuation of his career-long record streak of always hitting at least 30 homers, driving in 100 runs, and batting .300.
So at least one question will follow Pujols to California: Was last season a fluke or was it the beginning of a trend? Beyond that there is the human body issue of how long can Pujols be the Pujols of his youth. Players age and their production drops. History shows that no matter how great the ballplayer there comes a time when he was not on the same level he used to be.
My guess is that the Angels are banking on Pujols maintaining Pujols-like standards for at least five years and after that dealing with whatever problems might arise. If the Angels are smart and Pujols is willing, they will mix in days at DH with perhaps three out of four games in the field as a way to reduce wear and tear right from the start. It would be a wise approach likely resulting in long-term benefits for player and team.
After 11 years of hammering National League pitching it will be intriguing to watch Pujols uncoil his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame against American League hurlers. It is possible there will be an adjustment necessary or Pujols will just view his league hopping as a fresh challenge that will force him to bear down more. Wouldn’t want the young man to get bored, would we?
There is probably one thing that Pujols didn’t take into account in moving to the Angels and settling for a mere $250 million-plus deal. Wait till he gets a look at those California real estate prices. He might wish he asked for another $10 million or so.