Angels land Pujols for $254 million
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 14 years AGO
Albert Pujols could have been a wealthy Cardinal for life, planning for the day his statue would be erected outside Busch Stadium next to those of Stan Musial, Bob Gibson and the other St. Louis greats.
Instead, exactly six weeks after leading the Cardinals to a second title in one of the most thrilling World Series ever, he decided to accept the second-highest contract in baseball history for a new future in southern California with the Los Angeles Angels.
The three-time NL MVP agreed Thursday to a $254 million, 10-year contract with the Angels, leaving behind a heartbroken fan base by jilting one of the sport's traditional teams for an expansion club with only one championship in its half-century.
A big and burly offensive force with a shaved head, the nine-time All-Star has a room full of honors, winning the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year award, NL MVPs in 2005, 2008 and 2009, a batting title in 2003 and a pair of Gold Gloves at first base.
As his deal fell into place on the final day of the winter meetings, the Angels struck another big agreement, a $77.5 million, five-year contract with left-hander C.J. Wilson, the ace whose Texas Rangers lost to the Cardinals in the seven-game World Series.
"This is obviously the moment where we have thrown our hat in the ring," new Angels manager Jerry Dipoto said.
Wilson was 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA with Texas last season, helping the Rangers reach their second straight World Series. Now, the 31-year-old lefty is joining the team that finished 10 games behind Texas in the AL West.
"I'd like to tell you that was a focus at all, but truly, our thought was, C.J. Wilson has been one of the premier starting pitchers in the American League over the last few years," Dipoto said. "However that affects other teams is just how it affects other teams. I can't say that that was a primary focus."