The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim north of San Diego and Tijuana signed stud slugger Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $250 million earlier this afternoon.
To call this a major signing to a monster deal is an understatement. However, I have a few things to say – including a reservation – over this deal.
First of all, the Angels are obviously tired of losing the AL West division the last two seasons to the Texas Rangers. The Angels are also desperate to return to the playoffs. Los Angeles filled a need in obtaining a bat – a HUGE one in Pujols – which it missed when Vladimir Guerrero left town for Texas last season.
In the short term, it makes the Angels the team to beat in not only the AL West, but in the American League itself next season.
However, it is always dangerous to give a player over the age of 30 a huge contract – let alone a 10-year contract. Pujols will be 32 when the next season, and chances are his skills will be declining after year #5 of the contract. If and when that happens, how in the hell will the Angels be able to trade a 30-something player with declining skills earning $25 million per year?
I already talked about the short-term, but long term this may cripple the Angels financially.
Again, I understand why the Angels had to make the move to sign Pujols. In fact, I think it is a good move. I just disagree with the number of years and salary.
Categories: baseball, MLB, sports story
Not to mention, Pujols got a full no-trade clause in his contract, so even if you find someone to take on that contract, it better be someplace Albert wants to go. I think the Angels overcompensated after getting outbid for Carl Crawford last offseason, but there’s no way they still think this was a good idea when Pujols turns 40.
The Angels were clearly pissed after missing out on Crawford last season (what a blessing in disguise that turned out to be) and looking up at the Rangers for two consecutive years.
Desperate times call for desperate measures I guess…