Albert Pujols Forum

I wish they would have given a 10 day notice so I could go down to the Big A and see him IP one last time.

https://www.mlb.com/news/albert-pujols-released-by-angels

This is a sad day for baseball.  Hopefully he can land with another team.  I will hate to see his career end this way.  With any luck he finish the season with the Cardinals, and then retire.  This will be the perfect ending.

Have never been a huge baseball fan but started following the sport when I went to university in 2000 and discovered things like pay TV and the internet which I did not have at home.

My baseball watching and fantasy baseball playing thus coincided with the start of Pujols career so he has always been a guy I followed . As mentioned it would be sad if his career ended here. A reunion with the Cardinals would be pretty cool though with Goldschmidt at 1B and as an NL team I don't know if it would make any sense beyond a (very nice) sentimental gesture. 

I was under the impression that once this season ended, he would step right into his advisory role with the club. If he didn't complete the terms of their contract, is that portion now null and void?

He never had the same aura (or number) as when he was with St; Louis, but for those of us who never saw Willie Mays play, his style and contributions were pretty close.

I guess Miggy can't be far behind...

I think his playing days are over.  IF a team gives him a shot, maybe the White Sox with LaRussa there - those two go way back.  White Sox are not hurting at DH by any means but you never know about injuries.

Congrats Angels for trying to buy a World Series for $240 million, and look what it got you...nothing.  Perfect example of how money was ruining the game.  It was the perfect storm, Moreno gets hooked up with a billion dollar TV contract so why not blow a quarter of it on, at the time, the best player in baseball.  Without that TV contract, I firmly believe Pujols would have stayed a Cardinal for life like he should have.  I like the guy, but he threw 11 years with the Cards away for a 20 minute phone call from Moreno.  I can see why though, Pujols demanded a percentage of the Cardinals in his next contract and Cards brass said I don't think so...

I never understand why fans get annoyed about players accepting contracts for more money.

Surely if a competing business offered you more money than your employer does then you would jump ship too?

I admit sometimes factors like location, climate and existing relationships etc play a role and players/employees may place a non-monetary value on them but economic research has always pointed out that the main motivating (well technically reducing dissatistfaction) factor is $$$$$. 

Dave, I agree with you, however in this case the Cards offered him $220 million.  He had the city of St. Louis in the palm of his hand - he was the next Musial.  I think he would have made a lot more in St. Louis off endorsements than he did with the Angels and that contract.  Just my opinion, and you know what opinions are like.....;

As for your coment about a competing business, yes, you are correct but not at this level I don't think.

I'm not sure if this is applicable in this situation — as I say not a big baseball guy and I do not specifically remember the Pujols contract situation — but players do seem to be very motivated by getting the biggest $ figure, either for that season's free agent class or potentially ever in this case.

It must be a little weird having your negotiations and final salary figure out there in the public domain so conspicuously. I imagine that may change the dynamics of a players final decision at least to some degree.

I get more upset over the franchises putting out so much money in long-term deals. Look what ARod gave to Texas (not much in 3 seasons).

The Angels have been trying for almost their entire existance to pay for a winner. The 2002 team had no major stars, but they found a way from the Wild Card to the title. Heck, I think the monkey was most popular.

By the way, Trout is hitting .400 and the team is in last place. He's made almost $190 MM in ten seasons, and the franchise has an 0-3 playoff record during that time. At least Mantle led his teams to the Series each of his three MVP seasons.

I find the baseball team building dynamic fascinating. Looking at teams like the Rays and As buillding very successful teams on small budgets while others like the Angels have struggled despite commiting some much money to Pujols, Trout, Rendon etc.

The ability to build a solid base eitehr through a successful minor league system or savvy trade moves (Rays) seems to be much more important than signing some superstars given a single star can only impact a baseball game so much (see deGrom, Jacob).

Contrast that with basketball where the NBA has just become a lolly scramble for the stars as if you can sign two superstars you are going to be a very good team and if you bag three one of the elite.