Andrew Dubois

Staff Writer

    On December 8th, the collective heart of Saint Louis baseball fans was broken. Albert Pujols agreed to a $254 million, 10-year contract for the Los Angeles Angels rather than the $200 Million, nine year contract offered by the Cardinals. The Angels’ offer averages out to Pujols earning $47 a minute for the next ten years.

    Bill DeWitt Jr, Cardinals CEO, said that they were disappointed that they were unable to reach an agreement to keep Pujols in St. Louis and that they will always be thankful for his many achievements in the Cardinals’ uniform. Bill DeWitt Jr also assured the fans that they tried their best to make Pujols a lifetime Cardinal but were sadly unsuccessful. The Angels’ deal includes a full no-trade clause, which may have been one of the reasons that convinced Pujols the Angels were right for him.

    Pujols has a lifetime batting average of .328 and has hit 445 home runs in his 11 years of MLB service. The owner of the Angels, Arte Moreno, said in a statement, “This is a monumental day for Angel fans and I could not be more excited.”

    Some question the Angels’ decision to give a 10-year deal to a 31-year-old. Critics say it isn’t a smart move but the general manager for the Angels isn’t worried. “I will say that Albert Pujols’s age to me is not a concern,” Jerry Dipoto responded. “I can’t tell you where he is. But I can tell you he hits like he’s 27.”  Cardinals fans will likely be hoping he ages prematurely.  Likely those in the Angels organization recognize the benefit of having Pujols on an American League team where he can serve as a designated hitter if his age precludes him from being in the field.