Pujols signs with Angels, Cardinals need to regroup

Albert Pujols decided to sign with the Los Angeles Angels after they offered more money than the Cardinals did. Once Miami was out of the picture, I figured Pujols would re-sign, but then the Angels came in with a ten year 250 million dollar deal. Its a big loss for the Redbirds, but its a contract the Angels will regret. Just look at the ARod deal the Yankees signed after 2007 when he was 32 like Pujols.

                                                  Pujols career stats

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	IBB	Pos	Awards
2000	20	STL-min	A,A+,AAA	133	544	490	74	154	41	7	19	96	4	5	46	47	.314	.378	.543	.920	266	13	5	7	PEO,POT,MEM · MIDW,CARL,PCL
2001	21	STL	NL	161	676	590	112	194	47	4	37	130	1	3	69	93	.329	.403	.610	1.013	360	21	9	6	5379/D	AS,MVP-4,RoY-1,SS
2002	22	STL	NL	157	675	590	118	185	40	2	34	127	2	4	72	69	.314	.394	.561	.955	331	20	9	13	*753/D96	MVP-2
2003	23	STL	NL	157	685	591	137	212	51	1	43	124	5	1	79	65	.359	.439	.667	1.106	394	13	10	12	*73/D	AS,MVP-2,SS
2004	24	STL	NL	154	692	592	133	196	51	2	46	123	5	5	84	52	.331	.415	.657	1.072	389	21	7	12	*3/D	AS,MVP-3,SS
2005	25	STL	NL	161	700	591	129	195	38	2	41	117	16	2	97	65	.330	.430	.609	1.039	360	19	9	27	*3	AS,MVP-1
2006	26	STL	NL	143	634	535	119	177	33	1	49	137	7	2	92	50	.331	.431	.671	1.102	359	20	4	28	*3	AS,MVP-2,GG
2007	27	STL	NL	158	679	565	99	185	38	1	32	103	2	6	99	58	.327	.429	.568	.997	321	27	7	22	*3	AS,MVP-9
2008	28	STL	NL	148	641	524	100	187	44	0	37	116	7	3	104	54	.357	.462	.653	1.114	342	16	5	34	*3/D4	AS,MVP-1,SS
2009	29	STL	NL	160	700	568	124	186	45	1	47	135	16	4	115	64	.327	.443	.658	1.101	374	23	9	44	*3/D	AS,MVP-1,SS
2010	30	STL	NL	159	700	587	115	183	39	1	42	118	14	4	103	76	.312	.414	.596	1.011	350	23	4	38	*3	AS,MVP-2,GG,SS
2011	31	STL	NL	147	651	579	105	173	29	0	37	99	9	1	61	58	.299	.366	.541	.906	313	29	4	15	*3/5	MVP-5
11 Seasons				1705	7433	6312	1291	2073	455	15	445	1329	84	35	975	704	.328	.420	.617	1.037	3893	232	77	251
162 Game Avg.				162	706	600	123	197	43	1	42	126	8	3	93	67	.328	.420	.617	1.037	370	22	7	24

                                            

									ARod
							2008-2011
Year	Age	Team		Games	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	IBB	Awards
2008	32	NYY	AL	138	594	510	104	154	33	0	35	103	18	3	65	117	.302	.392	.573	.965	292	16	14	9	AS,MVP-8,SS
2009	33	NYY	AL	124	535	444	78	127	17	1	30	100	14	2	80	97	.286	.402	.532	.933	236	13	8	7	MVP-10
2010	34	NYY	AL	137	595	522	74	141	29	2	30	125	4	3	59	98	.270	.341	.506	.847	264	7	3	1	AS,MVP-15
2011	35	NYY	AL	99	428	373	67	103	21	0	16	62	4	1	47	80	.276	.362	.461	.823	172	13	5	1	AS
18 Seasons				2402	10634	9199	1824	2775	495	29	629	1893	305	73	1166	1916	.302	.386	.567	.953	5215	222	157	88

As you can see Pujols numbers have been declining for the last couple years. They are still All Star type seasons, but not worth 25 million a year. I still think Pujols will put up a few more big years, but as he gets older he most certainly will decline and recovering from injuries will take longer. Looking into the first four seasons into ARods 10 year 275 million dollar extension with the Yankees, his numbers have went down as he ages.

The Angels signed free agent left hander CJ Wilson as well, and should have a good team next year. But signing big name free agents doesn't always work, look at the 2011 Red Sox. However, they should have a top notch rotation with Jered Weaver, Danny Haren, Wilson, and Ervin Santana. Their lineup is stronger with Pujols, probably still not as good as the Rangers though. Torii Hunter and Howie Kendrick are there most established hitters, and Vernon Wells is on the decline. Rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo will probably move to third base or DH. The Angels do have up and coming outfielders Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout on their team as well. I expect them to make the playoffs, but there is no guarantee they will win a World Series with Pujols in the fold.

As for the Cardinals, Lance Berkman will move to first and Allen Craig will start at right field with Adron Chambers subbing in until he recovers from knee surgery. The Cardinals have discussed signing Carlos Beltran to a one year deal as well. The Cardinals should also look to upgrade their middle infield. Rafeal Furcal is not likely to come back, and there is not much on the free agent market now that Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins have signed new deals. I think Tyler Greene and Daniel Descalso will get a shot to play, but the Cards should look to make a trade to stabilize either second or short. Adam Wainwright is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and top prospect Shelby Miller could be ready sometime next year so the pitching should be better. Hopefully, GM John Mozeliak will use the Pujols money to upgrade other spots on the roster.

Pujols could of been a Cardinals icon like Stan Musial, but he chose money over being a lifetime Cardinal. His career route is more like Rogers Hornsby, who was traded after a salary dispute. Hornsby wanted more money after leading the Redbirds to the 1926 World Series championship, and ownership wouldn't budge and traded him to the Giants for fellow Hall of Fame second baseman Frankie Frisch. Hornsby was still really good for another 4-5 years, but he had his best years in St. Louis. It looks like Pujols will be getting a small statue after he retires instead of a big one like Musial. As for Pujols, the pressure is on him next year. If he slumps, Angel fans will be rough on him considering he hasn't done anything for that organization yet. 10 year deals are risky, especially for a player already in his 30s; and I think it will be an albratross for the Angels in 5 or 6 years.