Tim Brown has confirmed that Albert Pujols has agreed to a 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The contract is said to be worth between $250 million and $260 million with a full no-trade clause.
The deal comes as a shock after a long 72 hours of intense negotiations that saw the Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, and and the St. Louis Cardinals make a push for the three-time NL MVP. The Marlins in particular offered a contract similar to that of the Cardinals, though did not include a no-trade clause in the offer.
Word surfaced that Pujols had become interested in the Angels late Wednesday night, and a deal reportedly quickly came to fruition.
Pujols, who turns 31 in January, had spent his entire 11-season career with the Cardinals. In that time, he has amassed 445 career home runs alongside a .328 career average and 2073 hits. Even though he failed to eclipse 100 RBI’s for the first time in his career in 2011, his 37 home runs were good enough to aid in the Cardinals picking up their second world championship since 2006.
The Cardinals had attempted to negotiate an extension with Pujols coming into last season, though the veteran decided he wanted to test the market instead of signing right away. The Marlins had been considered a serious contender Tuesday night after signing pitcher Heath Bell and shortstop Jose Reyes, but talks fell through.
The Angels will add Pujols to a team that finished second in the AL West and missed the playoffs. We will have more on this shocking announcement as the day goes on.
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