On Thursday, May 6th, The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim sent a shockwave through Major League Baseball. The Angels announced Thursday that Albert Pujols has been designated for assignment.
Pujols was in the last year of a 10 year, $240 million contract that he signed back in 2011. Unless, in a surprise move, someone wants to trade for the slugger he will likely be released into free agency.
Personally when I got the news I was taken aback but if we just remove the names from the story, the Angels were justified in making the move. The man once known as “The Machine” was only slashing .198/.250/.372 this year with 5 homers.
This move gives the Angels the ability to play some of their younger talent and get them ready for a new era. This also lets them play surprising stud Jared Walsh at first and make room for top outfield prospect Jo Adell.
There have been a few speculations that Albert could land somewhere for the rest of the season, I just don’t see anywhere that he can truly fit and/or make an impact right now.
So with that being said, if this truly is the end of a Hall of Fame career, I hope fans don’t make the name synonymous with the last 4 years of his career where he put up the un-machine-like numbers of .240/.289/.405. I like to think of the first 11 years where he hit .328/.420/.617 with 445 home runs through 7,433 plate appearances.
Remember the rookie of the year season in 2001 when he bust on the scene to post just ridiculous numbers for anyone let alone a rookie. At the age 21, he hit 37 homeruns, drove in 130 RBI wit a .329 average. Let that sink in. In his rookie season he put up numbers that would rival those of the past 3 NL MVPs.
He put the league on notice from the beginning and if there was anyone who wasn’t listening he definitely made a loud statement in the 2005 playoffs. Game 5 of the NLCS, 9th inning, against one of the best closers at the time, Albert Pujols provided one of the most iconic and dramatics homers in the playoffs history.
Overall in his career he has 667 HRs, 3253 hits and a .298 lifetime average. The accolades tell the story. 3 MVPs, 6 silver sluggers, 2 gold glove and 10 all star appearances.
I hope we get to see Pujols again soon but IF this is the end let us all tip our caps and salute this living legend.
Thank you Machine
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