First reported by Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Albert Pujols has decided to go West to the Los Angeles Angels for 10 years, and between $250 and $260 million. He gets a full no-trade clause. So much for this morning’s reports that Pujols was going to take his time. Brown says Pujols decided this morning.
Obviously the implications of the deal are numerous, and the impact the Cubs could be great. This will take days to process fully. Among the early reactions:
(1) No more Pujols on the Cardinals, obviously. The early guess is they’ll fill 1B with Lance Berkman. This is partly good and partly bad – that contract would have crippled them;
(2) 10/$250-260M with a full-no-trade clause is a huge, huge contract, and the price for Prince Fielder may have gone up;
(3) Pujols was always all about the money (just sayin’);
(4) Other moves might start shaking out soon; and
(5) The Angels are possibly going to have a young first baseman in Mark Trumbo, available for trade. They may also non-tender injured former first baseman, Kendrys Morales.
Again, there will be much, much more to say about this in the near future. But for now, the deal is done.