By Jordan Long
Albert Pujols has announced that this season will be his last. It will mark his 22nd year in Major League Baseball. He goes back to where it all started, St. Louis. He agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million.
Pujols started his MLB career in 2001 hitting .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI’s, a taste of what he could do at the Major League Level. Pujols became the Cardinals’ everyday 1st baseman during the 2004 season. That year he was placed at 1st base for 150 games.
Pujols stayed with the Cardinals until the end of the 2011 season. In his time with St. Louis, he managed to hit 30 or more home runs every year. His top season was in 2009 when he totaled 47. St. Louis went to the postseason 7 times with him. They even won two World Series titles with Pujols, 2006 and 2011.
Following the end of the 2011 season, Pujols was a free agent for the first time in his career. Many teams were interested in him because of his play at 1st base but more importantly, he had power at the plate. Pujols could collect base hits and crush the ball for doubles, triples, and home runs. He agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Angels. The deal was 10 years, paying Pujols $254 million throughout the contract, or $25.4 million a year. The Los Angeles Angels were hoping teaming Pujols with rookie Mike Trout would give the Angels power in their lineup.
Pujols smacked 30+ home runs twice with the Angels, 2015 and 2016. In 2015 he collected 40 home runs and in 2016 it was 31.
The Angels didn’t have much postseason success with Pujols. They managed to earn a playoff spot once, in 2014, but were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the Divisional Series. In that series, Pujols’ batting average was .167 with 1 home run and 2 RBI’s.
In the 2021 season, Pujols had 24 at bats for the Angels. He struggled at the plate with a .198 batting average. He could still drive the ball with 5 home runs. On May 6th, the Angels made the tough decision to release Pujols. According to nypost.com, Angels Manager Joe Maddon said, “He wants to play, and he wants to be in the field. Hopefully, he’s going to get that opportunity somewhere else, and believe me, we’re all going to be rooting for him.”
Pujols wasn’t out of work long. The L.A. Dodgers agreed to a contract with him to finish out the year. Pujols hit .254 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI’s. He was placed at 1st base for 56 games and had 1 error. The Dodgers managed to earn a playoff spot. They advanced to the National League Championship Series but were beaten by the Atlanta Braves in 6 games. In the playoff run, Pujols’ batting average was .294. The Dodgers let him go and he was a free agent.
Once the offseason started it was interrupted by the MLB lockout which began on December 2nd, 2021 and ended on March 10th, 2022. When the lockout was lifted, free agency could resume.
It took a while for Pujols to find a home. It makes a lot of sense for him to end his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won’t be the everyday 1st baseman. The Cardinals have their 1st baseman in Paul Goldschmidt. Pujols may play there when Goldschmidt needs a day off. Pujols is more likely to be the designated hitter. All Pujols would need to worry about is being productive at the plate.
Pujols has a chance to be on a winning ball club. St. Louis earned a playoff spot last year as a Wild Card team but fell in the Wild Card game to the L.A. Dodgers by the score of 3 to 1. The Cardinals hope to advance further. The best case is Pujols goes out with a championship if St. Louis wins the World Series, which would be a storybook ending for the future Hall of Famer.
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