In one of the most stunning series of player moves in recent baseball history, the Los Angeles agreed to terms Thursday morning with first baseman Albert Pujols and left-hander C.J. Wilson.
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Pujols, who won three MVP awards and two World Series championships while crafting a Cardinals legacy to rival Stan Musial, left the reigning champions of baseball for a 10-year contract worth around $255 million, according to a person involved in the negotiations, who requested anonymity because Pujols must pass a physical for the deal to be final.
Wilson, arguably the top pitcher on the free-agent market, left the defending AL champion Rangers for a five-year deal between $70 million and $75 million, according to multiple news media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times.
Pujols' deal, which includes a no-trade clause, will be among the most lucrative in baseball history. Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year, $252 million with the Texas Rangers before the 2001 season and another 10-year deal, this time with the New York Yankees in 2007 for $275 million.
Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, had been engaged in negotiations throughout the winter meetings, first with the Cardinals and Marlins and then with the Angels. The Cardinals offered him a nine-year contract for about $195 million early in spring training, but the slugger turned it down and ended talks until the season was over.
The Cardinals improved on that offer this week, but the Angels came in late Wednesday and finished the deal Thursday.
"Congratulations to Anaheim," said Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik. "It just makes it that much more difficult for everyone in our division."
SOURCE: USA Today
Bob Nightengale
