Albert Pujols: Massive Perks Package Will End Up as Bargain for Angels

When Albert Pujols' 10-year deal is over, the Angels will look back and be happy that they made the move. 

Let's start with the base. Pujols signed a 10-year, $240 million with the Angels. As astronomical as that seems, it's not terribly excessive for this day in age. Not for a player like Pujols, who's still bankable to put up big numbers for a long time. 

The fear is his age. But playing first base and in a league that features the designated hitter, that concern can't be overblown. Remember that hitting, specifically power, is the last thing to leave a player. So, the Angels can keep Pujols fresh. The numbers will be there for most, if not all, of his contract.

But let's get into some of the incentives that add to the $240 million value of the deal, as are detailed by CBSSports.

$7 million for home run No. 763

If Pujols hits career home run No. 763 on the final day of the season in the 10th year of his contract, he will have averaged just under 32 home runs per season. Obviously, if he breaks it before, then his pace will be better than that. 

If that's the kind of production that you're going to get from him, the extra $7 million will not seem too excessive. It's not now, and who knows what the financial side of sports will look like in 10 years. 

Remember that the pursuit of a record like that is going to bring fans to the gate. I am a Giants fan, and I distinctly remember watching fans flood AT&T Park when Barry Bonds broke that record in 2007. The Giants were a terrible team, and Bonds could do little else at that point, but the draw was certainly there. 

It will be there for Pujols as well, especially if the Angels are even remotely competitive. 

$3 million for hit No. 3,000

This one certainly looks like a mere formality, unless Pujols is stricken with a serious injury. At this point, he's averaged 197 hits per season and is 927 short. Over the course of 10 years, that's not going to be a concern. 

Still, $3 million is not what you would call excessive when you factor in gate revenue, television contracts, apparel, etc. That brings us to $250 million, and I am still liking the move from the financial perspective of the Angels.

Awards bonuses

These are always a little tricky, but not a big deal. The bonuses aren't huge anyway and will only be paid if production is high. The one possible exception to that is an All-Star bonus, as players like Pujols will always have a distinct edge in fan voting. 

Still, paying extra for MVPs (regular season and postseason), Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves are only going to be paid if the production is high. If the Angels have to pay these, they'll be happy. 

Additional Perks

As was detailed in the report cited above, Pujols will receive a hotel suite on road trips, luxury suite at the ballpark for the Pujols Foundation for 10 home games a year and a right to buy a luxury suite between first base and third base for all home games. 

These are not all that rare in the world of sports. Players vastly inferior to Pujols have received benefits like this in new contracts. 

Ultimately, the Angels are not going to end up regretting any of this because of the production that Pujols will bring them. He's shown no significant signs of slowing down throughout his career. 

The most confusing element of the contract is that more money is going to be paid at the end. Theoretically, the production will be better in the earlier years. But that doesn't make any difference. You're going to have to pay the whole contract anyway. The structure of the contract is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. 

The bottom line is that, with the addition of Pujols, existing talent around him and a starting rotation that's already one of the best in the league, the Angels are going to be a great team in the American League for a long time. 

With that will come at least one World Series title and years of being in the playoffs. The Angels will talk away from this deal with no regrets. 

Follow @mdixon1985