Albert Pujols: No Angel in St. Louis, Signs for 10 Years, $250 Million with LA

Well at least you can give Albert Pujols credit for not having a TV special telling everyone he was taking his talents to the beach, but the fans in St. Louis don't see Pujols as an angel anymore.

This morning Pujols accepted a 10-year, $250 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. The Cardinals best offer was said to be in the nine-year, $200 million guaranteed range with a possible option for a 10th season.

Arte Moreno, the Angels owner, has never shied away from spending to attempt to improve his team (see the Vernon Wells addition last year). However, this sets a new precedent for spending outside the New York and Boston markets. 

Pujols will be 42 years old when this contract expires.  One can't help but wonder that if Pujols is limping along in his late '30s, playing DH because his age prohibits his field play, if this will be considered a good deal. This is the kind of contract that can debilitate a team if the player's production doesn't justify the price tag.

That is clearly what kept the Cardinals away. Considered a mid-market team, signing Pujols to a 10-year deal, $250 million deal would cripple the organization for years to come. As much as the Cardinals wanted to keep Pujols, the terms were simply too much.

Pujols was the king in St. Louis. He is a two-time World Series champion. He was beloved by the fan base and the community. Now as Pujols takes his talents West, the bar will be raised significantly. Anything less than World Series championships could very well be considered a bust in the City of Angels.

With all the pressure to perform up to the contract and being in a media crazed town, it will be interesting to see if Pujols can rise to the occasion. St. Louis, for the most part, is a player friendly market when it comes to the media. After Pujols hits his first slump and takes on the LA media, it will be interesting to see how he responds.

One thing is for sure, the color green means more than St. Louis red for El Hombre.