Albert Pujols: Los Angeles Angels Bet Their Future on 'The Machine'

For the past couple of offseasons, the Los Angeles Angels have come out losers during the free agency period.

They tried and failed to re-sign first baseman Mark Teixeira before the start of the 2009 season, and last year, missed on outfielder Carl Crawford, who opted for Boston instead.

Two years of failing to land a big-money free agent, and after seeing their inter-division rival, the Texas Rangers make back-to-back World Series appearances, the Angels had had just about enough.

On Wednesday, they made the biggest free-agent signing probably in the history of Major League Baseball, locking up the greatest hitter of this generation, Albert Pujols.

The nine-time All-Star, three-time MVP, and two-time World Series champion agreed to a 10-year contract estimated to be worth around $252 million, which includes a no-trade clause that will keep Pujols in a Halos uniform until the age of 41.

Baseball writers and analysts have already taken apart the deal and criticized it from both sides of the issue, with many not favoring giving Pujols a 10-year deal that includes a no-trade clause.

The belief is that the contract will bog down the Angels for the next 10 seasons and unlike the signing of Alex Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers, which included an opt out, Pujols has no such clause as well as the no-trade clause.

What isn't being considered however, is the fact that the Angels have suddenly stolen the thunder from both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox and have instantly become World Series favorites.

More importantly, Pujols brings history to Anaheim and sits just 318 home runs short of breaking Barry's Bonds HR record, or, as many baseball fans consider, 311 from breaking the true home run record held by Hank Aaron.

The signing means an instant boom in the local economy as well as sellouts for home runs 500, 600, 700, 756 and 763.

Bobbleheads, memorabilia and merchandise sales will instantly go up and so will national TV coverage.

It's only been a couple of hours since Pujols signed with the Angels, and yet, the baseball world is still buzzing and reaming from the aftershocks of this historic signing.