Albert Pujols Agrees to Contract With Anahem Angels; Sign C.J. Wilson As Well (Updated)

Posted on by Adam Cubbage

As reported, Albert Pujols has agreed to a 10-year/$260 million dollar contract with the Angels on Thursday marking the end of his St. Louis Cardinals playing career. Pujols, who helped lead the Cardinals to an improbable World Series run in 2011, was granted a full no-trade clause in the contract. 

During his time in St. Louis Pujols, 31, won three National League MVP awards and made nine All-Star appearances. He appeared in three World Series (2004, 2005, 2011) winning two of them and becomes the third contract in MLB history worth more than $200 million dollars (Alex Rodriguez twice). 

Pujols leaves a St. Louis team still loaded with talent in a lineup that includes Lance Berkman, Matt Holiday and Yadier Molina. There are rumors that the Cardinals could turn their attention to Prince Fielder to fill the void at first base. While Fielder may be limited athletically at first, his production is right on par with Pujols plus he makes the Cardinals younger so it would make sense to sign him to possibly fill that void. While replacing the best player in the game isn’t easy the Cardinals have the pitching and veterans to weather this if Fielder were to become their primary target. 

Meanwhile the Angels know what they’re getting.

Gold Glove caliber defense at first, coupled with a middle of the lineup threat the likes they haven’t seen since Reggie Jackson. While that is no knock on Troy Glaus, Pujols, who has averaged a line of 42/.330/119 since 2003 doesn’t appear quite ready to slow down and is a far superior hitter. This also puts him (if they chose to do so) between Kendry Morales, who will surely become the designated hitter unless they trade him, and Torii Hunter. It also helps that towards the back end of the contract Pujols can DH and be spared from fielding everyday in the American League. Assess that with the top of a lineup that will include Howie Kendrick, super prospect Mike Trout and Peter Bourjos and you have the makings of the ideal set up for Mike Scioscia.

The Angels also find themselves in the enviable position of having trade chips. The outfield (Vernon Wells, Bobby Abreu, Peter Bourjos, Mike Trout, Torii Hunter) is crowded, and there are no shortage of teams looking for outfield help in the speed and power department. One potential match could be the Braves who have the pitching (Jurrjens, Minor, etc.) to be able to offer the Angels an attractive package for an outfielder like Bourjos, who can play all three spots and could be seen as a replacement in the off chance Michael Bourn Doesn’t sign an extension.

As contracts go, spending $260 million dollars usually doesn’t sound like a win, but this puts the Angels in a prime position to take down the Rangers who staring the loss of another top-flight pitcher in C.J. Wilson right in the face. St. Louis, if they sign Fielder, will be okay. If not they have a void that won’t even be able to be minimized. 

UPDATED: C.J. Wilson Agrees to five-year $77.5 Million

On a day when they signed the biggest offensive fish in the pond, they turned around and signed the pitching gem of the offseason. C.J. Wilson reached a five-year/$77.5 million dollar deal with the Angels. These deals make them the no doubt favorites in the West. Texas, for the second consecutive offseason, lost a prized left-hander to free agency but this one is more damaging because he left to a division rival. 

Wilson, who went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA last season, brings a third ace to a rotation that already includes Jered Weaver and Dan Haren. The top three in the rotation stack up with the best in either league. 

Meanwhile Texas, who has made back-to-back world series appearances will have to rely on Neftali Feliz a smooth transition to starting. They may look harder at trade options considering they will need someone to shore up their rotation in case of a set back to any of their remaining starters. Texas has the farm system to make a move, but Nolan Ryan, the clubs president, is reluctant to deal unless he knows they will get immediately better. The Rangers have been rumored to also be in on the Fielder talks and if added would have a power hitting first basemen available to a club that needs it in return for pitching. 

Reyes Introduced, Marlins Sign Buherle And The Rest Of Day Two (Winter Meetings 2011)

Posted on by Adam Cubbage

While the Winter Meetings in Dallas have proven to be more about establishing a foundation for deals to be made at a later date, there was some action that took place that could allow for some major chips to begin falling. News of the day (which is a relative term when Albert Pujols is a free agent) revolved around the Marlins continued attempt to imitate the New York Yankees this offseason by signing Mark Buehrle to a four-year deal. This is huge because in Buehrle they gain a perennial All-Star and stalwart left-handed veteran to anchor their rotation. He becomes a major addition behind Josh Johnson and his true value will come in stopping any sustained losing streaks the Marlins may incur. We have to keep in mind that even with the signing of Reyes this is still a very vulnerable offense. Reyes’ legs are still an issue, Logan Morrison will need to make strides and Gaby Sanchez needs to put together two solid halves in order for this thing to work. 

While things were getting hammered out with Buehrle, Jose Reyes, who just signed a six-year pact with the fish, was being introduced. One of the most telling reasons for his departure from New York was his statement that he “felt wanted” in Miami. While I know this is a determining factor at any level for an athlete I don’t think Reyes fully understood two things. First, the toll his injuries took on the team as they waited on leg injury after leg injury was a lot more massive than he might realize. Whether he wants to believe it or not, he is a catalyst and he needs to make things happen at the top of the order. When he plays he does just that; but when you can only depend on him for an average of 98 games per season it takes its toll. Financially the Mets just don’t have it right now. They’ve albatross contracts to David Wright, Johan Santana (remember him?) and Jason Bay still on the books and they are all coming off of sub-par, injury riddled seasons. In the case of Santana both. Not to mention the Wilpon’s ongoing legal troubles involving Bernie Madoff and already declining attendance it doesn’t make things easy on a now financially strapped team to give another player almost $18 million per season. 

More Notes:

  • FoxSports Jon Morosi tweeted the Mariners are interested in Jamie Moyer and Jeff Francis. I say try not to be so interested.
  • Speaking of the Mets, they made a few moves acquiring Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco to deals as well as trading Angel Pagan to San Francisco for Andres Torres and pitcher Ramon Ramirez. 
  • Mark Buehrle’s deal is for a reported four-years/$58 million dollars. 
  • Huston Street was traded to the Padres for a player to be named later
  • Hanley Ramirez, a day after griping about moving to third base, is reported to have no issues with the move. Except for that whole defense part. 

Fred McGriff Is A Hall of Famer Of The No Doubt Variety

Posted on by Adam Cubbage

When I was younger, growing up in Savannah, Georgia, I remember being glued to Atlanta Braves baseball from the age of six. That year was 1990, and as has been well documented the next year started an unprecedented run of division success in Atlanta that has made it the brand it is today. Sprinkled in were the opportunities to watch legends at work. I watched Steve Avery define what is now consider the blueprint for developmental pitching success. I witnessed Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz win six of the decades Cy Young awards (Maddux won one his last year with the Cubs) and it was all surrounded by the arrival of an Atlanta sports icon in Chipper Jones, five national league pennants and the 1995 world series championship. Quietly, though, from 1993 to 1997 the Braves ran out another hall of fame caliber player that many seem to overlook outside of the city of Atlanta.

The “Crime Dog” Fred McGriff. 

I’ll give you a minute to poke fun before I produce some statistics that will no doubt solidify his case as a no-doubt-about-it hall of famer. 

Lets start with the years 1988 to 1994 when McGriff hit 30+ home runs each of those years, including two years during that stretch where he led the American and National League in that category (one of three in major league history to accomplish this feat). In 1994 he was robbed of an historic season when he finished with 34 home runs and a .318 batting average before the strike hit. He did however win the All-Star game MVP that season.  

McGriff was more than a masher, finishing his career with a .284 batting average over 19 seasons. He defined the role of the prototypical clean-up hitter because he blended power and average so well hitting .300 or better in five seasons, .290 or better in two seasons and .280 or better in four. In 1995, when the Atlanta Braves won their only world title, McGriff lead the way with 27 home runs. 

He was a five-time All-star and finished in the top-10 in voting for the MVP six times. Now I know what you’re saying right now is where is he in an historical context? 

I’m glad you asked. 

Baseball Reference has him comparable to Eddie Mathews, Billy Williams, Willie Stargell, Willie McCovey and Jeff Bagwell. By my count that is four current and one future hall of famer. His 493 (untainted) home runs place him 26th all-time in baseball history and tied with Lou Gerhig. Most importantly, though, his dominance during his early years and well into (and even past) his prime made him an incredibly influential player because the model by which a clean-up hitter is measured was, and to some extent still is, Fred McGriff. If for nothing else his consistency alone made him invaluable to every club he played on. His 15 consectuve seasons with at least 20 home runs leaves him as one of 14 players in history to accomplish the feat. Add to the fact that McGriff played the game the right way and was known as a “great guy, better teammate” in every circle and you’ve got a baseball writers dream candidate for enshrinement in Cooperstown. 

Of course my favorite thing about Fred Mcgriff will always be that swing.

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Pujols Would Be Wise To Stay In St. Louis (Winter Meetings 2011)

Posted on by Adam Cubbage

The news of the day at the winter meetings in Dallas are the reports that representatives of the Marlins have extended a 10-year offer to Albert Pujols. It is said that his agent has had multiple meetings with the Marlins, and that the talks are serious. While Pujols is arguably the best player in the game, I caution his decision to look for greener pastures in south beach.

We’ve seen this story from the Marlins before. They spend lots of money on big-time free agents and then they’re gone before the ink can dry on the contract. One of the hold-ups in the negotiations are rumored to be the reluctance of the Marlins to add a no-trade clause. Understanding that no-trade clauses are not rock solid staples in a contract, my question for Miami is this: to an organization so focused on building a perennial winner around a guy they are willing to pay upwards of $22-25 million dollars a year why not show the fan base you’re serious by guaranteeing you won’t ship him out in 2013 as “punishment” to the fans for not reaching the 2.8 to three million in attendance you need to finance this spending spree? Pujols, who is building a legendary status in St. Louis, should stay with the Cardinals. Not only are they committed every year to putting the best team on the field but he would solidify his place in Cardinal lore right alongside Stan Musial, Ozzie Smith and Bob Gibson.

I’m secretly the type of person who asks “how much can you really spend?” In the end that is none of my business and Albert Pujols has to do what is best for him and his family. But when I look at a player such as Chipper Jones, who turned down countless millions because he knows his bread is buttered in Atlanta and at the end of the day he won’t have to worry about multiple teams with unstable front-offices on the back of his baseball card, I would tell Albert to think long and hard about feeding into the Marlins game plan. Stability is your best policy and as Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr., Barry Larkin and a host of others know, there really is no place like home. 

Five Things I Took Away From The Weekend In College Football

Posted on by Adam Cubbage

Some of my thoughts on College Football’s happenings this past weekend:

  1. LSU is the slam dunk #1 team in the country: I don’t think there is anyone who can argue that sentiment as they not only ran the table in the SEC, but they also beat the top teams in the SEC (three times), Pac-12 (Oregon), and the Big East (West Virginia). They did it in such a convincing fashion that few can see any way they lose the National Championship to Alabama. Which brings me to my next point…
  2. Alabama should not be playing for the National Championship: Yes they are probably the second best team in the country. Yes they did go 11-1 this year with their only loss being to the aforementioned juggernaut from Baton Rouge. but they failed to do two things. Win their division and/or conference. Oklahoma State is the deserving participant to play against LSU in the Superdome in January. People who scream that Alabama is the clear number one be careful what you say. looking at the top offenses in the country Oklahoma State played three of them and held them to a combined 63 points. And although their only loss came to Iowa State, something should be said for their efforts against the top teams. 
  3. Georgia has the potential to be scary good in 2012: I’m allowed to show a little home state love to the Dawgs. After all their defense, which is ranked fourth nationally, held the number one team in the country to ZERO first downs or scores for an entire half. LSU’s offense looked so bad that should missed scoring opportunities by Malcom Mitchell and Tavarres King not been floundered LSU is looking at a switch in quarterbacks, a 21-or-24 to nothing deficit and all of a sudden a run first team is forced to pass their way out of trouble. That being said Georgia is returning a plethora of their defensive stars next year, including Bacarri Rambo, Alec Ogletree, John Jenkins, Jarvis Jones, and Cornelius Washington. On offense Aaron Murray knows what he has to do in the off-season and that is, work on his accuracy. The Sophomore who threw for 32 touchdowns is all upside, and with the potential number one running back in the country set to sign and possibly pick Georgia they’re looking like the sexy pick to return, and possibly win, the SEC.
  4. Virginia Tech belongs anywhere but a BCS bowl: By my calculation Virginia Tech lost to Clemson by a combined score of 61-13 in their two meetings this year, didn’t win the ACC title and narrowly escaped the jaws of defeat against East Carolina, Miami, Georgia Tech and UNC. For that they are rewarded the Sugar Bowl? The reason “they travel well” tells me all I need to know about the decision to place them there. The BCS has no idea either. TCU, Boise State, Kansas State, Georgia, and Michigan State all deserved that bid before Virginia Tech. In that order. So the fact we will be seeing “Beamer ball” on New Year’s day doesn’t sit well with a very large portion of the country.
  5. Has anyone laid a bigger egg than Houston?: You have to wonder what is going through the mind of sixth-year eligible Case Keenum right now. You’re (12-0) and steam rolling to a BCS bowl and your draft stock is rising with each record breaking yard. Then you have a fall so hard the onle person who could possibly understand is Colt Brennan. BCS glory, conference millions, and personal fortune all had to be weighing on his mind during that 49-28 drubbing at the hands of Southern Mississippi. 
  6. **Extra thought** On Pac-12 championship: I’m 99 percent sure that when they drew up this situation they weren’t envisioning the first Pac-12 championship game to be such a mismatch as to render it more of a forgone conclusion than a contest. While UCLA gave it their best shot, Oregon proved too much for the Bruins to handle. Two things are very obvious: UCLA has a long way to go before it can be considered a conference contender again; and LaMichael James might very well be the most exciting player in college football. Period.