Finally, the news we’ve all been waiting for.

[Claude]

Edited June 24, 2019 by Calzone 2

[tdawg87]

"March 18, 2019"

[Blarg]

This is not news. 

[Lou]

Haha 

[Angel Dog and Beer]

[Docwaukee]

[Angel Oracle]

It doesn't mean he can't reassess after each season.    Based on this year's work, I could see him playing one more season, if truly not concerned with the .300 career BA thingy. 

[failos]

This is olds not news

[Claude]

lol it’s the first time I saw this article. 

Edited June 24, 2019 by Calzone 2

[Slegnaac]

If only we could go back to the Past to save the Future....

[Lou]

4 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

If only we could go back to the Past to save the Future....

In before AO's Delorean reference

[UndertheHalo]

[Jay]

[Taylor]

Did anyone else hear that the Angels signed Matt Harvey to a 1-year deal? I heard it's breaking news.

[yk9001]

2 hours ago, Lou said:

In before AO's Delorean reference

I was going with a Bobby Gross shutting down David Thompson reference

[zenmaster]

Breaking news: Three months ago Albert Pujols claimed he would fulfill his contractually obligated contract. 

[Lou]

2 hours ago, yk9001 said:

I was going with a Bobby Gross shutting down David Thompson reference

Both classics

[AngelsLakersFan]

[Pancake Bear]

After this season, they have an extra position player roster spot. He’ll DH whenever Ohtani is off and play1B occasionally. If he gets worse, he’ll develop a phantom injury or the Angels will negotiate a buyout. 

[Second Base]

Pujols is having a better season than in years past. He's healthy, and he's hitting, relatively speaking. He has almost as many walks as strikeouts, and for a 39/41 year old man to do that in the modern game, is pretty incredible. The Angels will honor the man and his career. Nothing wrong with that. But at the end of the day, that's not a guarantee he will play.

Think about it like this, if the Angels were truly battling it out with Houston for the division, Pujols likely wouldn't be the starter over at 1B. If it meant playoffs or no playoffs, Pujols would not start over Ward, Walsh or Thaiss.

But right now, the difference between Pujols and the younger, better alternative is the difference between 80 wins and 82 wins. It means nothing. So as long as it doesn't matter, continue to honor the man who will honor the contract. But next year, when Adell is up, Ohtani and Canning are leading the rotation, there's a 26th spot on the roster available and DH is open 2/5 games with Ohtani resting, you'll see a lot less of Pujols. That's when the Angels competitive window opens, and they'll have the flexibility to move a part time 1B into a consistent starting role. Pujols will start play 4/5 days, two at DH and two at 1B, but as June turns to July, it'll be 3/5. As July turns to August, it'll be 2/5. Once August turns to September and they're in a dead heat for first place, Pujols will be the bench bat.

And that's when it'll hit him, right around August. Coming into 2021, he won't have a spot any more. That's when the buyout will occur. 2020 will be his final season as a player. I know he intends to play out the contract, but if it's the difference between sitting in the bench not playing and simply taking up a roster spot versus stepping away with dignity, he will choose the latter. The buyout won't save the Angels a single penny, but it will open a roster spot.

[Claude]

4 minutes ago, Second Base said:

Pujols is having a better season than in years past. He's healthy, and he's hitting, relatively speaking. He has almost as many walks as strikeouts, and for a 39/41 year old man to do that in the modern game, is pretty incredible. The Angels will honor the man and his career. Nothing wrong with that. But at the end of the day, that's not a guarantee he will play.

Think about it like this, if the Angels were truly battling it out with Houston for the division, Pujols likely wouldn't be the starter over at 1B. If it meant playoffs or no playoffs, Pujols would not start over Ward, Walsh or Thaiss.

But right now, the difference between Pujols and the younger, better alternative is the difference between 80 wins and 82 wins. It means nothing. So as long as it doesn't matter, continue to honor the man who will honor the contract. But next year, when Adell is up, Ohtani and Canning are leading the rotation, there's a 26th spot on the roster available and DH is open 2/5 games with Ohtani resting, you'll see a lot less of Pujols. That's when the Angels competitive window opens, and they'll have the flexibility to move a part time 1B into a consistent starting role. Pujols will start play 4/5 days, two at DH and two at 1B, but as June turns to July, it'll be 3/5. As July turns to August, it'll be 2/5. Once August turns to September and they're in a dead heat for first place, Pujols will be the bench bat.

And that's when it'll hit him, right around August. Coming into 2021, he won't have a spot any more. That's when the buyout will occur. 2020 will be his final season as a player. I know he intends to play out the contract, but if it's the difference between sitting in the bench not playing and simply taking up a roster spot versus stepping away with dignity, he will choose the latter. The buyout won't save the Angels a single penny, but it will open a roster spot.

I totally get your logic but what if Albert is somehow close to reaching an important personal milestone that he really wants to achieve. I just don't see how they could send him packing at that point.

[ScruffytheJanitor]

6 hours ago, Second Base said:

Pujols is having a better season than in years past. He's healthy, and he's hitting, relatively speaking. He has almost as many walks as strikeouts, and for a 39/41 year old man to do that in the modern game, is pretty incredible. The Angels will honor the man and his career. Nothing wrong with that. But at the end of the day, that's not a guarantee he will play.

Think about it like this, if the Angels were truly battling it out with Houston for the division, Pujols likely wouldn't be the starter over at 1B. If it meant playoffs or no playoffs, Pujols would not start over Ward, Walsh or Thaiss.

But right now, the difference between Pujols and the younger, better alternative is the difference between 80 wins and 82 wins. It means nothing. So as long as it doesn't matter, continue to honor the man who will honor the contract. But next year, when Adell is up, Ohtani and Canning are leading the rotation, there's a 26th spot on the roster available and DH is open 2/5 games with Ohtani resting, you'll see a lot less of Pujols. That's when the Angels competitive window opens, and they'll have the flexibility to move a part time 1B into a consistent starting role. Pujols will start play 4/5 days, two at DH and two at 1B, but as June turns to July, it'll be 3/5. As July turns to August, it'll be 2/5. Once August turns to September and they're in a dead heat for first place, Pujols will be the bench bat.

And that's when it'll hit him, right around August. Coming into 2021, he won't have a spot any more. That's when the buyout will occur. 2020 will be his final season as a player. I know he intends to play out the contract, but if it's the difference between sitting in the bench not playing and simply taking up a roster spot versus stepping away with dignity, he will choose the latter. The buyout won't save the Angels a single penny, but it will open a roster spot.

If you compare his numbers to other 1B they don't look...outrageously terrible?  Kind of middle of the road?

[yk9001]

Albert Pujols' OPS+ is 100.  That means he is a league average hitter.  Do you want your 1b to be a league average hitter?

OPS+ of course, doesn't take into account fielding, or baserunning.

[angelsnationtalk]

8 hours ago, Calzone 2 said:

I totally get your logic but what if Albert is somehow close to reaching an important personal milestone that he really wants to achieve. I just don't see how they could send him packing at that point.

Team production over personal production. 

[mulwin444]

Wait?  Calzone started this thread?  How odd...