The Los Angeles Angels expect to have the guidance of first-ballot Hall of Famer, Albert Pujols, following his retirement from Major League Baseball, thanks to a clause in the contract he signed back in 2012.
Pujols originally signed a 10-year $240 million deal with the Angels following his lengthy tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals. After being released in the final year of that deal early in 2021, he was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and eventually signed back with the Cardinals prior to the 2022 season.
He crossed the 700 career home run mark, entrenching himself among the all-time greats. In Pujols’ deal with the Angels, a personal-services clause was added that will reunite him with his former team and there are plans to have him assist with their younger players, via Mike DiGiovanna of The L.A. Times:
Albert Pujols will work with young players at the Angels’ academy in the Dominican Republic and tutor big leaguers and minor leaguers during spring training in Arizona as part of the retired slugger’s 10-year, $10 million personal services contract with the team, club president John Carpino said.
Although there were no reported long-term reservations between Pujols and the Angels after his release, his close ties with the Cardinals could pose a problem. Angels front office executives were mum on the topic, but recently said they’re undecided on how to approach the service clause and if Pujols will be unavailable for other similar opportunities.
“I don’t know,” Carpino said. “It’s something we can probably work out with him and the Cardinals.”
Albert Pujols intends to fulfill contractual requirement with Angels
Those around Pujols believe that he plans to honor the 10-year commitment to the Angels and is excited to be around when the new owner takes over the team.
After current owner Arte Moreno revealed he planned to sell the team, the question arose about the 10-year, $1 million salary Pujols would receive in this role, and how he would approach it. But by all accounts, he plans to be with the Angels in some capacity.
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