Pujols, Wilson sign with Angels

http://www.nma.tv/pujols-wilson-sign-angels/ Albert Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, leaving the St Louis Cardinals after 11 seasons. CJ Wilson, the best pitcher on the free agent market, was also nabbed by the Angels from AL West rival the Texas Rangers, further tilting the balance of power in that MLB division toward the Halos. Pujols, a three-time National League Most Valuable Player, signed with the Angels because they offered a long-term deal — the biggest contract in baseball history for anyone not named Alex Rodriguez — at the age of 31. Because of his age, other teams balked at signing Pujols to such a long deal. Pujols, who will be 42 at the end of the deal in 2021, showed signs of decline this year, batting below .300 and hitting fewer than 100 RBIs for the first time in his Major League career. The Angels were willing to gamble in part because signing the man many believe is the best player of his generation will help them grab market share from cross-town rivals the LA Dodgers, who are mired in bankruptcy and losing fans and whose big free agent signings this off-season were a couple of utility infielders. CJ Wilson signed a five-year contract with the Angels worth $77.5 million. The 31-year-old lefty was 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA and made a league-high 34 starts last season.