There was a brief flurry of speculation about Albert Pujols’ future earlier this week when Deirdre Pujols, the Angels veteran’s wife, created an Instagram post that seemed to hint that the future Hall-of-Famer would call it a career after the 2021 season. Deirdre clarified her online statement soon after posting, and her husband also addressed the matter in speaking with media (including The Associated Press) today at Spring Training.
“This thing just got blown out of proportion,” Pujols said. “My mind is not even there. My mind is on staying focused, healthy, and hopefully trying to help this ballclub win this year, and that’s it. If I feel at the end of the year that that’s it, I’ll announce it [and] go home. But I’m not even there yet.”
Pujols is entering the final season of his ten-year, $240MM deal with the Angels, and 2021 will be the slugger’s 21st MLB campaign. After four years of subpar offensive production, it would certainly seem like the 41-year-old is nearing the end of the line, though it seems we won’t know for certain until the season is through.
More from around baseball…
- George Springer will surely play every day in the Blue Jays’ outfield, so his addition means the team’s other starting outfielders from 2020 will see their playing time either reduced or somewhat altered. Both Randal Grichuk and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. told reporters (including Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith) that they wondered if they’d be traded, yet as Spring Training continues, that duo and Teoscar Hernandez are all still on the roster. It remains to be seen exactly how the Jays will arrange their lineup to get everyone at-bats, though Gurriel could find an opening with a return to part-time infield duty, as manager Charlie Montoyo is having Gurriel work out as a first baseman and third baseman. The Jays already have Cavan Biggio lined up for the bulk of the action at the hot corner, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also hopeful of getting some third base time while sharing first base/DH duty with Rowdy Tellez. Getting at least one other position under his belt can only help Gurriel, however, especially after his defensive struggles as an infielder earlier in his career.
- Ian Kennedy debated signing with two other teams before settling on the Rangers’ minor league offer, per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter). The Royals, Kennedy’s former team, were one of the two other suitors, though Kennedy seems to have a clearer path to regular bullpen work in Texas. A starter for all but two of his first 291 MLB games from 2007-18, Kennedy enjoyed a stellar season as the Royals’ closer in 2019, but he is out to re-establish himself after a difficult 2020. Kennedy posted a 9.00 ERA over 14 innings before a left calf strain brought a premature end to his season.
- Danny Santana is also coming off an injury-plagued season, as the super-utilityman amassed just 63 plate appearances over 15 games with the Rangers. After undergoing elbow surgery in September, Santana is now set to hold a showcase for scouts on Thursday, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link) reports, and Santana has also been holding private workouts for teams. The 30-year-old has played all over the diamond over his seven years with the Twins, Braves, and Rangers, and was a revelation for Texas in 2019 — he hit .283/.324/.534 with 28 home runs, with by far his best wRC+ (111) since a 132 wRC+ over 430 PA as a rookie with Minnesota back in 2014.
Why does Gurriel Jr. have to be the one to move? Imo, he’s done everything he can to prove that he is a regular left fielder. He’s improved his offense and his defense. It should be Hernandez or Grichuk who need to step it up. Before 2020, Hernandez was really an all or nothing hitter. Grichuk is as inconsistent as it gets.
Just leave Gurriel Jr. in left field. Unless the Jays are getting back both Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, or some other massive overpay, he’s going to be more valuable to build around than to trade. I don’t understand this fascination to move him.
Gurriel is the only one of the three that can play third
Then what was the point of signing Marcus Semien? Moving him back to the infield takes away plate appearances from Biggio or Semien. Biggio, like Gurriel Jr. has earned his spot in the line-up and should’t be moved into a utility role.
It should be either Teoscar Hernadez’s or Randal Grichuck’s job to step it up. Not Gurriel Jr.’s job, who’s improved dramatically since making his debut in the majors in 2018, to accomodate for two inconsistent OF’s.
I don’t think the Jays are worried about at bats.
Excluding catcher they have 9 hitters you probably want in the lineup every day and 8 spots to put them.
This would give everyone a day off every 9 games…. which is still 144 games each during the season.
And this is assuming they are all healthy… but Bichette and Gurriel have both missed time relatively often in their young careers. And more injuries I think are expected coming off a shortened season.
Plus they are likely going to carry extra pitchers on the roster shortening the bench a bit meaning less at bats needed for these guys.
Jays don’t have to trade anyone.
Oh and I know Kirk is also there but could start in AAA. Or could earn the C spot if he’s really hitting.
I don’t think they need a spot for him in the 8 lineup spots mentioned above unless him and Jansen are both hammering the ball. Which is unlikely… but also a problem Jays will gladly take.
There was no point of signing semian. It was a useless move. Their team is too crowded now, grichuk is gonna get traded
Wow hot take right there. Doesn’t mean your right doesn’t mean your wrong. But you’re wrong
I disagree.
Semien was almost an MVP in 2019. It was likely an outlier… but he’s a consistently league average hitter who plays strong up the middle defense with MVP upside. If a guy like that will take a one year deal… you do it.
As I’ve written above the Jays lineup isn’t really that crowded for a team hoping to contend. Plus with a strong season Semien could be worth a QO and net the Jays a pick.
The thing with Semien as well is that his inclusion on the roster allows them to carry an extra player instead of a backup SS. Biggio can then be the guy who fills in for every other position. I don’t think their rotation is going to be very orthodox this year so that backup spot could be useful for up and down guys like Hatch, Zeuch, Stripling, etc. Who piggyback a starter every few days.
Ya that’s 100% why they’ve got Vlad and Lourdes taking reps at 3rd they must plan on semian being back up SS and Biggio being 3rd and super utility opens up the bench to keep 1 back up catcher, rowdy/Teo and whoever else makes the team (probably Joe Panik)
Gurriel’s versatility coupled with the fact that he is not a feast-or-famine hitter makes him the more valuable trade commodity. Grichuck would basically be a salary dump and Hernandez’ defensive limitations would possibly mean selling low on him. The Jays can make a rotation work but selling off a Tellez or a Hernandez or taking a lotto ticket for Grichuck is probably a better way to go
Sometimes a team will bring guys in with good intentions and all it does is divide the team. The new guys play and the guys who were there sit. It’s happened before. Especially with a young team like Toronto.
He’s not taking a spot from any of the core guys and should be a big improvement defensively. Still plenty of at bats to go around, especially with injuries factored in.
he’s also more valuable to the team
Gurriel isn’t moving, he’s just staying flexible. He has played a few innings at first base before, and that’s useful for pinch running situations (not having to lose your DH when you pinch run for Tellez/Vlad and other is the DH). Doubt he’ll see more than a few innings at third base, but maybe if some long string of injuries makes it necessary.
When Gurriel was coming up, he was seen as a potential super-utility guy. His problems at 2B kind of killed that idea, but he’s still a guy you can move if you need to and that’s valuable.
Jose Bautista moved around between RF, 3B, 1B, CF and even a few innings of SS too. It’s not an insult.
smuzqwpdmx- Good post. My take is if Gurriel Jr is telling reporters he is wondering if he will be traded it is not a good beginning to the season and Toronto best fix it stat.
I think Edwin Encarnacion played OF and corner IF for the Jays too. At least I remember him playing a couple positions then…been awhile!
Positional flexibility is an asset, not a liability, and it should theoretically bear fruit during contract negotiations.
Encarnacion was a bit different as they were just trying to find a position he wasn’t terrible at, not really trying to make him flexible. He was a natural DH (but eventually managed to become a fairly competent first baseman).
Gurriel has the athleticism to be good all around the diamond.
mlb this is what happens when you extend an outfielder two years ago who ends up being your 4th OF. They need to find ways to get all 4 guys at bats. They are also banking on Tellez having a good year, which means someone has to play somewhere. It’s either Vlad to 3B or Gurriel to the infielder to replace either Tellez or Cavan when a lefty is on the mound.
It shouldn’t be this way but that’s what happens when CF is prioritized over starting pitching.
Why sign Semien? There wasn’t a reason to overpay for Semien. But now there are 10 players fighting for 9 spots and battling for at bats. Vlad hasn’t shown enough to handle 3B and the Jays have always viewed Gurriel as versatile rather than leaving him alone in LF.
Nice to have quality depth for a change. With a full schedule this year there are bound to be some injuries.
Exactly this. God forbid there are some decent bench options and improved defence.
The only way he should be moved is if they’re bring back a top starting pitcher. But even then, they have the loaded farm system to deal from to acquire big league help.
Never understood that extension to grichuk
Lourdes is the Jays’ best player.
Pujols 41. Yeah, a couple of years ago he was.
no kidding.
“it would certainly seem like the 41-year-old is nearing the end of the line”… you mean 44 year old.
50*
I think Pujols might be closer to 60 maybe even older than that as his memory is obviously failing him. He seems to have forgotten that he’s on the Angels with all this talk of helping the team win.
Pujols needs to find some of David Ortizs vitamins. Ortiz had one of his best seasons as a 40 year old
The mans feet and plantar facisatis really killed his lower half sad to see Albert age the way he did but a HOF no doubt!
Pujols didn’t really age that much different than most players. It’s just that most players are retired by age 35. No one gives out contracts to age 41. Imagine,
For example, that the Angels gave Vernon Wells an 7-year extension when he retired in 2013. He’d be the same age as Pujols, and imagine what he’d look like.
Pujols is not a HOF.
Anaheim is so dumb.
Steroids
*eye roll*
I was always a big advocate of signing Santana when we needed to fill that 3B stopgap role though with the addition of Holt that pipe dream is pretty much gone. Happy trails Santana, I enjoyed that monster 2019 season.
Santana?
I for one wouldn’t mind seeing Pujols come back to STL on a cheap one year deal, but only if the NL gets the DH (Obviously). It would be fun to watch him try to break some of the bigger records while donning the birds on the bat again. Just one fans opinion.
LOL doubt anyone in St. Louis agrees
There are A LOT of fans that want him back in a Cardinals jersey, regardless of the player he is now.
There’s not a single Cardinals’ fan that wants this.
He has another 10 years with the Angels on a 10 million dollar personal service agreement
that only kicks in after he retires
While most instances assume that personal service contract automatically kicks in, I’ve read that Pujols can either accept or decline. After making hundreds of millions of dollars, he may be fine not taking ten more million.
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/7836171/mlb-union-deny-alb…
Might have to ask the wife if that’s ok she seems to be the making the decisions here.
Could sign a 7 or 8 year contract and go for 800 HR’s.
Unless he plans on playing til he’s 75 800 isn’t happening
love Albert, but any records would be shallow accomplishments as this is already year 4 of hanging on. wow, just noticed he had 100 rbi with a 672 ops in 2017- i wonder if there has ever been a lower ops for a 100rbi season? as of 2010, looks like ruben sierra at 678 in 1993 was the lowest.
if he was a FA right now, would anyone make an offer? and if so would he come back next season making 95% less than he currently does.?
Yeah, I think it’d be cool to see Pujols come back one more as an NL DH with the Cards. He might have to accept a minor league deal tho.
No chance of the Cardinals giving him a one year deal, since good old Albert really should have hung it up three or four years ago due to declining skills. I would be fine with a one day contract along with a statement that he was a greedy damn fool to leave. He was a revered legend here and rightfully so. In Anaheim, he was just another overpaid has been. Sad way to end a brilliant career but at least he got paid massively. He can retire as a Cardinal and then go back to finish the 10 year personal services contract with the Angels.
There will be no NL DH.
I’ll pay his contract to get him off of the Angels.
Jays going to have a fierce lineup. Springer is going to help show these kids how to do it at the next level, still hard to believe he’s a Blue Jay. And, like starting pitching, outfield depth is going to be a major factor this year. Jays do seem to have mlb level depth.
Just add Jake O. on a 1 year deal and the Jays are legitimate World Series contenders imo.
Springer was a great add for them.
There are very few OF worth pursuing or paying.
Springer is pretty good.
Jake O 2015 or Jake O 2021? Anyone ever read article about why Carlos Santana left philly? He smashed a PlayStation when guys were too busy playing fortnite and not focusing on baseball. Legit guys in dug out and some weren’t, those not on field etc. were in club house GAMING!! Mid game!!! Arrietta defended the video gaming adamantly and Santana said, “f this.. this club house environment is not Cleveland’s winning mentality !”
Arrieta been finished, and is just collecting a check these days. Who wants a guy with zero drive? We are talking millions of dollars, gigantic commitment in terms of lost causes!
That certainly explains why it’s been so bizarre how PHI can be so talented, for awhile now, and can’t get over the hump. Thought Girardi would change some of that.
To be fair, Girardi’s only had 60 games. Give it time
Talented?
Jake O is Odorizzi, not Arrietta.
I think it’s a shame Gurriel still is in a Probationary period with the Jays. He’s been there for years. Yet at this point, the only thing I can think of is to rotate him to spell an offday for each player. So one day he’s in LF, RF, 3B, SS, 2B, 1B, maybe DH. So he’s getting everyday AB’s. Beyond that, it might be time to trade someone, maybe two.
Montoyo said Gurriel would play some 1B in Spring. Part of that is driven by Vlad earning a shot at 3B in 2022 to allow Grichuk to start in RF (Teoscar LF). Part of that is the Jays desire to move a guy for pitching midseason. Organization went from thinking little of Tellez to suddenly realizing he could be a big lefty stick in the lineup. The same organization and brain trust that extended Grichuk.
Gurriel is being penalized in a way for being a really good athlete.
Not too wrong.
Gurrero sucks, though.
The 21 year old kid who held his own with just a season worth of at bats? Vlad isn’t close to being bad or a bust.
I don’t mind it.
Should help whip these guys into shape. If you suck, you don’t play.. that simple. Way too much undisciplined trash.
They let it slide and let the kids be kids for a year or so. I’m fine with that.
But the message is that we are moving on from that. That the kids need to grow up and if you aren’t pulling your weight there are better guys who will take your spot. Which there are.
Rangers should bring Santana back to play 3rd
Gurriel isn’t going anywhere now.
And he’s not still on probation.
He will play the majority of his games in LF. All they’re doing is building in flexibility for late game situations. Not sure why everyone is freaking out.
it’s because they’re Canadian.
Was there supposed to be any question about whether Pujols retires at the end of the season? The only reason he even had a starting job right now is because he’s too expensive not to. Outside of publicity no team in baseball would have any reason to sign him.
honestly theyd should just release him. its cash neutral and saves a roster spot
Can anyone imagine signing Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Trout, or Rendon to these contracts, but let Jason Castro and LaStella go?!
Like Angels fans are concerned about Albert Pujols’ future baseball career as a player!
The Jays do confuse me. Why move Gurriel around? He’s at least a passable LF, not so much everywhere else. And the bat definitely plays, in an impactful way.
Grichuck? The contract isn’t THAT bad. There are worse guys out there making 10M a year…lots of ’em.
OTOH, the decision to eliminate their radio broadcasts (to simulcast with TV) is soooooooooo cheap, for a company with the money Rogers has. It’s really awful. And it’s not that Schulman/Buck can’t handle it; I’m sure they’ll do fine. But TV and radio are different.
So flippin CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!
Rogers has been pruning broadcasters for years. They find reasons to get rid of highly paid types like Cherry, McKowan, Kypreos, Wilber, Ron Mcclean for a while. The Rogers CEO is a butcher that cuts away anything and everything for money.
TBF is was time to part ways with the majority of those guys.
Anyone who remembers Sprint Canada commercials can relate to the slogan Rogers puts into practice: Get the most for the least.
That’s the Rogers motto. That is why they cut payroll by hiring JP Ricciardi and handing high positions to clueless baseball men like Keith Law. That is why Rogers has never fully entered the arms race with the Yankees and Red Sox, and why Tampa out-talents the Jays.
Grichuk contract is biting them in the backside and exposes their management’s eye for talent. It’s an extension that wasn’t necessary.
Springer signing is the Maple Leafs Curtis Joseph/Felix Potvin situation. They upgraded at goaltender while Mats Sundin is the Jays starting rotation; where is the help?
The Jays are doing the exact opposite of those leafs teams. Do you understand what’s it means to build a core of players to build around?
Do you understand that the last time the Jays were winning World Series they had the highest payroll in MLB?
The Jays have one of the best front offices in baseball and plenty of cash to spend. Maybe you should stick to hockey.
TBJ do you understand the team’s vulnerability at pitcher? You keep listening to the Rogers-owned media buying into the narrative that they will be ok. Better Jays teams with better starting pitching has fallen short.
The best front office in baseball? How many rings have they won? How much success have they attain over their career?
They haven’t won since 1993. Maybe the cheap way hasn’t worked? Perhaps you ought to admit that before proclaiming someone else should “stick to hockey”. Maybe you need a clue or two before you come up with absurd, false claims about a mediocre team with talent and potential. Spare me the lies and your lack of vision.
The thing about older players like Albert isn’t always about the money. For some, it’s probably also about identity. They’ve been doing this since they were adolescents. It not only defines them, but also creates order and routine in their lives. A lot of us say things like “hey, I’d love to retire rich when I’m 40” but what would we do afterwards?
“about identity”
Who would sign Albert? Great player in St Louis but with Angels last 5 years really bad. I hope Maddon sits him this year.
Just release the fat dummy.
To me the defensive upgrade you get when you DH Teoscar and put Grichuk in RF makes this a no brainer to me. Tellez to the bench/trade bait and Grich in RF unless you can find someone to take his contract, which I doubt.
Albert is retiring, even if he doesn’t know he is. My guess is even he knows he is but doesn’t want to deal with the season-long media show. If not for the contract, he’d have been forced to retire a couple years back. Non-zero chance he’s forced into an A-Rod situation and announces his “retirement” mid-season.
Albert, announce you will retire and take the victory lap around the league this year. You have warned it.
“Earned”
Pujols should get a 10 year extension because he will put a low BA into the Angels lineup. Make it happen, Arte!
who really cares about batting average these days?
Time to retire Poo-hole!
I do.
Albert, it’s ok for Dierdre to hint of retirement. After all, going into this season you have been making $24 per year for the last 3 full seasons plus prorating last year, producing a .242/.291/.406 slash line 2017-2020. A similar year this year may only get you a one year $3M offer tops based in comparative 2021-22 first basemen free agents. and that may be seem insulting. You have already been paid for your past performance. I think you shoyld use this year as your vicrory lap
With Pujols, you have to look at more than the slash line. He’s only averaged 0.2 WAR over the last five seasons and he can’t run at all anymore (making for embarrassingly easy DP’s for opponents). Obviously, at his age, he doesn’t figure to trend upward. The only value he has over an inexpensive replacement level guy has to do with marketing. So, maybe a terrible team runs him out there so fans can see him keep adding to his counting-based stats….I pray that team isn’t my Angels.
I doubt the Royals had real interest in Kennedy.
All these position players for the Jays to decide where to play and bat is a good problem to have.
Barring a major trade, the BlueJays are not winning any championship in 2021 because of the pitching staff. They won’t make the playoffs. So let’s look at how the Jays can position themselves and what will likely happen in 2021.
Gurriel belongs in LF.
Springer in Centre.
Grichuk is traded.[with prospects] for something of value
Davis and Hernandez play right.
Hernandez shares DH duties due to his newly found elite bat
Biggio is at 3b
Bichette does SS until injured[again] or he starts airmailing too many throws.
Semien is a 2b and backs up at SS and traded at the deadline
Tellez shares 1B and DH
Vlad Jr shares 1B and DH and never plays 3rd
Espinal is infield depth
Valera is cut or sent down
Jansen is traded
Kirk and McGuire catch until Moreno or Adams is ready
Oh no! You questioned the pitching staff! You can’t do that Jimmer. Jays fans will ridicule you fir saying that. How dare you??
It won’t surprise me if Grich has a good year and benefits the most from playing next to Springer. This team will weather positional injuries well because of quality depth.
I just realized Pujols’ lifetime line dipped under .300 last year and he is sitting at .299 at the moment. Kind of a shame to see him retire under .300 considering his career in St. Louis.
I can’t even tell you the last time I saw him play, has to be at least 5 years. I know it’s easy to say the money wasn’t worth it but was it really? He has been in baseball exile for the last 9 years in SoCal. I almost completely forgot about him.
Pujols-correction-writer said he’s been terrible four years-it’s been the past 9 years!His last legitimately good year, which was a decline year, was 2011. He’s been an anchor on the Angels franchise since they signed him. That jerk got what he asked for.