From the LA Times - Angels' Albert Pujols says his contract won't be a drag

[AngelsWin.com]

Slugger says he will walk away when he can't compete at major league level.

— There is already speculation that Albert Pujols' 10-year, $240-million contract will become as heavy a burden on the Angels as Alex Rodriguez's 10-year, $275-million deal is on the New York Yankees.

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[Kenny]

I'd love if he did this, just to stick it to all the people who constantly have to bring up how bad a contract it is.  Which I don't really care, personally.  I don't pay players' salary, and it's not like Pujols or Hamilton for that matter are Vernon Wells.

[Chuck]

If Pujols is true to his words on this, he'll be one of my all-time favorite players in the game. 

 

After his slow April last season, he seems to be the Pujols we all thought we were getting last December. 

[mancini79]

I'm curious how the MLBPA feels about this. Regardless, I hope Albert is able to fulfill all 10 years of his contract.

[Mile High Dreams]

Shades of Lymon Bostock

[CarniifeX]

I think he would step down if he feels he can't compete at a high level anymore. Especially knowing he will be with the organization for 10 years after that.

[fan_since79]

Those two swings today looked like the young Pujols. Classic power.

[JAHV76]

Even if he walks away they still owe him the money. I'm optimistic he will provide and ROI over the next 7-9 years.

[Justabitoutside]

Even if he walks away they still owe him the money. I'm optimistic he will provide and ROI over the next 7-9 years.

Are you sure about that?

[HaloMagic]

Why would they owe him the money if he walks away? And how would that prevent the contract from being a drag?

[Chuck]

I'm curious how the MLBPA feels about this. Regardless, I hope Albert is able to fulfill all 10 years of his contract.

 

Me too. I can't wait to pick his brain in the front office all the time after his playing days are over. 

[mancini79]

Even if he walks away they still owe him the money. I'm optimistic he will provide and ROI over the next 7-9 years.

 

Incorrect. If he retires, he goes on an "voluntarily retired list". The team no longer needs to pay him, but retain rights if that player decides to unretire. A few years ago Gil Meche was owed $12m. He felt he could no longer contribute to the team and retired before Spring camp started. He said he did it "to keep self respect". 

[Taylor]

Interesting. For some reason I thought Meche had retired, and then voluntarily given up the $12M. Didn't know that retirement effectively voids the remainder of your contract.

[mancini79]

If you don't show up for work, you don't get paid. Mark McGwire also retired 2 years early forfeiting $30m.

[Taylor]

Dang, no wonder I haven't received a paycheck in 2 months.

[desiderata]

"Slugger says he will walk away when he can't compete at major league level."

 

Compete at major league level can mean a lot of things.  Vernon Wells was "competing at major league level" last year.  I can compete at the major league level, just not very well.  But I'm just being difficult.  If he did this, that would be a pretty nice thing for him to do for the organization.  Maybe he could just assign the contract over to Trout when the time comes.

[Second Base]

I think we're reading too much into this.

 

Pujols had a down year last season and hit 50 doubles with 30 homeruns.  If we're talking about how long it will be before Albert Pujols is no longer a Herculean middle of the order bat, I give it three-four more years, meaning he'll be 36-37 before he's no longer a good #3 or 4 hitter.  

 

If we're talking about not being able to compete at the major league level at all anymore, I think you're looking at 7 years, meaning around age 40.  So for 3-4 years the Angels will get a great middle of the order bat, and for another 3-4 years after that they'll simply have a DH that hits .260 with 25 HR.  

 

So in all honesty, we're looking at Pujols MAYBE not playing the final two years of his ten year deal, in which case it really isn't a big deal.  Regardless, if he walked away, the Angels would still be paying him because the day he stops playing baseball is the day he starts working for the Angels front office. I imagine it'll start off as something simple like a guest instructor in Spring Training, then it'll evolve into being a hitting coach for the Angels or serving as Dipoto's special assistant in the Front Office where he'll be making baseball decisions.    

[Brandon]

That was cool of Meche after the Royals gave him a pretty over priced deal. I remember that and reading about him saying he didn't live up to it and thought it was cool.

 

I bet he plays out the contract, but he seems like a modest guy.

 

The contract wasn't a drag the moment he signed and Arte parlayed it into a mega tv contract the next day.

[Justabitoutside]

The contract wasn't a drag the moment he signed and Arte parlayed it into a mega tv contract the next day.

No doubt. I have a feeling he was on the phone with the tv people and Pujols at the same time.

[Kevin]

If I remember correctly, this is the second time Albert has mentioned this idea. He stated it during a pregame interview last year. 

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Shades of Lymon Bostock

 

I wouldn't give him too much credit.   Bostock refused his check.  Pujols didn't do that last April.   

[Glen]

I just wonder if he'll go in the HOF wearing an Angels cap.

[The Angels]

I just wonder if he'll go in the HOF wearing an Angels cap.

 

Haha, fat chance.

[Docwaukee]

Haha, fat chance.

Of course trout has a chance.

[Angels Never Die]

I guess this all depends on what Pujols' definition of "can't compete" is.