Second Base

It's the same reason why Vlad Guerrero and dozens of other kids from the DR fudge their birth certificate. If you're hitting the ball 450 feet and throwing 90 mph at 16, you'll make millions in a signing bonus. If you're doing it at 18, you might get 10K and one year at the academy to develop.
As for the Pujols hate, no thanks. I think it's ridiculous to blame him if Trout doesn't sign a mega-extension. In fact I think by the same logic we should credit Pujols' mentoring and influential role in the clubhouse if Trout does sign an extension.

I subscribe to the theory that Albert is a couple years older than he really is. It's just too convenient that he showed up stateside when he did, and just happened to go to a community college not far out of St. Louis (no one leaves the DR for the Midwest), and just happened to be drafted by the Cardinals. Then there's the fact that he told his wife he was two years older than his reported age when they first met.
So yes, I think Albert Pujols is actually 40, not 38. And if we assume he's 40, then Pujols HAS aged at a very normal rate just as I said he did.

You've never seen a doughy man before? 

I subscribe to the theory that Albert is a couple years older than he really is. It's just too convenient that he showed up stateside when he did, and just happened to go to a community college not far out of St. Louis (no one leaves the DR for the Midwest), and just happened to be drafted by the Cardinals. Then there's the fact that he told his wife he was two years older than his reported age when they first met.
So yes, I think Albert Pujols is actually 40, not 38. And if we assume he's 40, then Pujols HAS aged at a very normal rate just as I said he did.

I subscribe to the theory that Albert is a couple years older than he really is. It's just too convenient that he showed up stateside when he did, and just happened to go to a community college not far out of St. Louis (no one leaves the DR for the Midwest), and just happened to be drafted by the Cardinals. Then there's the fact that he told his wife he was two years older than his reported age when they first met.
So yes, I think Albert Pujols is actually 40, not 38. And if we assume he's 40, then Pujols HAS aged at a very normal rate just as I said he did.

I subscribe to the theory that Albert is a couple years older than he really is. It's just too convenient that he showed up stateside when he did, and just happened to go to a community college not far out of St. Louis (no one leaves the DR for the Midwest), and just happened to be drafted by the Cardinals. Then there's the fact that he told his wife he was two years older than his reported age when they first met.
So yes, I think Albert Pujols is actually 40, not 38. And if we assume he's 40, then Pujols HAS aged at a very normal rate just as I said he did.

It could be steroids, but he dropped off at a very normal rate in conjunction with his age, so probably not.
I think it simply comes down to age really. The Cards had him in his twenties, we'll have him for his thirties.

He's still a platoon player though.  We need him and another player specifically designated to hit against lefties only....and when combined, then we have a good player. 
I mean I think we need to call Valbuena exactly what he is.  He isn't a good hitter, but he's ok.  He has power, and decent plate discipline.  He can hit against RHP but needs to be platooned because he doesn't hit LHP.  He can play a passable third base for a couple weeks, but isn't a starter over there.  He isn't a good defensive first baseman, but he'd good enough to be a regular starter over there, which he will be.
Basically, he's the sort of guy you want playing 80 or so games a year in the corner infield.  
Very useful part time player.  
The fact that the Angels will likely play him 100-120 games at 1B is logical fit for his skill set and the team's needs.  I think the biggest issue we'll encounter is LHP though.  If we figure 20% of the pitchers he'll face during those 100-120 games are left handed, we're essentially giving away 1B level production for 20-30 games.  First baseman are supposed to be among our best hitters, and for 20-30 games, we may not be able to expect anything in the way of production.  
That's a very bad thing.
It isn't Valbuena's fault, it's the fact that because of the way the team is designed, the Angels may fail to have a worthy RHB to platoon with him at 1B. 

Yes, he'll start a game in the majors at some point in his career.  It's been a while since the Angels had a super-utility man on the roster.  We've had utility players, guys that are backups at multiple positions, but not since Maicer Izturis have we had a player that's a starter at multiple positions.  Fletcher will likely log a coupe starts a week between 2B, 3B, SS and the OF once he's in the majors.  He'll still be a backup four days out of six, but on those four days it's a good bet he'll be a defensive replacement.
So Fletcher will get some field time and will be a valuable player coming off the bench.  But while he has minor league options, and hasn't truly conquered AAA yet, it's best for him and the Angels that he spends much of 2018 in the minors.

Though it won't happen, I'd bench Valbuena in favor of Carter. Valbuena has done nothing to make his role on this team cemented. 
He hit like crap last year and hasn't been much better this Spring.  He deserves an opportunity, and should be on this team, but he's done nothing to convince me he deserves 110 starts at 1B.
Carter on the other hand has proven this Spring that he deserves an opportunity.

Though it won't happen, I'd bench Valbuena in favor of Carter. Valbuena has done nothing to make his role on this team cemented. 
He hit like crap last year and hasn't been much better this Spring.  He deserves an opportunity, and should be on this team, but he's done nothing to convince me he deserves 110 starts at 1B.
Carter on the other hand has proven this Spring that he deserves an opportunity.

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

So much of that depends on the stuff that happens off the field. At the complex in the DR, he'll first go through English classes as well as customs/culture, budget, etc...
Some guys already have that down and perform so well on the field that they come stateside. Some guys that 2-3 years.
My guess is he'll spend a year there, but I'm not really basing that off anything.

If they let him. Usually, teams will back off on the innings of a kid first year out of college, no matter how advanced.
He may reach his inning limit before September. 
Honestly, Griffin Canning could probably help the team right now. One year of minor league experience will only help him, but if it came down to it, he's a better pitcher than anyone on the team except Richards, Ohtani, Heaney and Barria.

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

Though it won't happen, I'd bench Valbuena in favor of Carter. Valbuena has done nothing to make his role on this team cemented. 
He hit like crap last year and hasn't been much better this Spring.  He deserves an opportunity, and should be on this team, but he's done nothing to convince me he deserves 110 starts at 1B.
Carter on the other hand has proven this Spring that he deserves an opportunity.

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols

"Challenge accepted."
- Albert Pujols