Albert Pujols and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a major-league contract for the remainder of the 2021 season, first reported by Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) of the Los Angeles Times.
Pujols, 41, was batting .198 with a .622 OPS and five home runs in 92 plate appearances in the last year of his 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels. Since he was designated for assignment by the Angels last week and officially released Thursday, the Dodgers signed him as a free agent and will only pay him a prorated portion of the $570,500 league minimum.
Facing a slew of injuries early in the season, the Dodgers add some much needed depth to their bench in Pujols. Although he is far removed from his MVP days in St. Louis, Pujols can provide some benefit as a right-handed bat off the bench, especially for a Dodgers team currently struggling against left-handed pitchers.
Among active players, Pujols leads the Majors in a variety of offensive categories including WAR with 99.6, 3,253 hits, 667 home runs, 5,955 total bases, 2,112 RBIs, and bases on balls with 1,334. A three-time National League MVP with St. Louis and 10-time All-Star in 20 years between the Cardinals and Angels, Pujols is a once-in-a-generation slugger, ranking fifth in major league history in home runs, 14th in hits, and third in runs batted in. Once the signing is official, the former MVP would join a star-studded LAD roster featuring three other former MVPs and three former Cy Young Award winners.
The contract is expected to become official on Monday according to reporting by Jorge Castillo.
