Albert Pujols was put on assignment by the Los Angeles Angels, in an abrupt end of a decade of career of the Dominican slugger of 41 years with his second team in the majors.
The Angels announced the layoff Thursday, a day after Pujols was out of the lineup in the team’s fourth straight loss. Fulfilled the last season of a 10-year contract who signed with Los Angeles. Pujols ranks fifth in the all-time major league chart with 667 home runs, and ranks 13th in hit-and-run with 3,253.
The oldest active player in the Major Leagues, Pujols was hitting .198 this season with five homers and 12 RBIs.
Pujols landed on the west coast in late 2011 after 11 notable seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was enshrined as the National League MVP three times and won two World Series with the Cardinals, establishing himself as one of the best sluggers of his generation.
Angels owner Arte Moreno managed to persuade Pujols to sign a colossal $ 240 million contract, but the franchise has been unable to win even one postseason game with Pujols and Mike Trout – a three-time AL MVP winner – at the core of his lineup.
Pujols had not performed at a level commensurate with his huge salary for several years, although Moreno knew the consequences of such a long contract. Pujols earns $ 30 million in salary this year, the last of the deal.