So, Albert Pujols will sign with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for 10 years and $250 to $260 million dollars. Hasn't anyone learned anything from the New York Yankees experience with Alex Rodriguez? For that matter, from the Texas Rangers experience with A-Rod?
The Yankees have Rodriguez signed thru 2017 after signing him to a 10-year deal worth $275 million -- a deal they signed him to when he was 31. That, not so coincidentally, is the same age as Pujols is now.
With six years left on his deal the Yankees are stuck with an already-declining Rodriguez. He hit .270 and .276 the past two seasons, well down from his .302 career average. He played only 99 games last season and had the worst power numbers of his career -- 16 home runs, 62 RBI, .461 slugging percentage.
Pujols, of course, is still at the height of his powers. But for how much longer? As A-Rod is breaking down and will likely never put up the magnificent numbers he did in past years, Pujols will likely begin to decline before his contract is half completed.
Maybe Pujols can -- in the short term -- rejuvenate the Angels and help bring Anaheim a World Series title. Will the franchise consider that a good return on their investment seven or eight years from now when they are paying Pujols exorbitant sums of money for what he used to be able to do while he likely hobbles his way to the end of his career?
Maybe Pujols will be the exception. Likely, though, by the end of this deal the Angels will be glad it's over.