Angels win Pujols sweepstakes: Three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols agreed Thursday to a $254 million, 10-year contract with the Angels, leaving the Cardinals after more than a decade. Pujols' contract, which is subject to a physical, is the second-highest in baseball history and only the third to break the $200 million barrier, following Alex Rodriguez's $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas before the 2001 season and A-Rod's $275 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees before the 2008 season. "This is a monumental day for Angel fans and I could not be more excited," Angels owner Arte Moreno said. Pujols hit 37 home runs last season, running his 30-homer streak to 11 years, and batted .299 with 99 RBI. He fought through injuries in the first half, getting off to a miserable start, but rebounded to hit .319 with a .960 OPS in the second half. (Updated 12/08/2011)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/12/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Pujols' numbers speak for themselves. For the first 10 years of his career, he never produced a batting average below .300, an on-base percentage below .390 or an OPS below .950. The problem is all that changed with his numbers last year. The Angels don't seem concerned, though. "We understand that players will go through peaks and valleys of sort," general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "Albert has spent many years operating at peak, and if we want to call a decline going from superhuman to just great, I don't think we've seen the last great days of Albert Pujols, obviously, or we wouldn't be sitting here today." Fantasy owners should be of the same mindset. Pujols still has several good years left at age 31, as he showed with his second-half resurgence. No matter where he landed, he was going to remain a Fantasy owner's dream. Even at a deep position like first base, he'll likely be the first player drafted in most leagues. (Updated 12/08/2011).
02/07/2012 16:48 Five years is the Jays' deal limit; can they be competitive with it?
The Blue Jays will not sign a player for more than five years. While admirable in today's spend-to-win world, it keeps them from the biggest free-agent names. Danny Knobler wonders if the strategy is practical.
02/02/2012 16:15 2012 Fantasy outlooks: Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins have their share of new faces on the field heading into the 2012 season -- and their share of potential PR nightmares. Al Melchior breaks down the Marlins for Fantasy owners in his team outlook.
02/02/2012 12:21 2012 Draft Prep: Our 12-team, mixed Rotisserie draft
It's time for owners to start looking ahead to Draft Day. We get you off and running with our 12-team Rotisserie mock draft. Check out the results!
01/31/2012 13:49 AL is in a league of its own when it comes to big spending
When it comes to baseball's battle of leagues, it's no contest: the AL is king. Especially now, Danny Knobler says, with Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder switching leagues and the NL's big-market teams in disarray.
Albert Pujols endured a down campaign -- by his standards -- in St. Louis last season as he failed to bat over .300 and post at least 100 RBI for the first time in his career. He hit just .279 over his first 73 games before a fracture in his wrist forced him to miss time in late June. He would come back in early July -- ahead of schedule -- and returned to familiar form. He sported a .579 slugging percentage and hit 20 homers while driving in 54 runs over his final 74 games, finishing the regular season with a .299 average and 99 RBI. Pujols then had a torrid postseason to help lead the Cardinals to the World Series title. After flirting with a couple of teams in the offseason, the 31-year-old signed a 10-year deal with the Angels and is expected to continue to post huge numbers in his first season in the American League. Los Angeles won’t give him the lineup protection St. Louis would have offered, but he’ll have the luxury of the DH to help him rest throughout the season. The three-time NL MVP has averaged 40 homers with 120 RBI a .328 average through his first 11 years in the majors and should remain an elite option in Fantasy heading into 2012. Pujols will be one of the first two or three players off the board in just about every draft this season. (Updated 2/8/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
