Albert Pujols Says So Long to St. Louis, Signs With Angels for 10 Years, $254 Million

by Michael Hurley on Thu, Dec 8, 2011 at 10:09AM

The Albert Pujols sweepstakes are over. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim emerged as the winners after offering Pujols 10 years and $254 million.

The offer was too good for the 31-year-old first baseman to refuse, so Pujols will be wearing Halo red in 2012 — and likely until the end of his career.

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports first reported that Pujols would sign a 10-year deal with the Angels worth between $250 million and $260 million. The deal also includes full no-trade protection, according to Brown.

“Pujols decided Thursday morning,” Brown reported.

Jon Heyman confirmed the deal a few minutes later.

Pujols has been by far the biggest name on the free-agent market, drawing serious interest and a 10-year contract offer from the Marlins earlier this week. The Angels were late to emerge as contenders for Pujols, but the no-trade clause was likely a distinction that made the difference.