“I was shocked, I won’t lie to you,” Pujols told USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
With the news that Josh Hamilton had agreed to a five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels, Pujols picked up some serious protection in a lineup that should no doubt be the most feared offense in the game this year. Still, the three-time MVP recognizes that Los Angeles still needs to show up on gameday.
“It’s a scary lineup,” Pujols admitted. “But we still have to perform.”
It must be good for Los Angelenos to hear their slugger staying focused, considering the team’s struggles last season. After a high-spending offseason in which the Angels acquired both Pujols and pitcher C.J. Wilson, the team failed to make the playoffs. Now, with another $100-million man in the fold, they will be setting their sights on a championship again — and hoping for better results.