Angels “Waive”-ing Goodbye to Albert Pujols?

August 6, 2021
via the Los Angeles Angels Press Release

The Los Angeles Angels have waived and designated for assignment Albert Pujols.

Albert has played 1,176 MLB Pro games as part of the organization. A leader on and off of the field for ten seasons. He has been to multiple All-Star Games as an Angel, he has won a Gold Glove as an Angel, and he has been a World Series Champion as an Angel.

Albert has contributed as a leading voice in the clubhouse having helped pass on knowledge of the game to the young talent that has spent time on the roster. His experience, his leadership, his enthusiasm for the game cannot be measured.

(Team owner Arte Moreno on Pujols) “When we sat down with Albert many years ago talking about what he would mean to this organization, we both could not have envisioned what has since come. He never got too high or too low, he ignored past trade rumors, he ignored past struggles, and continued to play baseball at a high-level for many years. He has given us everything we could have asked for and then some. I look forward to one day retiring his number with the organization and hope that the high-standard he helped create can be carried on for many years more.”

(General Manager Eisenberg on the decision) “A decision such as this is never easy. Emotions are high after a tough series in Texas, but the fact of the matter is we are not playing great baseball. We hear a lot about injuries, but that is not an excuse. 15-15 baseball over the last month and a half is not good enough. We need to jumpstart things again. Waiving Albert is simply a numbers game. We are not able to give him consistent playing time in the bigs and while he has been an upbeat member of the clubhouse, this is about winning. Albert gave us everything, but we feel he would even admit that at this point in his career, his tank is empty. His All-Star break announcement to retire at the end of the season makes this decision easier.”

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