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Angels Sign Albert Pujols

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The Angels are the bridesmaid no more.  Albert Pujols signed a ten-year deal with the Angels, reports Yahoo's Tim Brown.  He receives a full no-trade clause.  Pujols decided this morning, writes Brown.  The Angels have since announced the monumental signing, which ESPN's Buster Olney says is for $254MM.  It's the second-largest contract in baseball history in terms of overall and average annual value, behind Alex Rodriguez's ten-year, $275MM deal with the Yankees four years ago.  Pujols is represented by Dan Lozano of Icon Sports Group.

PujolsPujols, 32 in January, was drafted by the Cardinals in 1999 in the 13th round and began his career with a staggering 11-year stretch.  The first baseman is the active career leader in batting average (.328) and slugging percentage (.617).  He's second among active players in career on-base percentage at .421, so Pujols certainly fits new Angels GM Jerry Dipoto's plan to improve the team's OBP.  Pujols owns a Rookie of the Year award and three MVP awards, and has ranked no worse than ninth in the MVP voting in every season of his career.  He's been extremely durable, averaging 155 games per season.  

Pujols anchors an Angels offense that ranked tenth in the American League in 2011 with 4.12 runs scored per game.  With Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo, Dipoto now has a surplus at first base, but reportedly he won't trade either.  Within an hour of the Pujols signing breaking, Dipoto completed a five-year, $77.5MM deal with free agent lefty C.J. Wilson, bringing the team's total today to $331.5MM.

The Cardinals signed Pujols to a long-term deal in 2004, which ended up being a huge bargain at $111MM over eight years.  Pujols and the Cardinals failed to find common ground on an extension in February this year, but the contract didn't seem a distraction as the team ended up winning the World Series.

The suddenly free-spending Marlins made the high bid for Pujols this offseason at ten years and $275MM, but they would not bend on their policy of avoiding full no-trade clauses.  They seemingly dropped out after signing Mark Buehrle.  The Cubs reportedly made an offer to Pujols as well.  Up until Thursday morning, the Cardinals were considered the favorite, though they reportedly topped out with a nine-year offer that was just the fourth-best he received.  Pujols could have been the next Stan Musial, but even a call from the legendary Cardinals Hall of Famer couldn't convince him to take less money to stay in St. Louis.  It's not much of a consolation prize, but the Cardinals will receive the Angels' #19 pick in the 2012 draft as well as a supplemental choice. 

With Pujols off the market, Prince Fielder is the top prize still available for teams looking to add a big bat. However, based on recent reports, the most aggressive suitors for Pujols, the Cardinals and Marlins, won't be involved in the bidding for Fielder.

 Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

Angels Sign C.J. Wilson

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Lefty C.J. Wilson will join Albert Pujols in Los Angeles, as the Angels continue a surprising free agent spending spree.  The Halos completed a deal with Wilson today, learned Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  It's a five-year, $77.5MM contract, according to ESPN's Karl Ravech, bringing the Angels' tally to $331.5MM on the last day of the 2011 Winter Meetings.  The contract includes a full no-trade clause in the first two years and partial in the last three, tweets Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com.  Wilson is represented by Bob Garber of Select Sports Group.

WilsonWilson, a 31-year-old Fountain Valley, California native, will earn $10MM in 2012, $11MM in '13, $16MM in '14, $18MM in '15, and $20MM in '16, according to Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas (via Twitter). The remaining $2.5MM makes up the southpaw's signing bonus.

Wilson posted a 2.94 ERA, 8.3 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 0.64 HR/9, and 49.3% groundball rate in 223 1/3 innings this year.  He added another 28 innings in the postseason.  Including the playoffs, Wilson has tallied a massive 479 2/3 innings over 76 starts since being converted back to a starter in 2010.  Aside from perhaps the recently-posted Yu Darvish, Wilson was the best available pitcher this offseason.  Wilson, who has a popular Twitter page, joins a stellar Angels rotation that includes Dan Haren, Jered Weaver, and Ervin Santana.  Weaver had signed a five-year, $85MM extension in August, and it seemed like the Angels couldn't justify giving Wilson more.

The Rangers reportedly topped out at four years in their bid to retain Wilson, though they never made a formal offer and according to the player, weren't close.  The Rangers will receive the Angels' second-round draft pick and a supplemental choice as compensation.  GM Jon Daniels appears to already be exploring alternatives such as Darvish and Matt Garza.  The Marlins were heavily in the mix for Wilson, reportedly making the best offer at $98-99MM over six years.  In fact, Garber said the Marlins "would not let it go" and Wilson could easily have gotten $100MM.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

D’Backs In On Cahill, Gio, Kuroda

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11:45am: Talks between the A's and D'Backs have advanced but aren't close to completion, tweets Olney.  He reiterates that Bauer is a player of interest to Oakland.

THURSDAY, 8:49am: The A's and D'Backs have discussed the names of many prospects as a possible return for Cahill, even including Trevor Bauer, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.  Bauer, I should note, can't even be included in a deal as a player to be named later until late January.

WEDNESDAY, 1:49pm: Add Athletics righty Trevor Cahill to the list of pitchers under pursuit by the Diamondbacks, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  He says they'd need to surrender Tyler Skaggs for Gio Gonzalez, but not for Cahill.  Cahill, 23, is signed through 2015 with club options on the '16 and '17 seasons.

In November, Rosenthal reported the A's were willing to listen to trade offers for any player other than Jemile Weeks.

Dodgers Sign Aaron Harang

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The Dodgers officially signed starter Aaron Harang to a two-year, $12MM deal with a vesting/mutual option for 2014.  Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times has the contract breakdown.  Harang is represented by ACES, an agency that has also gotten clients Heath Bell, David DeJesus, and Jose Molina signed quickly.

Harang, 33, enjoyed a nice rebound campaign with his hometown Padres in 2011. The former Reds ace notched 170 2/3 innings, his highest total since 2008, while posting a solid ERA of 3.64, striking out 6.5 per nine, and walking 3.1 per nine.  FIP and SIERA marks of 4.17 and 4.25, respectively suggest that Harang, a flyball pitcher (41%) was likely aided somewhat by moving from Great American Ballpark to the spacious confines of Petco Park. His new home park, Dodger Stadium, also has a history of limiting the long ball, though not as much as Petco.  The Padres declined Harang's mutual option in October and offered him arbitration last month, so they'll receive a supplemental draft pick for losing the Type B free agent.

The Dodgers also signed Chris Capuano earlier this month. Capuano and Harang complement a rotation that includes Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, and Ted Lilly.  Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has been active in free agency, signing Harang, Capuano, Mark Ellis, Adam Kennedy, Juan Rivera, and Matt Treanor for about $37MM in total.

We first heard that the two sides were making progress toward a deal from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports yesterday, with Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio reporting that the two sides had all but agreed to terms.

Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.

AL East Notes: Eyre, Jeroloman, Golson, Miller, Rays

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The Yankees, Red Sox, and the rest of the AL East have been overshadowed this morning by a big spender out west, but here's what's going on in the division:

  • The Orioles designated reliever Willie Eyre for assignment to make room on the roster for Dana Eveland, announced the team.  The 33-year-old would have been arbitration eligible.  The O's also announced second baseman Greg Miclat will go the Texas as the player to be named later in the Taylor Teagarden deal.
  • The Blue Jays have designated Brian Jeroloman for assignment, tweets MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. The move clears a roster spot for the returning Kelly Johnson.
  • Greg Golson has been released by the Yankees, tweets MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Having added two players in this morning's Rule 5 draft, the Yanks needed space on their roster, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
  • The Yankees are close to signing former Indians prospect Adam Miller to a minor league deal, tweets Sherman. Miller ranked among Baseball America's top 100 prospects for five straight years from 2005 to 2009.
  • The Rays are open-minded about listening to trade offers, even for players like James Shields or Jeremy Hellickson, tweets Jon Heyman of MLB Network. However, they'd need a very large return for their high-end pitchers.
  • Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal looks at a few Red Sox trade chips, as the team searches for pitching help.

Orioles Acquire Dana Eveland

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The Orioles acquired lefty Dana Eveland from the Dodgers, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  The Orioles will give up a 22-year-old lefty Jarret Martin and outfielder Tyler Henson, announced the team.

Eveland, 28, will be arbitration eligible for the first time in 2012.  He posted a 3.03 ERA in 29 2/3 innings for the Dodgers this year, tossing another 154 frames in Triple-A.  Executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said in a statement, "We think Dana is a qualified Major League pitcher who won 15 games last year between Albuquerque and Los AngelesHe provides depth and can compete for a starting spot on our roster in 2012."

2011 Rule 5 Draft Results

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Rule 5 players must stay with their new big league club all year or be offered back to the old team. MLB.com has a full recap of both the Major League and minor league portions of the draft. The results of the Major League phase are listed below:

  1. Astros take Rhiner Cruz from Mets.
  2. Twins take Terry Doyle from White Sox.
  3. Mariners take Lucas Luetge from Brewers.
  4. Orioles take Ryan Flaherty from Cubs.
  5. Royals take Cesar Cabral from Red Sox; traded to Yankees for cash.
  6. Cubs take Lendy Castillo from Phillies.
  7. Padres
  8. Pirates take Gustavo Nunez from Tigers.
  9. Marlins
  10. Rockies
  11. Athletics
  12. Mets
  13. White Sox
  14. Reds
  15. Indians
  16. Nationals
  17. Blue Jays
  18. Dodgers
  19. Angels
  20. Giants
  21. Braves take Robert Fish from Angels.
  22. Cardinals take Erik Komatsu from Nationals.
  23. Red Sox take Marwin Gonzalez from Cubs, traded to Astros for Marco Duarte
  24. Rays
  25. Diamondbacks take Brett Lorin from Pirates.
  26. Tigers
  27. Brewers
  28. Rangers
  29. Yankees take Brad Meyers from Nationals.
  30. Phillies

Angels Want Pujols And Wilson

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We heard late last night that there is "no shot" Albert Pujols will make a decision before the Winter Meetings end. Still, here's the latest on the man who has $200MM+ offers from three teams including the Cardinals, Angels, and a mystery team who would reportedly need to trade an established first baseman to clear a path for the three-time MVP:

Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.

Latest On Gio Gonzalez

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A dozen teams are in on Athletics lefty Gio Gonzalez, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  The latest:

  • There are indications the Blue Jays and A's might add a third team to the discussions to try to find the right match for Gonzalez, writes Slusser.  The A's seek "at least two high-value prospects and a few mid-range prospects."

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