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MLB Hires Albert Pujols As Special Assistant

By Steve Adams | June 5, 2023 at 8:38am CDT

Recently retired slugger Albert Pujols has been named a special assistant to Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, with a focus on player relations in his native Dominican Republic, the league announced this morning in a press release. Pujols will also join MLB Network as an on-air analyst and appear across multiple programs.

“Beyond his long list of accomplishments on the field, Albert is a highly respected figure who represents the game extraordinarily well,” Manfred said in this morning’s press release. “He cares greatly about making a difference in our communities. We are excited for Albert to join other former players who are doing important work for our sport, and we will welcome his perspective across our efforts.”

The 2001 National League Rookie of the Year and a three-time National League MVP, Pujols recently wrapped up a historic career with a memorable farewell campaign in St. Louis last year. The Cardinals icon returned to his original club and swatted 24 home runs, becoming just the fourth player to ever reach 700 career homers in the process.

Pujols retired with 703 round-trippers across parts of 22 Major League seasons, to say nothing of an outstanding .296/.374/.544 batting line, 1914 runs scored, 686 doubles, 2218 runs batted in, 117 stolen bases, and nearly as many walks (1373) as strikeouts (1404) in 13,041 career plate appearances. Pujols also took home an NL batting title, two World Series rings, six Silver Slugger Awards and a pair of Gold Gloves. He was named to 11 All-Star teams and was also the MVP of the 2004 National League Championship Series.

“I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter of my career,” Pujols said in his own statement. “Commissioner Manfred and I share the same passion for growing the game in the Dominican Republic and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to join the MLB Network family. I’ve been a huge fan since the very beginning and can’t wait to get started.”

Pujols will join a growing number of recent retirees who’ve been hired by Major League Baseball in a variety of roles. CC Sabathia was named a special assistant to Manfred last April, and dating back to 2021, the league has also hired Raul Ibanez, Rajai Davis, Nick Hundley and Gregor Blanco in various roles. Current Rangers general manager Chris Young was a vice president in the league’s offices before being hired by Texas.

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View Comments (38)

Comments

  1. Flanster

    4 months ago

    Doesn’t he have a special services contract with the Angels? What happens with that?

    16
    Reply
    • rundmc1981

      4 months ago

      That’s what I was thinking. He was in the booth yesterday for the PIT/STL Peacock Sunday way too friggin early exclusive game.

      1
      Reply
    • D*ckin the dog

      4 months ago

      Ya wtf happened to that? Didn’t even make it back a whole year yet lol

      Reply
    • ateam043

      4 months ago

      That’s what I thought….

      Reply
    • LordD99

      4 months ago

      I doubt the special services contract is that limiting. It likely means he can’t be employed by another team without the Angels consent, but I doubt Pujols and his agent would have signed an agreement that greatly restricts Pujols ability to work for MLB or to do on-air work. Pretty sure last year Cameron Maybin had TV deals with the Yankees, Cubs and the MLB Network.

      8
      Reply
    • Ejemp2006

      4 months ago

      Think Angels anticipated Albert to be all-time great on their team and a player who forever holds a special place in the hearts of their fans. It didn’t turn out that way so why trot him out there for special services? He is Zeus in St Louis but in LA area he represents their team’s era of bad contracts and wasted Trout years.

      Reply
  2. ShootyBabbit

    4 months ago

    Arte paid off Manfred to get rid of him

    1
    Reply
    • gbs42

      4 months ago

      Congratulations on posting the dumbest comment of the day.

      Reply
      • the old ranger

        3 months ago

        Hardly dumb. Angels fans don’t exactly have good memories of him and his ego.

        Reply
  3. CardsFan57

    4 months ago

    His Angels contract is a part time gig.

    4
    Reply
    • agentx

      4 months ago

      As I understand it, Albert’s personal services contract with the Angels is not binding. I believe he had the right to opt out without penalty.

      Reply
      • ilovelamp

        4 months ago

        And the “personal services” are more like showing up to Spring Training and being there for big events if they ask him to. It’s not like he’s clocking into a cubicle or anything.

        9
        Reply
  4. bkbkbkbk

    4 months ago

    He’s checking ID’s at the door if MLB HQ

    3
    Reply
  5. Slider_withcheese

    4 months ago

    Always a good look to hire someone who filed for divorce from his wife of 22 years literally days after she had brain surgery.

    10
    Reply
    • Chris2215

      4 months ago

      That divorce had already been agreed to in principle way before Dede had surgery. It’s not like she was laying in the recovery room and got served without warning. It was amicable and uncontested. Get your facts!!

      10
      Reply
    • mrperkins

      4 months ago

      We are all still looking forward to your brain surgery.

      8
      Reply
      • Slider_withcheese

        4 months ago

        It was yesterday, but thanks for the flowers.

        2
        Reply
  6. rememberthecoop

    4 months ago

    Roid rage!

    1
    Reply
  7. Pads Fans

    4 months ago

    3rd.

    Reply
  8. This one belongs to the Reds

    4 months ago

    Welcome back, Albert.

    Some people can’t stay away from the game. I get that.

    1
    Reply
    • avenger65

      4 months ago

      This could be a good move. Maybe Albert can talk some sense into Manfred and have him stop ruining the game! Also, Pujols is only the second player who legitimately hit 700+ HRs once you take PED king’s Bonds and Rodriquez out of the mix.

      Reply
      • CardsFan57

        4 months ago

        Pujols is the third after Aaron and Ruth.

        1
        Reply
        • diggin4three

          4 months ago

          He is #3 historically, but he’ll always be #1 in my book.

          Reply
        • avenger65

          4 months ago

          I stand corrected.

          1
          Reply
      • AgeeHarrelsonJones

        4 months ago

        A-roid did not hit 700 homers. Didn’t even hit 697!

        Reply
  9. SanDiegoSuperDissapointingPadres

    4 months ago

    Damn vultures all of ya on here!

    The dudes a decent guy and it’s a good move by the MLB. He’s respected by players and he’s a legend in the DR.

    Now, I’m not saying how the divorce deal all went down didn’t look dirty, but that was circumstantial.

    2
    Reply
  10. DonOsbourne

    4 months ago

    I was hoping the Cardinals might be able to resign him. He could pretty well choose whatever position he wanted to play. Instant upgrade.

    2
    Reply
  11. jorge78

    4 months ago

    I guess that 10 year million dollar a year deal to work in the Angels front office after retirement is no longer valid…..

    Reply
    • Didlz

      4 months ago

      Lol there never was any such deal

      1
      Reply
      • avenger65

        4 months ago

        And if there was, there must have been some kind of out clause or he wouldn’t have left the Angels. I thought he might get bored working with players in ST, then what? Open supermarkets in the name of the Angels? Make appearances at local little league games? He’s worth a lot more than that.

        Reply
    • gbs42

      4 months ago

      It’s $1 million a year for 10 years.

      Reply
    • GeoKaplan

      4 months ago

      The announcement early in the year was he would be helping the Angels players in the DR. His MLB assignment is essentially the same, to work as an ambassador for the game. No reason he can’t do both, cash two checks.

      Reply
    • angelscamp

      3 months ago

      Hopefully he opted out of that contract, or Arte let him go. We need the money to sign Shohei.

      Reply
  12. kingsfan1968

    4 months ago

    Arte need a new chauffeur!

    Reply
  13. brood550

    4 months ago

    So he’ll be in charge of vetting ages of players? Also, do we know his real age yet?

    1
    Reply
    • avenger65

      4 months ago

      Do we need to know? Did it matter how old Satchel Paige was when he pitched in MLB? If a player is producing at a high level like those two did, age doesn’t matter.

      Reply
      • sn0048

        4 months ago

        Age certainly matters while contract negotiations are taking place.

        1
        Reply
  14. Silas

    4 months ago

    Just saw him on MLB Central. Looks great.

    Reply

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