Los Angeles Angels: Albert Pujols still has a lot to offer

The Los Angeles Angels head into 2018 looking like a completely new team from 2017. One direct beneficiary of that is going to be veteran Albert Pujols.

Before Mike Trout was the face of baseball, before the Josh Hamilton fiasco, before Garrett Richards‘ breakout, one move entirely changed the future of the Los Angeles Angels. The Los Angeles Angels signed all-star — and future Hall of Fame — first baseman Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $240 million contract.

At the time, this move was revolutionary for the Angels. Nobody knew that Mike Trout would turn into the face of the team the ensuing season. At the time, Pujols looked to be the centerpiece of a new era in the Big A. With Pujols, the Angels were able to trade for guys like Zack Greinke; the Angels were trying to create a super team much like the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For the most part, Pujols was decent early on. In his first season, he hit 30 home runs, drove in 105 RBIs and held a .285 batting average. An injury shortened 2013 held him back. In 2014, he came back with a .272 batting average, 28 home runs and again, 105 RBIs. In 2015 he returned to the MLB All-Star Game; slugging 40 home runs for the first and only time as an Angel.

A decent 2016 kept him relevant, however, in 2017, father time began showing his inescapable effects. Pujols’ batting average fell to a career-low .241, he slugged a career-low (in a full season) 23 home runs. Pujols does not strike out often, but he struck out 93 times; the most since his rookie season.

Now, with a plethora of new talent in Los Angeles, Pujols has taken a back seat. The usual four-hitter will now likely fall to sixth or seventh. The same guy that gave the Los Angeles Angels so much hope just six years ago has now become an afterthought.

Except he shouldn’t be. Pujols still has a whole lot to offer the Los Angeles Angels. In this better lineup, Pujols will undoubtedly improve.

A huge factor in Pujols’ diminished stats is the loss of Mike Trout. Just hitting near Trout makes you better, pitchers would much rather pitch to Pujols than Trout. When Trout went out with injury, pitchers could pitch around Pujols.

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Heck, even when he was healthy the only other formidable bat for the Los Angeles Angels was Andrelton Simmons. Even with his break out year, Simmons did not really scare anyone. What is scary is 400-foot bombs from Albert Pujols. Pitch around him.

In fact, the loss of Pujols’ mystique will only help him. Pitchers no longer will look at him like a viable threat, instead, he will be a grizzled vet way out of his prime. However, as he shows with low strikeout rate, Pujols still knows a thing or two at the plate.

Adding Shohei Ohtani, Zack Cozart, Ian Kinsler and bringing back Justin Upton put Pujols that much farther in opposing pitchers’ minds. Now, the Los Angeles Angels have six guys pitchers shouldn’t want to pitch against. Pujols is not one of those. The grizzled vet will thrive from his new teammates.

Next: The four Angels that will improve the most in 2018

I would not sleep on Albert Pujols just yet. He is one of the best hitters of this generation and is a proverbial first-ballot Hall of Famer. He may not be as fast, as athletic, as powerful; but he still knows how to hit.

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