The news that came abruptly on Thursday was somehow both long expected and still shocking. The Angels parted ways with Albert Pujols.
Pujols is one the greatest players baseball has ever known, and will easily sail into the Hall of Fame five years after he retires. But he doesn’t want to do that just yet. In fact, the 41-year-old Pujols has even larger aspirations.
“The guy wanted to play, he wants to be on the field; he does not want to be a bench player of any kind,” manager Joe Maddon told reporters Thursday, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.