Report: Albert Pujols Returning To Where It All Began, Signing One-Year Deal With Cardinals

The legend returns. 

On Sunday night, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that slugger Albert Pujols signed a one-year contract to play for the St. Louis Cardinals, the organization he helped to two World Series titles, spending the first 11 years of his career in Cardinals red. The contract is reportedly worth $2.5 million, pending a physical. 

Pujols spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a platoon player, appearing in 85 games and hitting .254 with 12 home runs. He’ll be reunited with longtime teammate Yadier Molina, who has announced that he’ll retire at the end of the 2022 season. 

“I talked to him just now, and one other time. I was kind of hoping for this, and now we go,” Molina said on Monday, according to MLB.com. “Any time you have a player like Albert, with what he brings to the clubhouse, it’s great. By the phone, he told me [he’d signed]. He’s happy to be here and I’m glad everything worked out for him.” 

​​“Well, he’s still got it,” Molina continued. “I don’t know how Oli [Marmol] is going to use him, but with a player like Albert, when you’re putting him in the lineup, he’s going to have an impact. Just that name is an impact for any lineup.”

“He’s in great shape and his mentality is good, and I can’t wait to have him here,” Molina added.

Pujols was drafted by the Cardinals in 1999, and had one of the more spectacular runs at the plate in baseball history. In his 11 seasons as a Cardinal, Pujols hit .328 with 445 home runs and 1,329 RBI’s. He was voted NL MVP three times, and finished among the top five in MVP voting in 10 seasons. 

In 2011, Pujols signed a 10-year, $240 million contract to play for the Los Angeles Angels, never able to replicate the success he experienced in St. Louis. He ended his time as a member of the Angels with a .256 batting average and 222 home runs. The Angels designated the slugger for assignment in May 2021.

“Albert’s historical accomplishments, both on and off the field, serve as an inspiration to athletes everywhere, and his actions define what it means to be a true Superstar,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said in a statement. “Since his Rookie of the Year season in 2001, Albert and his wife Deidre have generously given their time and resources to countless charities throughout the world. We are thankful to the entire Pujols family.” 

Pujols is currently fifth on MLB’s all-time home run list, just 17 home runs behind Alex Rodriguez, and just 21 away from joining the elusive 700 home run club.

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

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