Like the Rays, the Angels went into the offseason targeting a series of areas for improvement. After smaller moves to strengthen themselves at catcher and in the bullpen, the Angels on Thursday jolted the baseball world, signing megastar slugger Albert Pujols and then adding lefty starter C.J. Wilson.
While the Rays have to seek out bargains and trades that maximize value while operating on a budget, and left the winter meetings Thursday with nothing done, the Angels made themselves better the old-fashioned way — throwing millions at free agents.
To lure Pujols — one of the game’s elite players — to leave St. Louis, the Angels committed a reported $254 million over 10 years, then gave Wilson, who had been with Texas, $77.5 million over five.
New general manager Jerry DiPoto — who got the job after the Angels talked to the Rays’ Andrew Friedman — said the deals were a reflection of owner Arte Moreno’s commitment to winning.
“Unbelievable,” Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said picking himself up off the floor after hearing the Pujols news. “Arte is the best. He tries. He throws it out there. He wants to win. We sit and talk and we want the same thing. We want a ring! … He’s putting it out there. This is one owner I know who is crazy about winning.”
The moves will not only increase the Angels chances to win more games, but also their share of the Los Angeles market from the distressed Dodgers, in terms of attendance and television ratings and revenues.
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