Albert Pujols’ wife appeared to announce his pending retirement on Monday before taking a step back.
Deidre Pujols posted an ode to his career on Instagram that suggested he would not play beyond the 2021 season.
“Today is the first day of the last season (based on your contract) of one of the most striking careers in the sport!” Deidre wrote.
After the post sparked speculation that he was retiring, Deidre added a note that “THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL PUJOLS RETIREMENT STATEMENT.”
Will 2021 be the last season of Pujols?
If this next season is really Pujols’ last one, it would make a lot of sense. He is approaching the historic last year, backloaded 10 years, $ 240 million deal he signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011. He secured $ 30 million in 2021. He did not guarantee anything in 2022.
And at 41, his game has declined substantially from the MVP level that will almost certainly take him to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first vote.
Pujols signed with the Angels in 2011 after winning three MVPs and two World Series titles with the St. Louis Cardinals. One of the best sluggers in the game, Pujols faced a remote chance of overtaking Barry Bonds as the king of baseball’s home run when he signed with the Angels. But after over 40 home runs in six times with the Cardinals, he has reached that mark only once in nine seasons with the Angels.
He will start the 2021 season with 662 home runs, good for fifth place and 100 behind Bond’s total 762 of all time. With a fortune in the bank, his baseball legacy guaranteed and the home run title out of reach, Pujols might as well decide to call it a career after this season.
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