Pujols’ Angels farewell turned ugly for franchise
It was one of the most awkward, uncomfortable and ugly good-byes in this generation of baseball immortals. We’re talking about Albert Pujols. He woke up Wednesday morning, having already been told he’d be in the starting lineup that night for the Los Angeles Angels against the Tampa Bay Rays. By the time the day was over, Pujols was yelling at manager Joe Maddon, telling president John Carpino and GM Perry Minasian that he wasn’t going to retire, insisting he did not want to spend the rest of the season on the bench and blasting Maddon’s managerial skills, according to two people with direct knowledge of the day’s events who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature the details.
The next day, it was officially over. Pujols, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer, was designated for assignment, his Angels career over.
There was no ceremony. No opportunity for the Angels fans to cheer him one last time. Just a stoic press release and a Zoom press conference with Maddon, Carpino and Minasian.
But not Pujols.
Pujols’ greatest teammate didn’t even know what was happening until Mike Trout asked reliever Steve Cishek why Pujols was hugging players, leading him to tears.
“We were all surprised when it happened,” Trout said. “You know, it hit me a little bit. It hit me a lot. Ever since I’ve been up here, he’s been my guy. He mentored me throughout my career so far.
“I can’t thank him enough. He was an unbelievable person and unbelievable friend to me.”
Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez skewered the Angels for the ugly farewell, as well as future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre.
“What happened to him is shameful,” Beltre said, “and shows the ugly side of baseball. No matter what, he will always be a legend.”
Said former Boston Red Sox great David Ortiz on his Instagram account: “I do not agree on the move that just happened. That was devastating for fans and player. I know this is a business, but I was expecting someone like you to walk away like you deserve. You have done so much for baseball that is hard to replace someone like you.”
The shame is how it ended for Pujols in Anaheim, but rare are the graceful exits in any walk of life.
Hall of Famers Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, along with Ortiz, announced their retirements before the start of their final season. They were wildly celebrated every city they visited, with speeches and farewell presents. Some, such as Hall of Famers Rickey Henderson and Jim Thome, become retired only when the phone stops ringing.
It would have been so much easier, of course, if Pujols announced he’d be retiring at the end of the season.
It would have made it near impossible for the Angels to release him during the season. They probably would have felt an obligation to play him, too. But Pujols, who is 33 homers shy of 700, believes he can still play at a high level.
“He really believes, and if he believes, then I believe,” said Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa, one of Pujols’ closest friends. “So I’d be very interested to see if a club sees the fit. Because they’ll get a very determined Albert.”