Albert Pujols Rejected $315 Million Contract From Another Team Before Joining Angels in 2011
St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols turned down a record-setting contract from another team before signing with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011, the two-time World Series champion revealed in a new interview.
After leading the Cardinals to a World Series championship in 2011, Pujols tested free agency for the first time in his career. In a massive surprise, he signed a 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels worth $254 million.
In the professional sports world, many high-priced free agents choose the money over anything else. But in an interview with Alofoke Media Group founder Santiago Matias (h/t Foul Territory), Pujols revealed that he took far less money to sign with the AL club.
Pujols didn't name the team, but he said another club offered him $315 million in 2011 free agency. Had he accepted this, it would have been the first $300 million contract in MLB history.
Albert Pujols said he rejected a $315M offer before signing a contract with the Angels in 2011.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) May 13, 2026
The team who made the offer, which he didn't reveal, is an hour and forty minutes from the Dominican Republic, he said.
(Via: @Matiasgarciard) pic.twitter.com/8qXzOpfmZY
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Miami Marlins were the club that offered Pujols $315 million.
The Marlins spent lavishly in free agency ahead of the 2012 season, signing shortstop Jose Reyes (six years, $106 million), starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (four years, $58 million) and closer Heath Bell (three years, $27 million).
There's no telling what could have been if they had landed Pujols as well.
Albert Pujols Never Lived up to Expectations in Los Angeles
Pujols' arrival was supposed to help the Angels re-emerge as a powerhouse in the American League. But they only made the postseason once in his tenure there, a sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 ALDS.
With the Angels, Pujols never batted better than .285 in his 10 seasons with the club. He hit 40-plus homers six times as a Cardinal, but only did so once with the Angels. Pujols had an OPS of 1.031 in St. Louis, but just a .758 OPS with Los Angeles.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 12:52 AM.