By Ronald Blum
The Associated Press

DALLAS – Albert Pujols could have been a wealthy Cardinal for life, planning for the day his statue would be erected outside Busch Stadium next to those of Stan Musial, Bob Gibson and the other St. Louis greats.

Instead, exactly six weeks after leading the Cardinals to a second title in one of the most thrilling World Series ever, he decided to accept the second-highest contract in baseball history for a new future in southern California with the Los Angeles Angels.

The three-time NL MVP agreed Thursday to a $254 million, 10-year contract with the Angels, leaving behind a heartbroken fan base by jilting one of the sport’s traditional teams for an expansion club with only one championship in its half-century.

For baseball, it was a virtually unprecedented move.

Many top stars have changed teams in their careers, from Babe Ruth to Willie Mays to Barry Bonds. But this is perhaps the best player in the game over the past decade, exiting shortly after one of the great postseason power shows.

A big and burly offensive force with a shaved head, the nine-time All-Star has a room full of honors, winning the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year award, NL MVPs in 2005, 2008 and 2009, a batting title in 2003 and a pair of Gold Gloves at first base. Who would have predicted that when the Cardinals selected him in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft with the 402nd overall selection?

And now, he’s going West.

As his deal fell into place on the final day of the winter meetings, the Angels struck another big agreement, a $77.5 million, five-year contract with left-hander C.J. Wilson, the ace whose Texas Rangers lost to the Cardinals in the seven-game World Series.

“This is obviously the moment where we have thrown our hat in the ring,” new Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said.

Had he stayed in St. Louis before packed, adoring crowds, Pujols would’ve established a Cal Ripken-like legacy of loyalty, a rare modern star who remained with a franchise from first at-bat to final swing.

Instead, some of his former fans will see him as a sellout.

Pujols rejected a multiyear extension last offseason that was said to include a small percentage of the franchise and cut off negotiations a day before he arrived at spring training. St. Louis also offered the slugger a 10-year deal that chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said was in excess of $200 million.

“I would like our fans to know that we tried our best to make Albert a lifetime Cardinal,” he said in a statement, adding later in a telephone interview: “They were substantially higher than our bid.”

In St. Louis, Pujols has accomplished so much that he would have been beloved no matter his future performance. But in Anaheim, he will have to prove himself anew.

“I think his body’s going to start breaking down and he’s not going to be good for 10 years,” said Katie Coyle, fitness coordinator at the Webster-Kirkwood YMCA in Missouri, a die-hard fan who wore team colors to work during the playoffs. “I think he’s going to regret leaving here. If he’d have stayed here and signed a long-term deal with the Cardinals, they’d have had compassion for him because they’ve seen him at his best.”

Pujols’ contract, which like Wilson’s is subject to a physical, is only the third to break the $200 million barrier, following Alex Rodriguez’s $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas before the 2001 season and A-Rod’s $275 million, 10-year agreement with the Yankees before the 2008 season.

“This is a monumental day for Angel fans and I could not be more excited,” said owner Arte Moreno, who bought the team for $184 million from The Walt Disney Co. in 2003, a year after its only title.

Despite a top-four payroll this year, the Angels finished second behind Texas in the AL West. They spent $331.5 million on just two players, capping an unusual winter meetings in which the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox watched while the Angels and Miami Marlins spent as if they were the sport’s financial elite.

Read More: Mark Buehrle (P – CWS), Boston Red Sox

Mark Buehrle is drawing interest from the Boston Red Sox, among other teams, as they look to firm up their rotation heading into next season. Buehrle, a Type-B free agent, is also being pursued by the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

Buehrle is coming off of a four-year deal worth $56 million with the Chicago White Sox, where he has pitched for his entire career. In 390 career games, Buehrle is 161-199 with a 3.83 career ERA and 1,396 strikeouts. Last season, Buehrle posted a 13-9 record with a 3.59 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 31 games.

He has also thrown two no-hitters, including one perfect game, in his career and has won three Gold Glove award in a row. He’s reportedly looking for a three- or four-year deal.

For more Boston Red Sox coverage, visit our team page and blog, Over The Monster.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels have hired former major-league first baseman Hal Morris as their director of pro scouting.

The Angels added Morris to new general manager Jerry Dipoto’s staff Monday.

Morris spent parts of 13 seasons in the majors, starting with the Yankees and eventually spending 10 years with the Cincinnati Reds. He won the 1990 World Series with Cincinnati, providing the sacrifice fly that turned out to be the game-winning RBI in the series clincher.

Morris has been scouting for just three seasons, working for Pittsburgh for two years before joining the Boston Red Sox last season as an internal scout. After his playing career ended, he earned an MBA from Stanford and worked in real estate development.

Morris joins assistant GM Scott Servais on Dipoto’s new staff.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—The Los Angeles Angels have hired former major-league
first baseman Hal Morris as their director of pro scouting.

The Angels added Morris to new general manager Jerry Dipoto’s staff Monday.

Morris spent parts of 13 seasons in the majors, starting with the Yankees
and eventually spending 10 years with the Cincinnati Reds. He won the 1990 World
Series with Cincinnati, providing the sacrifice fly that turned out to be the
game-winning RBI in the series clincher.

Morris has been scouting for just three seasons, working for Pittsburgh for
two years before joining the Boston Red Sox last season as an internal scout.
After his playing career ended, he earned an MBA from Stanford and worked in
real estate development.

Morris joins assistant GM Scott Servais on Dipoto’s new staff.

Read More: Dan Haren (P – ANA), C.J. Wilson (P – TEX), Howie Kendrick (2B – ANA), Adrian Beltre (3B – TEX), Elvis Andrus (SS – TEX), Peter Bourjos (CF – ANA), Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels, Sep 26, 2011 7:05 PM PDT

Elvis Andrus collected four hits and Adrian Beltre delivered a two-run home run, lifting the Texas Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels Monday night in Anaheim, eliminating the Halos from the postseason. The Angels had a razor-thin margin of error, as heading into Monday’s game, they needed to sweep the Rangers and hope both the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays lost their final two games.

The best case scenario for the Halos was a three-team playoff that would have begun with the Angels heading to Boston on Thursday, with the winner hosting Tampa Bay on Friday.

The Angels were down 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, and pulled to within one, putting the tying run on base with two outs in the form of Peter Bourjos, but Neftali Feliz was able to retire Howie Kendrick to close out the game.

Dan Haren allowed four runs in eight innings to take the loss. He finished his 2011 campaign with a 16-10 record and 3.17 ERA, setting career highs in wins, innings pitched (238 1/3) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.82). Haren ended with 192 strikeouts and 33 walks in 34 starts this season.

C.J. Wilson started for the Rangers, but he only pitched two innings as a tune-up for Saturday’s start in Game 1 of the ALDS. Five relief pitchers combined to pitch the final seven innings.

For more Angels news, be sure to read Halos Heaven.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie first baseman Mark Trumbo will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his right foot.

The Angels announced Trumbo’s injury on Monday before opening a series against the AL West champion Texas Rangers.

Trumbo also would miss the postseason. The Angels trailed Boston by three games with three to play Monday.

He is among the top candidates for the AL’s rookie of the year award after batting .254 with a club-leading 29 homers and 87 RBIs. He could become the first Angels rookie to lead the team in homers and RBIs barring a big finish by Torii Hunter, who has 23 homers and 82 RBIs.

Trumbo left last Saturday’s victory over Oakland with pain in his right ankle, but played in Sunday’s loss.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.