It’s probably safe to say that when the Angels of Anaheim unceremoniously dumped 41-year-old / 21-year MLB veteran first baseman Albert Pujols on May 13, 2021, and the Dodgers scooped him up four days later, many – perhaps even most – Dodgers fans saw it as little more than an act of respect for the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native and future Hall of Famer.

At the time of his release, Pujols was 17-for-86 (.198) with no doubles, five home runs, and 12 RBI in the 24 games in which he appeared with the Halos. Those five home runs gave him 667 in his career, which is currently the fifth most in MLB history, 29 behind Álex Rodríguez‘s 696.

Since joining the Dodgers, Pujols has appeared in 22 games. He is currently 16-for-62 (.258) with two doubles, five home runs, and 13 RBI. Those five home runs now have him 24 behind A-Rod. Not too shabby for a guy two years shy of being twice as old as 23-year-old Dodgers infielder Gavin Lux.

And then there are the intangibles – the things that Pujols brings to the Dodgers clubhouse and dugout that you can’t put a price tag on. In his 30 days as a Dodger, it has been well documented what Pujols means to the defending World Series champions, especially for the younger players. His veteran presence, positive attitude, and neverending cheerleading and generosity are exactly what the (then) slumping Dodgers needed to get back to their winning ways that now has them a mere 1.0 games behind the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants.

“He’s great, he just takes a professional at-bat, he’s ready when called upon and doing whatever he can to help the ball club,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Pujols following his team’s 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night at Dodgers Stadium; a game in which Pujols came off the bench to pinch-hit in the bottom of the seventh inning and singled – one of only three Dodger hits on the night. “And when he’s not in there, he’s cheering his teammates on, mentoring guys, watching the baseball game, so just so great to have him around. He’ll be in the line-up tomorrow (Tuesday). I just think it’s important, even if it’s a right-hander, he needs to get at-bats to stay sharp.”

The irony of it all is that the Dodgers are paying Pujols the MLB minimum salary of $570,500, while Arte Moreno and the Angels are paying him (brace yourselves) $30 million to make baseball history almost nightly in Dodger Blue.

What a gift.

…one that just keeps on giving.

Play Ball!

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