For Albert Pujols, One Last Run Where It All Began

JUPITER, Fla. — Adam Wainwright remembers exactly the place he was on that unhappy December morning when the perfect hitter of his era left the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I used to be on the golf course, on gap No. 4 at Frederica Golf Membership at residence once I came upon that he had signed with the Angels,” stated Wainwright, who lives in St. Simons Island, Ga. “That was a life-altering, shifting second, how massive that was.”

That was in 2011, simply after Albert Pujols had gained his second championship with the Cardinals. A day like Monday, when Pujols signed a $2.5 million deal to return to St. Louis for a farewell season, appeared unimaginable. He was 31 years outdated when the Angels gave him $240 million to play for them for the subsequent decade, plus a private providers contract for an additional decade after his retirement. It regarded just like the everlasting shedding of an ideal match.

“Was it a tragic day, a darkish day?” John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, stated on Monday morning. “Sure, for certain. However on this trade, particularly in baseball, it’s important to maintain considering forward. You need to be wanting ahead.”

And so each events cast forward and aside, with neither tasting a title once more. With out the Cardinals, Pujols made simply two journeys to the postseason. With out Pujols, the Cardinals made seven however reached just one World Collection, a six-game loss to Boston in 2013.

Pujols collected milestones alongside the best way: his five hundredth and 600th residence runs and his 3,000th hit. He’s the one participant to achieve these benchmarks in a profession with at the least two championships.

The departure from St. Louis marked a transparent dividing line, although, and Pujols’s worst season with the Cardinals was higher than his finest for the Angels. But as a result of he saved his household basis in St. Louis, Pujols at all times felt linked.

“I felt like, sure, I is likely to be carrying a special uniform, however I felt like I by no means left,” he stated, including that he usually returned for charity occasions. “The folks nonetheless deal with me the identical method, whether or not I used to be carrying the Cardinal uniform, whether or not I used to be carrying the Angels or the Dodgers, they by no means change. That’s what’s so particular concerning the Cardinals’ followers. They love you if you put on their uniform, however they nonetheless love you since you’re a part of this group.”

Now — because the oldest participant within the majors, at 42 — Pujols is formally again, largely due to his efficiency after the Angels launched him final Might. Pujols joined the Dodgers and performed in 85 video games, hitting .254 with 12 residence runs. Total, he clobbered left-handers for a .603 slugging share. With the designated hitter within the Nationwide League now, Pujols could make an affect.

“Oh, he’s received one thing left,” stated Oliver Marmol, the Cardinals’ first-year supervisor. “He’s received greater than one thing left. Albert needs to play this yr as a result of he might help a group win.”

The Cardinals, who misplaced to Pujols’s Dodgers within the N.L. wild-card recreation final October, will open the season with out two of their higher younger pitchers, the right-handers Jack Flaherty and Alex Reyes, who’ve shoulder accidents. However the group signed two free agent pitchers — the left-hander Steven Matz and the right-hander Drew VerHagen, who revived his profession in Japan — and nonetheless has catcher Yadier Molina, 39, guiding the employees.

Molina and Pujols have stated definitively that this shall be their closing season, and Wainwright, 41, stated he was leaning that method, too. All three are royalty in St. Louis, with Pujols bringing an particularly regal air to a company that prides itself on custom.

“This group by no means closed the door on me, and I by no means closed the door on the group, both,” Pujols stated. “It’s only a nice alternative.”

Molina and Wainwright had been desperate to reunite with Pujols, pestering him frequently on FaceTime about his plans. When Pujols arrived on the group’s spring coaching advanced on Monday, he discovered Wainwright napping earlier than his begin and woke him with a bear hug. Through the recreation, the followers roared as Pujols strode from the proper discipline nook to the Cardinals’ dugout. He smiled so he wouldn’t cry.

“I’m a fairly emotional man,” Pujols stated. “It doesn’t take that lengthy.”

Pujols performed 76 video games at first base final season however understands he is not going to unseat the Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt, a four-time Gold Glove winner and one of many league’s most dependable sluggers. Pujols stated he would do no matter Marmol needed, and hoped to mentor younger gamers the best way teammates like Placido Polanco and Edgar Renteria did for him as a rookie in 2001.

Wainwright sees it taking place already. After his outing on Monday, he seen some youthful gamers dressing to go away for the day. When these gamers noticed Pujols and Molina heading for the batting cage, Wainwright stated, they modified again into exercise garments and tagged alongside.

Pujols can supply intangible assist like that, by means of his steering and instance. However he didn’t signal to be an envoy. Pujols is returning with a function.

“Anytime Albert’s motivated,” Wainwright stated, “it’s a really, very harmful factor.”