The Los Angeles Dodgers and Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols are in agreement on a major league contract, sources told ESPN on Saturday, confirming a report by the Los Angeles Times.
Pujols, in the last year of his 10-year, $240 million contract, was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels last week and was officially released on Thursday.
Pujols, 41, would seemingly be coming in for a part-time role. Max Muncy has started 32 of the Dodgers’ first 38 games at first base, but he also provides the versatility to help at third base and second base, which would open up some playing time for Pujols at first base.
The Dodgers entered Saturday with a .663 OPS against opposing left-handed pitchers this season, 136 points less than the team’s OPS against righties.
Pujols, one of the best right-handed-hitters in baseball history, could help with that. Pujols was batting only .198/.250/.372 in his first 92 plate appearances this season, but his .513 expected slugging percentage suggested he had also been running into some bad luck.