There was a brief flurry of surmise about Albert Pujols‘ future earlier this week when Deirdre Pujols, the Angels veteran’s wife, composed an Instagram post that seems to be suggestion that the future Hall-of-Famer would call it a busines after the 2021 season. Deirdre clarified her online announcement soon after announcing, and her husband also addressed the matter in speaking with media( including The Associated Press) today at Spring Training.

” This thing just got blow out of proportion ,” Pujols said.” My mind is not even there. My mind is on staying focused, healthy, and hopefully trying to help this ballclub win this year, and that’s it. If I feel at the end of the year that that’s it, I’ll announce it[ and] go home. But I’m not even there more .”

Pujols is entering the final season of his ten-year, $240 MM deal with the Angels, and 2021 will be the slugger’s 21 st MLB campaign. After four years of subpar offensive production, it is clearly looks a lot like the 41 -year-old is nearing the end of the line, though it seems we won’t know for certain until the season is through.

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George Springer will surely play-act every day in the Blue Jays’ outfield, so his addition wants the team’s other starting outfielders from 2020 will see their playing experience either shortened or somewhat modified. Both Randal Grichuk and Lourdes Gurriel Jr . told reporters( including Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith) that they wondered if they’d be transactions, yet as Spring Training continues, that duo and Teoscar Hernandez are all still on the roster. It remains to be seen exactly how the Jays will arrange their lineup to get everyone at-bats, though Gurriel could find an opening with a return to part-time infield duty, as manager Charlie Montoyo is having Gurriel work out as a first baseman and third baseman. The Jays once have Cavan Biggio lined up for the bulk of the action at the hot corner, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr . too hopeful of getting some third base time while sharing first base/ DH tariff with Rowdy Tellez. Getting at least one other position under his region can only help Gurriel, however, especially after his defensive strives as an infielder earlier in his occupation. Ian Kennedy debated indicating with two other teams before colonizing on the Rangers’ minor league offer, per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram( via Twitter ). The Royals, Kennedy’s former crew, were one of the two other admirers, though Kennedy seems to have a clearer path to regular bullpen work in Texas. A starter for all but two of his first 291 MLB competitions from 2007 -1 8, Kennedy enjoyed a stellar season as the Sovereigns’ closer in 2019, but he is out to re-establish himself after a difficult 2020. Kennedy affixed a 9.00 ERA over 14 innings before a left calf stres drew a premature resolve to his season. Danny Santana is also coming off an injury-plagued season, as the super-utilityman amassed time 63 slab appearances over 15 recreations with the Guard. After undergoing elbow surgery in September, Santana is now set to hold a showcase for scouts on Thursday, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman( Twitter link) reports, and Santana has also been comprising private exercisings for crews. The 30 -year-old has played all over the diamond over his seven years with the Twins, Braves, and Rangers, and was a revelation for Texas in 2019 — he stumbled. 283/.324 /. 534 with 28 home runs, with by far his best wRC+( 111) since a 132 wRC+ over 430 PA as a rookie with Minnesota back in 2014.

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