Angels Land Pujols and Wilson in Spending Spree

(NewsCore) - The Los Angeles Angels emphatically stamped themselves as contenders in the American League Thursday, doling out more than $325 million to sign slugger Albert Pujols and the top available pitcher, C.J. Wilson.

"We are talking about an iconic offensive player and an ace-type pitcher," said new Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto at a news conference at the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

"It's a very exciting day for the Angels."

The team, which lost the American League West to the Texas Rangers the past two seasons, will ink Pujols to a 10-year contract worth more than $250 million.

The deal will reportedly be the second-richest in baseball history, trailing only the 10-year, $275 million contract that Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees in 2008.

The Angels' stunning moves came one day after the Miami Marlins withdrew their offer for the 31-year-old first baseman's services. A key part of Pujols' contract will be a full no-trade clause, which the Marlins had not been willing to offer.

According to USA Today, the Marlins made the highest offer at 10 years and $275 million. Once they declared themselves out of the running, many expected the Cardinals would be able to retain their superstar, but Angels owner Arte Moreno reportedly beat St. Louis' offer by around $30 million.

The Cardinals' best offer was for 10 years and up to $220 million, though the 10th year would not have been guaranteed, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Pujols, who will turn 32 next month, will depart St. Louis after 11 brilliant seasons, including World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. The nine-time All-Star has a career average of .328, with 445 home runs.

Dipoto declared he is not concerned about Pujols' age, saying, "he hits like he's 27." Pujols is expected to be formally introduced at a press conference Saturday in Anaheim.

Last season Pujols hit .299 with 37 homers and 99 RBIs after battling through a slow start and a midseason wrist injury that sidelined him for two weeks.

Shortly after the Pujols bombshell, Wilson agreed to a five-year, $77.5 million deal to return to his native southern California. The Angels were viewed as the favorite to land the prized lefty, but the Marlins had offered a six-year deal for close to $100 million.

"If it was about the money, I'd be a Marlin," Wilson said.

"It's crazy, obviously, with Albert going [to LA]. It's a big swing in the balance of power in the AL West. I thought I was going to make a little bit of a difference, but he's obviously going to make a huge one. Nobody saw that coming.

"It's been a great time playing in Texas as an organization for the last 11 years with my teammates, but at the end of the day, my family was a big player in this, and my friends and stuff back home. Going back to where you're from is a difficult thing to turn down when you have an opportunity."

The 31-year-old Wilson went 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA in 2011 and helped lead the Texas Rangers to their second consecutive World Series appearance. The converted closer is 31-15 over the past two seasons, his first two as a starter.

Moreno is now set to commit more than $325 million to two players after buying the franchise for $184 million in 2003.