Designated Hitter: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels
2019 Salary: $28 million
Albert Pujols’ offense wasn’t quite as bad in 2018 as it was in 2017, but it was still below average. It was also the second consecutive year in which he produced a negative fWAR. However, it is interesting that his 42.4% hard-hit rate hadn’t been that high since 2010, while his 22.3% line-drive rate hadn’t been that high since 2008.
The Machine’s declining performance on fly balls isn’t helpful, though. Since posting a 185 wRC+ for this batted-ball event in 2015, that number has gone down each year that’s followed, bottoming out at 88 in ’18. Of the four months he suited up for last year, Pujols produced an overall wRC+ above 87 just once, when it settled in at 153 during the month of July.
Everyone knew this contract would be a mess toward the end, and that’s exactly what’s happening. He’s under contract through 2021, with his salaries increasing to $29 million in ’20 and $30 million ’21 before reaching free agency again.
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