Pujols Turned Down $300 Million Contract From Marlins

Albert Pujols signed one of the richest contracts in baseball history on Thursday with Los Angeles Angels. The 10-year $254 million contract is $2 million more than the one Alex Rodriguez signed 11 years ago.

But here is the interesting thing, Pujols actually left money on the table.

Pujols rejected the Miami Marlins’ offer of 10 years, $275 milllion a day earlier, according to two people familar with the offer but not authorized to discuss it due to the sensitive nature of the negotations.

With incentives and no state tax in Florida, the actual value of the deal could have been worth nearly $300 million.

Pujols also turned down an offer north of $200 million to stay with the Cardinals, and the fact he left his longtime team despite such a lucrative offer to stay no doubt will emerge as a narrative in St. Louis.

Will the Angels regret their lavish spending in the future? Only time will tell.