Angels GM Jerry Dipoto talks about Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson
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Following the Angels’ acquisition of three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols and ace C.J. Wilson, General Manager Jerry Dipoto showed his unbridled excitement at a news conference Thursday.
Here are some highlights:
On the rationale behind the deals: ‘We’re talking about an iconic offensive player in his generation, to be sure. And we’re talking about an ace-type starting pitcher, who’s pitched on back-to-back American League championship clubs. And we feel like the two of them, in addition to what we have in place with the Angels, gives us a very unique opportunity once we are secured and ready to move forward.’
On how Pujols and Wilson will affect the lineup: ‘As it pertains to Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales, we still have the benefit of playing in the American League, where we have first base at-bats, we have DH at-bats, corner outfielders at-bats. ... We are still unaware of exactly the timetable for Kendrys Morales, but if we have all three healthy and clicking on all cylinders, we’re going to be in a really good position.
On whether the winter meetings were used as a launching pad to get Pujols: ‘To answer the question how much thought we had given to this -- a fair amount, as you might expect. These aren’t quick, knee-jerk decisions.’
On when he heard that the deal was completed: ‘I received a message this morning that he had made his decision, that he had informed the Cardinals of his decision and it was a fairly exciting moment for everybody in the Angel family.’
On whether he ever imagined he’d sign Pujols and Wilson: ‘Arte has made it very clear, he wants to win championships, he wants to win rings. And we think this is a way to move toward that goal. We still have to play 162 of them, but we feel like we’re better today than we were yesterday.’
On Pujols’ declining numbers in recent years: ‘I don’t necessarily see it as a clear decline. And if we want to call it a decline going from superhuman to just great, I don’t think we’ve seen the last great days of Albert Pujols, obviously, or we wouldn’t be sitting here today.’
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-- Melissa Rohlin
