Pujols' decision? He hasn't made it yet

After waking up from an afternoon nap on Monday, Angels veteran Albert Pujols checked his phone and saw he had dozens of missed calls and texts.

He immediately turned on the television to find out what was going on, only to find out that his wife, Diedre, had sparked a frenzy by posting on Instagram that it would be Pujols’ last season of his storied career. His wife amended her post, saying it was only the final year of Pujols’ 10-year contract, and Pujols came away amused by the whole ordeal. He clarified on Saturday that he’s not ready to announce his retirement and that decision will come after the upcoming season, his 21st in Major League Baseball.

“My main focus is on this year,” Pujols said. “That decision will come at the end of the year. I know what Diedre was trying to say. Everybody had to run with it, but, hey, that’s the life we live in with social media. At the end of the day, I told her not to feel bad about it, because I knew what she was trying to say in that post.”

Pujols, a three-time MVP, 10-time All-Star and the only player in Major League history with at least 650 homers and 650 doubles, is well on his way to the Hall of Fame. But Pujols believes he still has something left in the tank, whether this is the last year of his career or not.

Pujols, 41, has found a routine he trusts, working with Angels head strength and conditioning coach Lee Fiocchi, and it’s helped keep him on the field without any injuries over the past two seasons, during which he has batted a combined .240/.297/.421 with 29 homers, 30 doubles and 118 RBIs in 170 games.

“My mind is on staying healthy and trying to help this team win,” Pujols said. “I want to help this ballclub win, and if at the end of the year I decide that’s it, I’ll announce it and go home. But I’m not even there yet.”

Pujols added that fans will know when he’s set to retire and that it’ll come from him and not a social media post from somebody else. But for now, Pujols is doing his best to mentor the club’s younger players while also sharing time at first base with Jared Walsh, who is coming off a breakout rookie season.

Pujols understands his playing time could be limited this season, but he’s embracing whatever role manager Joe Maddon has for him, as he’ll do whatever makes the team better. The two-time World Series winner with the Cardinals admitted it’s been frustrating that the Angels have only made the postseason once since he signed his 10-year contract, and he wants to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2014.

“My expectation is about winning a championship, that’s it,” Pujols said. “I don’t control when I’m going to play or when I’m going to be in the lineup. Whenever I’m out there just like last year, I’m going to do my best to help this organization win.”

Maddon believes Pujols’ impact goes beyond his time on the field, as he’s the leader of the clubhouse and is universally respected around baseball for his incredible career that began in 2001 with St. Louis. Maddon said Pujols’ playing time will work itself out and he knows that as long as he’s honest with Pujols, the veteran is understanding about his role on the club.

“There’s just so much going on with Albert, both on and off the field, he's one of the most philanthropic and charitable guys I've ever met," Maddon said. "There's a deep side to him and his Christianity. Everything about Albert is so well-thought out. He's so motivated to win. And that's how the conversations go with everybody else. He can't help but lead."