Angels: Is Albert Pujols Getting Enough Fantasy Respect in 2017?

By Brad Kelly | Mar 27, 2017

Mar 15, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) during a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

Albert Pujols just keeps on hitting for the Angels, even though he went under the knife again this offseason. But, are fantasy owners giving him enough respect in 2017?

What more can be said about Albert Pujols. The future Hall of Famer has done nothing but rake since entering the league in 2001. This season will amazingly be his sixth with the Angels, and 17th as a major leaguer. While “The Machine” has proven time and time again that he was just made differently than most, he has looked human the last couple of seasons due to injuries. Yet, he just keeps producing, but are fantasy owners giving him enough respect?

There is no need to go down Pujols’ resume, it is too long and illustrious. He has appeared in over 2,400 games and has over 10,500 at bats over the last sixteen years. It is hard to fathom, but only once in that span has he failed to play in at least 100 games. That is a lot of wear and tear on one’s body and his lower half has especially been affected.

Ask any Angels’ fan or even baseball fan for the matter, and they would tell you that it hard to watch Pujols on most nights limp around the diamond. For all the limping and hobbling, he has played in no less than 152 the last three seasons. He has over two 100+ RBI seasons over that span and has notched at least 28 HR per season.

More from Fantasy Baseball

Last season, the injury culprit was plantar fasciitis. All injuries suck, but it is remarkable that Pujols not only played in 152 games but posted a .268/31 HR/119 RBI/.780 OPS line. Even with the dips in the AVG and OPS, that line is still plenty for fantasy owners. Pujols is no longer that first round pick that he once was, but should he nearly be the 20th first basemen taken or taken around the 125th player overall?

The simple answer is: no.

Let us first get the negatives out of the way. The injuries are not going away. He will be 38-years-old in 2017 and the lower half issues just do not go away. Injuries are a risk with any player, but with Pujols they are heightened. The drop in OPS is caused by his lack of XBH, which is a byproduct of his 17% LD rate and dip in sheer BB totals.

With that being said, Pujols still brings a lot to the table. There is no stat that measures toughness because if so, Pujols would post plenty of it. The power has not diminished either, he averaged 410 ft. per homer last season. He went under the knife in December, yet returned ahead of schedule and has already started to square the ball up in spring training.

He will have one of the better run producing spots in baseball once again in 2017, as Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun provide plenty of RBI chances. He still makes a ton of hard contact as well, 47% Med and 37% Hard contact rates, so it is not as though he is losing the ability to barrel the ball up.

Even though his BB walk totals have dipped, that is partly because he still makes a ton of contact at the plate. His 86% Contact rate will not help his AVG get back to the .300s, but it bodes well in keeping it the respectable .260-.270 range. Look for the Angels to also give him plenty of more time at DH in 2017, as his days at first seem to be winding down for the sake of his health.

Next: Mariners: Felix Hernandez Still King?

The Angels may not be too good this season, but that will not be of any fault of Pujols. This is not to say that fantasy owners should expect a vintage season. But, he is still a top-15 first baseman and should be taken closer to the 100 overall player mark. Keep trusting the Machine.

Home/Fantasy Baseball