Albert Pujols signs with star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers to chase another ring

Future Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is staying in Southern California by signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Albert Pujols is staying in California.

The future Hall of Fame first baseman is signing with the Dodgers, per Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times.

He’ll make the relatively short trip from Anaheim to Chavez Ravine and trade in his Angel red for Dodger blue.

Albert Pujols will look to add to his World Series rings by joining the Dodgers

The Angels released Pujols on May 6 in the final year of his massive 10-year deal with the club. That move drew criticism, but it had been a long time coming as Pujols failed to live up to his heights with the Cardinals.

While he had been a nine-time All-Star and three-time MVP in St. Louis, he managed just one All-Star appearance for the Angels after joining in 2012.

In his 24 appearances for Los Angeles this season, he batted .198/.250/.372. The Angels opted to move on in order to give others opportunities in his place with Pujols reportedly unwilling to accept a bench role, which he’ll now do with the Dodgers.

The question of where the 41-year-old would land next has occupied the baseball world for the last week. Naturally, people speculated he might end up back with the Cardinals to finish his career with the team where it all started.

Instead, he’ll keep it going in Southern California while chasing a third World Series ring with the defending champions.

The Dodgers have Max Muncy firmly entrenched at first base but has experience at second base and third base so it will be interesting to see how they deploy Pujols and just how much playing time he ends up getting.

While Pujols has struggled mightily over the past few years, he can still hit left-handed pitching which the Dodgers have struggled to do this year. Theoretically, having Pujols would give LA some flexibility in where they play Muncy as cover for other infield positions.

The addition of Pujols gives the reigning World Series champions four former MVPs on the roster, joining Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger.