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Albert Pujols signing with Dodgers after Angels release

Albert Pujols is signing with the Dodgers for the rest of the season, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed. The Los Angeles Times was the first to report the union.

The Dodgers’ struggling superteam is adding another future Hall of Famer to its bench.

Albert Pujols is signing with the Dodgers for the rest of the season, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed. The Los Angeles Times was the first to report the union.

It won’t require much of a change of address for Pujols, who was released by the Angels on Thursday after he was designated for assignment.

There was speculation Pujols might end up with the overachieving Red Sox or reunite with his former Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa on the White Sox. American League teams with the designated hitter provided a more natural fit for playing time.

But instead Pujols is joining Dodgers All-Stars Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler, Justin Turner, Max Muncy, Corey Seager and, of course, Mookie Betts.

The defending World Series champions entered the season among the favorites, but entered Saturday in third place in the National League West with a 21-17 record.

Pujols hit .198 with five home runs in 92 plate appearances for the Angels this season, though he did have an OPS of .878 against lefty pitchers. It was the final year of the 10-year, $253 million contract Pujols signed in December 2011, after a decade-long Hall of Fame career in St. Louis.

Pujols ranks third in MLB history with 2,112 RBIs and fifth with 667 home runs and gives the Dodgers a power threat off the bench.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Ryan Dunleavy

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