The deal was gargantuan enough to reshape the futures of two franchises, Albert Pujols bringing strength to the Angels’ lineup while weakening the Dodgers’ everything else.
One Southern California columnist wrote the free-agent signing “could change the local sports landscape forever.”
A commentator at ESPN said the addition of Pujols gave the Angels “the opportunity to take over Los Angeles.”
A Boston writer, labeling the deal a “complete knockout,” went on a national television show originating in L.A. to proclaim the Angels “own this town now.”
In the interest of full disclosure, I addressed Angels fans that day by writing “your halo should be spinning with delight.