Pujols' wife likes heavenly deal with Angels

THEY SAY money talks.

It appears so for Albert Pujols, gifted with a 10-year, $254 million contract from the Los Angeles Angels. But according to his wife, Deidre, it wasn't originally all about the Benjamins.

Mrs. Pujols' told Joy 99.1-FM, a St. Louis-area Christian radio station that her family was prepared to take less money to stay in The Lou, but was disappointed the Cardinals were initially only ready to give her hubby $130 million at an additional five years.

"When it all came down, I was mad. I was mad at God because I felt like all the signs that had been played out through the baseball field, our foundation, our restaurant, the Down Syndrome Center, my relationships, my home, my family close," Deidre told the station. "I mean, we had no reason, not one reason, to want to leave."

However when you get down to the nitty-gritty you realize perhaps the Pujols' aren't being honest with themselves. The Cardinals final offer before Pujols left for the (ahem) Golden State was for 10 years, $210 million, with $30 million deferred.

The fact the entire sum wasn't guaranteed was the breaking point for Pujols and Co., Deidre explained.

"The (10 year, $210 million) offer that people have seen on television I want to tell you what, listeners especially, had that offer been given to us with a guarantee, we would have the (Cardinals) bird on our back," Deidre said. "The city of St. Louis has absolutely been deceived and I have never seen hatred spread so fast and I understand why." "Let me say that Albert and I never, not one time, ever made plans to leave this city."

She goes on to explain that she has no ill feelings towards Cardinals fans and owner Bill DeWitt. But with all that now behind them, based on her words it doesn't seem like Deidre and Albert are looking back.

"It's just like God," Deidre said towards the end of the interview, "to put us on a team called the Angels."

Yeah, sure, God was thinking about the likelihood of a designated hitter in 5-6 years and $254 million pesos in your husband's bank account.