Clearly LaTroy Hawkins opened the floodgates in Anaheim. The right-handed reliever agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night, which set off a chain reaction of events that saw the top hitter and top pitcher on the free agent market land with the Halos on Thursday morning. Albert Pujols is coming to Anaheim on a 10-year deal worth a reported $250 million, and C.J. Wilson is here on a five-year deal worth over $75 million.
↵The Angels' moves have caused a shift in the gambling world. Before signing Pujols, their odds to win the 2012 World Series was 22-1, per Bodog. After the Pujols signing, the Angels winning the World Series would pay 14-1 odds. In what seems like an easy bet now, the over/under for Angels' wins in 2012 is just 87.5.
↵A bet on Pujols to win the American League MVP would pay 3-1 odds, and the over/under on his production is 37.5 home runs and 120.5 RBI. His average season for the first 11 years of his career has been 42 home runs and 126 RBI, and he had 37 home runs and 99 RBI in 2011.
↵The Cardinals were 14-1 odds to win next year's World Series before Pujols bolted for Anaheim. Now the Cardinals are an 18-1 bet to repeat.
↵For more news on Pujols and the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.