The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT Dec. 10, 2011

If the Los Angeles Angels were attempting to send a message that they're playing for world championships on Thursday morning - I'd say that they've got a few teams' attention.

For northwest baseball fans' sake, hopefully one of those teams was the Seattle Mariners.

Otherwise, it could be another long season.

THE ANGELS, who have finished behind the Texas Rangers the past two seasons after a steady run to the postseason, acquired Albert Pujols on Thursday morning, signing him to one of the biggest contracts in baseball history.

Pujols, fresh off a win against Texas in the World Series, signed a 10-year, $254 million contract to leave the St. Louis Cardinals. He also entertained signing with the Miami Marlins, but a no-trade clause was a major sticking point that kept him from going to Florida.

If that wasn't enough - the Angels also signed left-handed pitcher C.J. Wilson, adding to a rotation that was already stacked.

With these moves, the Angels aren't just playing for the West title - they are World Series or bust.

Seattle has two pitchers (Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda) that should be able to stop them, but I'm not sure that the offense has enough firepower to compete with the Angels, let alone a Rangers team that has won the AL championship the past two seasons.

THE MARINERS are continuing to entertain the idea of signing first baseman Prince Fielder, but you wouldn't know it by listening to the team's general manager.

All week, GM Jack Zduriencik has denied that the team is the front runner to sign him, but with a handful of other teams in the mix, he may have a point.

In the past two seasons, free agents such as Chone Figgins and Casey Kotchman, and the trade for Cliff Lee, haven't helped budge the team from last place.

Lee pitched in the World Series last year, but with the Phillies. Kotchman also made a playoff run this season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Adrian Beltre, who left Seattle as a free agent a few years ago, appeared in a World Series for Texas this fall.

Fielder, while a great player, will need plenty of help to get the team back to a respectable level of competition.

Seattle has lacked a power-hitting first basemen with the skills of Fielder since ... well, ever.

Alvin Davis, Steve Balboni, Tino Martinez were good - but not even close to Fielder.

WHILE THE Mariners have nearly two months to prepare themselves for how to handle the Angels this season, they might be in a familiar spot come August.

Unless they sign Fielder, then who knows what could happen?

Without him, you may as well crown the Angels now.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].