Angels manager Joe Maddon hopes Albert Pujols gets opportunity to play somewhere else

Albert Pujols wants to continue playing. 

The 41-year-old slugger was released by the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, ending a decade-long stint with the club. He was dissatisfied with his irregular playing time and asked for his release.

Pujols is determined to play first base regularly for another MLB club, and Angels manager Joe Maddon hopes he gets to continue his Hall of Fame career. 

"He wants to play, and he wants to be in the field," Maddon said, according to theScore. "Hopefully he's going to get that opportunity somewhere else, and believe me, we're all going to be rooting for him."

It's unclear where Pujols will play next. He spent the last 10 seasons with the Angels and the previous 11 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The three-time MVP has struggled at the plate this season, slashing .198/.250/.372 with five home runs and 12 RBI on 17 hits in 24 games.

Fans speculated that he could end up back with the Cardinals or with the Chicago White Sox, but neither franchise is interested, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The Cardinals have Paul Goldschmidt and the White Sox rely on Jose Abreu. 

Sports Illustrated listed the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics among the top-five potential landing spots for Pujols. The other two were the Cardinals and White Sox.