Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa believes the divorce between the team and free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols was "unavoidable." La Russa described Pujols as "conflicted" about the decision to sign with the Angels when he spoke to his former player several hours after Pujols made his decision last week. "There's a lot to explain why Albert is going there," La Russa said. "Mostly, I think it's the system." La Russa said Pujols has been "in pain" since he accepted the 10-year, $254-million offer. "I know it was a painful decision and it pains him now," La Russa said. "He deserves what he got. He earned it. There's no bad guy here. I think the Cardinals went where they thought they should go. If they can't go farther, they shouldn't."