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meh ...
I was NEVER under the delusion that Anaheim and Texas and Oakland were not going to lay down and die.  They are going to compete.  Sometimes that will be through development.  Sometimes that will be through FA signings.
But, I am not wavering AT ALL in my contention that the actual worth of the HoF caliber players as perceived by fans is grossly overblown - compared to the actual difference they do make.
Texas spent $55 million in 2010 and went to the Series.   That club contained *ZERO* Hall of Fame FA acquistions.  They upped that to $92 million in 2011 and went to the series again.  The lost C.J. Wilson (in part) because their 2012 payroll demands are ALREADY (bbref estimate) between 113-116 million.  Texas just lost a 5 WAR pitcher who only cost about 3 million for their two WS runs.  The Rangers only external "big spending" of note is Belte at $15 million.  Yet, they're already pushing $120 million in payroll.  They are ALREADY getting squeezed financially.
From '07-'09, when the Angels were winning the division, they spent 109/119/113 million those three seasons.  They cut payroll in 2010, but it ballooned up to 138 million in 2011 as they won 86 games.  IIRC, it was in '08 that I suggested the Angels were getting close to critical mass in terms of age and that if they didn't work to get younger their string would soon end.  They have done a decent job of continuing to develop players, (Trumbo, Kendrick, Aybar, Callaspo, Bourjos).  But, they stumbled badly on Vernon Wells. 
The plus for Anaheim going forward is that Torii Hunter's $18 million a year ends after the 2012 season.  So, Pujols is going to soak up all of that and then some.  But, at the moment bbref has the 2012 payroll estimate at 131 million (before Pujols and Wilson.  The Angels are leaping over the $150 million payroll hurdle, which means their ability to hold onto guys like Trumbo and Kendrick and Bourjos is going to be compromised.
Pujols effectively replaces Abreu - which certainly increases their WAR.  Pujols was *only* a 5.4 WAR guy in 2011, (a down year).  Abreu was 1.3.  So, Anaheim added 4 wins.  They probably actually added more wins with Wilson replacing Joel Pineiro's -1.6 WAR.  But, Anaheim has two guys under age 27, (Bourjos and Trumbo).  The glide path of the returning talent is seriously skewed downward. 
Anaheim had 8 regulars over 100 OPS+.  LF (Wells) and Catcher (Mathis/Conger) were their only problem areas.  The REAL plus for the Angels is Kendry Morales.  They have a fall back if Trumbo (who had a 25/120 BB/K ratio)  stumble rather than progresses.
Yes, the Angels have improved their team.  Texas has likely gotten worse.  They have both ALREADY committed to massive payroll expansion for 2012, and the aggregate result is, the Ms are probably still looking at 182 wins between them (combined). 
Has everyone already forgotten the certainty everyone had that Boston would just walk away with the East in 2011?  When they added AGON and Crawford while the Yankees were spending nickles on washed up guys like Garcia, Colon, Andruw and Chavez, the East was a done deal.
Yes, Hall of Fame players are good.  And they are good to have.  But, baseball, by dint of the everyone-gets-equal-opportunities is a sport which severely limits the possibility of superstars from have "great" effect on final outcomes.  WAR says Albert has been providing 8 wins a year.  The Cards were paying him $14 million a year.  That's a stupendous bargain and the Cards got to the playoffs a lot with him.
If he stays at 8 WAR for the next 4-5 years, at $25 million a year, he's a minor bargain.  But, the past 4 seasons, his WAR went: 9.6; 8.8; 7.1; 5.4.  That "looks" like a trend.  In truth, the 5.4 is probably just a bad year.  But, exactly how many 8+ WAR seasons Albert has left is VERY questionable.  Even at 6 WAR a year, he's going to be one of the most valuable players in baseball.  But, he's not going to be a bargain.
Look at AROD.  He had WAR totals from 8-11 through age 31.  What has he done since?  5.4; 3.6; 3.2; 2.7.  No, I am not predicting imminent doom for Pujols.  I think he'll have a few more MVP level seasons.  But, it is not out of the question that Pujols is *only* a .900 hitter ALREADY.  It's possible. 
To win the West should take about 95 wins.  It took about 95 wins last year.  It will take about 95 wins next year.  It will likely continue to take about 95 wins for the foreseeable future.
If I thought the Ms were likely to win 90 without Fielder this year, then I'd be supportive of adding him.  I don't think the Ms will win 90 games w/o him.  I don't think they'll win 90 games WITH him.  The Ms still have too much work to do.  And I continue to believe it is more likely that they will get that extra work done without him than with him.  I accept and respect that others disagree.