The euphoria of winning the World Series came to an abrupt halt in St. Louis.

“The franchise” Albert Pujols chose money over loyalty and signed a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

And the Angels didn’t stop there. They then dropped a bomb on the other World Series finalist, Texas Rangers, signing their ace pitcher C.J. Wilson to a five-year deal worth $77.5 million.

Lucky’s Sports Books lowered the Angels from 20-1 to 10-1 to win the 2012 World Series following the signings.

All the chatter at the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas was about Pujols entertaining offers from the Miami Marlins and Chicago Cubs, but probably opting to stay in St. Louis.

Not to be. Angels owner Arte Moreno changed the balance of power by making an offer Pujols couldn’t refuse and then adding Wilson, who had been wooed by the Marlins.

Pujols, a three-time NL MVP, now has the second highest contract in baseball history and is only the third to break the $200 million barrier, following Alex Rodriguez’s $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas before the 2001 season and A-Rod’s $275 million, 10-year contract with the Yankees before the 2008 season.

“This is a monumental day for Angel fans and I could not be more excited,” Moreno said.

Pujols had spent all 11 of his major league seasons with the Cardinals, becoming a franchise icon second only to Stan Musial. He is fourth in career slugging percentage at .617, trailing only Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (.690), Ted Williams (.634) and Lou Gehrig (.632). But he had his poorest season in 2011 and at 31 is likely to spend the majority of his career with the Angels at designated hitter rather than first base.

St. Louis also offered him a 10-year deal, but he chose to leave the Gateway City for sunny California.