MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees, Angels Discuss Potential Vernon Wells Deal
December 15, 2012 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Here’s the situation.
The Angels have too many outfielders after they landed Josh Hamilton in free agency and could look to trade someone.
The Yankees could use a right-handed bat and potential fourth outfielder.
Apparently, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the two teams have discussed a potential trade to send Vernon Wells to the Bombers:
The #Angels‘ preference with their outfielders – and how it could involve #Yankees. Story: msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/los-…
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 15, 2012
The two teams talked about Wells during the baseball winter meetings last week in Nashville, but no deal has surfaced yet.
But now with Hamilton in the fold for the Angels, the potential trade talk could be resumed, as Los Angeles needs to shed a few players.
Wells is owed $42 million dollars over the next two seasons ($21 million in 2013, $21 million in 2014), so if any trade is going to happen, the Halos would almost certainly have to eat most of the remaining deal for the 34-year-old.
In 77 games for the Angels, Wells hit just .230 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI in 2012. However, Wells does hit left-handed pitching, hitting .266 against lefties over the last two years.
If the Angels are going to give away Wells for two seasons and it won’t cost the Yankees a lot, if anything, in a return deal, I don’t see why Brian Cashman explores a trade.
Wells could take the spot of the departed Andruw Jones, who recently signed with a Japanese team for 2013.
Wells is a former three-time Gold Glove center fielder who can play all three outfield positions if needed in case of injury and has the potential to hit 20-30 home runs if he is given the at-bats.
The trade for the Yankees makes sense, especially if the Angels pay most of Wells’ remaining deal.
Stay tuned to see if the Yankees acquire the veteran outfielder within the next few weeks.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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