UPDATED on March 26. Trade official.
The Yankees have acquired outfielder Vernon Wells from the Angels in exchange for minor league outfielder Exircado Cayones and minor league left-handed pitcher Kramer Sneed. Both players are low-to-mid level prospects. Cayones, who was acquired in the A.J. Burnett-Pittsburgh deal, hit .228 in 200 low-A-ball plate appearances in 2012. Sneed pitched to a 5.37 ERA in high-A ball last year. Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan originally broke the news yesterday that a deal to obtain Wells was in place.
Wells, 34, has been a huge disappointment for the Angels after coming over in a trade from Toronto in 2011. In the past two seasons, Wells has hit .222 with 36 homers and 95 RBI in 208 games. He signed a seven year, $126 million extension with Toronto in 2006, and still has $42 million left on his contract.
Passan reports that a large sum of money would be going back to New York. Reports say that the Yankees will be paying about $13 million over two years for Wells’ services, with most of the money being applied this season, as to not affect the payroll and goal of $189 mil in ’14. Daily News writer Mark Feinsand examines the Yankees’ strategy with paying Wells over the next two seasons.
Wells used to be one of the premier outfielders in all of baseball. From 2002 up until his extension in ’06, Wells averaged a .288 BA with 28 homers and 97 RBIs. For whatever reason since, his play has declined. Couple that with the presence of former Angel Torii Hunter, emergence of Mike Trout and signing of Josh Hamilton, and Wells has since been relegated to a bench role.
Wells’ playing time will increase with the Yankees, as Curtis Granderson is recovering from a broken forearm. Wells also represents that righty outfield bat that has been elusive to GM Brian Cashman and the Yankees all offseason. The three-time Gold Glove award winner has had a strong spring, going .361 (13-for-36) with four home runs and 11 RBIs.
Yankees and Angels dotting I’s and crossing T’s at this point. Vernon Wells has let team know he will accept deal. It will be official soon.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2013
