According to Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees may have interest in acquiring expendable AngelsOF Vernon Wells. With an all lefty outfield now that Ichiro has resigned, the Yankees have been looking for a right-handed bat to balance things out.
With the addition of Josh Hamilton, the Angels seem to have too many players and not enough spots to put them. They reportedly want to keep OF’s Peter Bourjos and Mark Trumbo, and trade Wells and/or DH Kendrys Morales.
Wells has widely been considered a disappointment for the Angels after coming over in a trade from the Blue Jays back in January of 2011. He signed a 7-year, $126 million contract extension in 2006 with the Blue Jays, but has hit just just .222 with 36 homers and 95 RBIs in LA over two seasons.
There are two major hurdles potentially blocking any deal with Wells, however. He is still owed $42 million over the next two seasons. With the Yankees watching spending, the Angels would likely have to pay for the majority of Wells’ remaining contract. Also, he would have to approve any deal by waiving his full no-trade clause. Adding Wells would be more of the same for the Yankees this offseason: adding an aging player that is only a stopgap for the team over the next year or so.
Should the Yankees acquire Wells or another right-handed OF bat, their team may be complete. Raul Ibanez is still a possibility to come back as a lefty DH, and it is becoming more and more clear that Cashman is content with using whatever catchers he already has in house to take over the every day responsibilities. As December is drawing to an end and with pitchers and catchers set to descend on Tampa in about a month and a half, look for the Yankees to put the finishing touches on their 2013 team.
