Sorry Wells, But It's About Time

You can argue that a lot of players in professional sports are disgustingly over paid. While Tony Reagins was the GM for the Angels, there were a few moves that made you scratch your head. Texeria for four months for Casey Kotchman who was hitting over .300, Scott Kazmir was a bust, and Bobby Abreau was old.

Vernon Wells signed for $126 million over seven years in 2011. A .218 batting average in year one and .230 in year two could place Wells as the biggest blunder contract of all time. A three time All-Star who has a career batting average of .273 has won multiple Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger. The problem was those awards came prior to 2007. He hit over .275 only once after 2006.

Having Wells struggle in 2011 brought Reagins GM short run to an end. Vernon's struggles and injuries in 2012 really got fans calling for his release. Jerry Dipoto has gone out and spent a lot of Arte Moreno's money, but it was on Albert Pujols, CJ Wilson, and Josh Hamilton. Wilson didn't have the year fans wanted and we're yet to see what Hamilton will do in his first year under the Halo.
But with all the dollars flying around, it was easy to ask "why not swallow the Wells contract for the better of the team?" It's now that time.

Paying Wells a boatload of money to play elsewhere will allow Hamilton, Trout, and Bourjos to be the everyday outfield. For Bourjos it's extremely important because he was always rumored to be in trade talks. One of the fastest guys in the league who will attempt to bunt for a hit at least once a series is a "Mike Scioscia type player." Having power is nice, but Scioscia's teams were at their best when they had scrappy guys that can situational hit and move around the bases. Bourjos will not hit .300 or have 30 home runs, but he will do all the little things like bunting, stealing bases, and running down fly balls that will make him a fan favorite. He is an ideal nine hitter that will contribute more than stats will show.

Projected Angels Line-Up:

Trout  - speed, power, average
Aybar - switch hitter, situational hitter
Pujols - power, average
Hamilton - power, average
Trumbo - power
Kendrick - contact
Callaspo - switch hitter
Ianetta - good eye
Bourjos - speed, situational hitter