Phillies Would Be Foolish to Nab Vernon Wells Via Trade

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has reported that the Philadelphia Phillies are looking at making a deal for Los Angeles Angels OF Vernon Wells.

The Phillies are in need of a right-handed bat as well as a corner outfielder and have previously been linked to free agent OF Cody Ross.

If a deal between the Phillies and Angels would be done, the Angels would have to absorb the majority of the $42 million owed to Wells over the course of the next two seasons.

Wells has been considered one of the worst acquisitions in baseball history due to the seven-year, $126 million contract he received in 2006 while with the Toronto Blue Jays. Since landing with the Angels, Wells has failed to live up to the salary that he was given by his previous club.

In 2011, Wells batted .218 AVG with 25 HR and 66 RBI. The numbers he posted that year were the worst of his career since he was a former three-time All-Star (2003, 2006, 2010) and a one-time Silver Slugger in 2003.

Last season, Wells disappointed again with a .230 AVG followed by 11 HR and 29 RBI.
Needless to say, the Phillies could do a lot better than Vernon Wells. Among John Mayberry Jr. and Domonic Brown, the two outfielders returning from last season's team, Mayberry Jr. hit .245 and Brown hit .235.

Such a number is not pretty and the play of both Mayberry Jr. and Brown left the fans in Philadelphia desiring a lot more.

Philly fans have not been clamoring for the club to sign OF Cody Ross but if it trumps a deal for Wells, they have to take it. At this point in time, Ross is much better defensively and offensively.

Making a deal for Wells would be a tremendous mistake and would further cast doubt on whether or not Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is capable of maintaining his employment within the organization.

Pete Dymeck runs his own blog about baseball at PeteDymeck.com.