Well, give Alex Anthopolous the AL GM of the Year award now because somehow he was able to convince Angels GM Tony Reagins to take Vernon Wells in return for Mike Napoli, Juan Rivera and cash this evening. Reagins has to be desperate for a hitting upgrade to take on Wells remaining contract. Wells has 4 years remaining on his contract paying him $23 million in 2011, and $21 million in each year from 2012-2014.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays get a power hitting catcher in Mike Napoli, who can also play first base. Napoli has hit 20+ HRs in each of the last 3 years, hitting .238-.316-.468 with 26 HRs and 68 RBIs in 140 games in 2010. Should Napoli win the catcher's job in Toronto, this would mean that catching prospect JP Arencibia may be headed back to AAA for more seasoning, or he could serve as backup when Napoli plays first base.
Rivera hit .252-.312-.409 with 15 HRs and 52 RBIs in 124 games last year. Rivera will be a part time player in Toronto playing some outfield and DH'ing.
The Angels will make Wells their starting center fielder with Torii Hunter moving to right field this year. Wells had a solid season in 2010 hitting .273-.331-.515 with 31 HRs, 88 RBIs and 6 SBs last year, his first 30+ HR season since 2006.
Fantasy owners who were pondering drafting Angels outfielder Peter Bourjos as a late round SB guy may still get their shot should Reagins not make any more deals or sign one of the remaining outfielders on the free agent market. But one has to wonder for how long with prospect Mike Trout starting the season in AA. Talk is that manager Mike Scioscia loves Trout, so he may be a mid-season call-up should Bourjos not perform well.
Dealing Napoli could means that prospect Hank Conger may be handed the starting catcher job should he perform well in spring training. Conger, who turns 23 next week, hit .300-.385-.463 with 11 HRs and 49 RBIs in AAA last year.