MLB Report Jays acquire Napoli from Angels

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TORONTO — The stunning trade of all-star centre-fielder Vernon Wells to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night was, like so many other moves by the Toronto Blue Jays of late, all about the future.While catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera were the primary return in the deal, the key asset acquired by general manager Alex Anthopoulos was the removal from the team’s books of the US$86 million owed to Wells over the next four seasons. wholesale MLB jerseysHow Anthopoulos uses that money will determine the wisdom of an unexpected move that seems to have been fairly well received judging by fan reaction on the Internet, although the impact of losing one of the best players in franchise history has yet to be measured.”We lost a great player today, a great Blue Jay,” a genuinely emotional Anthopoulos said on a conference call. “I hope fans celebrate Vernon’s career. This is about making tough decisions for this organization and trading someone that’s been a franchise leader in a lot of areas is not an easy decision to make.”Hopefully (fans) understand that this is all part of plan for the long-term. But at the end of the day the proof will be in the pudding and ultimately what we do as we continue to build this team.”That it will be, and as some fans praised Anthopoulos for trading away a contract that many thought was impossible to move, without sending back even a dime to help offset the cost, some others looked at it as little more than a salary dump.Some fans were asking why deal away a three-time all-star who is the club’s all-time leader in at-bats (5,470) and sits second in runs (789), hits (1529), doubles (339), home runs (223) and RBIs (813), cheap MLB jerseyswith primarily the future in mind if money is not an issue?”The biggest component, I think it goes without saying, was the financial implications,” Anthopoulos said. “The financial flexibility it gives our organization in 2012 and beyond with where we’re going and as we build this organization made a lot of sense for us.”At the same time we think Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera are very good players.”
And if, as Anthopoulos says, the trade has “no impact whatsoever” on efforts to perhaps lock up reigning home run king Jose Bautista long term, why not keep both players and just raise payroll when other opportunities arise?”We have a budgeted number each year but it’s very fluid and it has the ability to rise with the right opportunities,” said Anthopoulos. “If the right opportunities present themselves, we can have multiple players (in that salary range) on our payroll, that’s not a problem, but again, it has to make baseball sense for us.”Clearly the Angels, spurned by free-agent outfielder Carl Crawford earlier this off-season and devoid of any impact moves, feel Wells is the right fit for them.Angels GM Tony Reagins said on a conference call that Wells’s contract “was tolerable for us” and given that Crawford signed for $142 million over seven years and free-agent outfielder Jayson Werth fetched $126 million from the Washington Nationals, that doesn’t seem unreasonable.Meanwhile Wells, 32, waived his no-trade clause to let the deal happen and told reporters, “It’s going to be a blast … I’ve had a smile on my face the last two days.”
The Blue Jays players may not be quite as pleased.Anthopoulos said he called second baseman Aaron Hill and Bautista to discuss the deal, and had a 30-minute conversation with Ricky Romero, J.P. Arencibia, Travis Snider and Jesse Litsch in Vancouver, where all are gathered for the team’s caravan stop.”There’s going to be a void in the clubhouse,” said Anthopoulos.How the rest of the pieces fit together on the field also remains a work in progress.Rajai Davis, acquired earlier this off-season from Oakland, is now set to take over in centre field while the roles for Napoli and Rivera are still be determined by manager John Farrell.Napoli, 29, posted a .238 average with a career-high 26 home runs and 68 RBIs last season, splitting time between first base (70 games),NHL Hartford Whalers Jerseys, and catcher (66 games). He’s headed to salary arbitration where he’s seeking $6.1 million, MLB JERSEYSwhile the Angels countered at $5.3 million, and is under club control through 2012.Adding him gives the Blue Jays a veteran presence behind the plate while they try to integrate Arencibia to the big-league roster.Rivera, 32, is set to earn $5.25 million in the final season of a $12.75-million, three-year deal, and is eligible for free agency afterwards.He batted .252 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 2010 after setting career-highs of 25 home runs and 88 RBIs while batting .287 in 2009. In 10 seasons Rivera has career average of .280 with 112 home runs and 418 RBIs.