Yankees Release Vernon Wells

[key2win]

The worst Angels transaction of all time.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Yankees cut outfielder Vernon Wells.

Wells, who was designated for assignment, was acquired last March from the Los Angeles Angels and hit .233 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs in 424 at-bats. The 35-year-old, a three-time All-Star, became superfluous when the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran to join an outfield that already included Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano.

New York is responsible for just $2.4 million of Wells' $21 million salary in the final season of his $126 million, seven-year contract, with the Angels paying the Yankees $18.6 million as part of the trade last March.

A team that signs Wells would be responsible for just $500,000, the major league minimum.

[key2win]

I dont know what is worse. The Blue Jays for giving him that contract in the first place. Or the Angels for actually trading for him. LOL!

Wells might become the most expensive player to be released — if that's what happens — in major league history. Players designated for assignment are removed immediately from the 40-man roster, and the team is given 10 days to take one of four possible actions:

• Put the player on waivers (which can only be done within seven days) so another team can claim him
• Trade him
• Release him
• Outright him to the minors (and they'd need Wells' permission for that — which he probably won't give, given his tweet saying good-bye)

The Yankees (or Wells' next team) won't have to pay most of what he's owed for the final year of the $126 million deal he signed with the Blue Jays after the 2007 season. Baseball-Reference and other sources say $18.6 million will be paid by the Los Angeles Angels, his previous team. No matter if Wells plays again, he was never able to live up to the improbable expectations the contract set.

[gladdyontherise]

Angels should re-sign him!