Angels rumors: Yankees unlikely to acquire Vernon Wells

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vernon Wells' name has come up as a potential fill in for injured New York Yankees slugger Curtis Granderson. However, Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times reports that the Angels will "probably not" ship Wells to the Yankees this spring.

Shaikin notes that there is a potential match between New York and Los Angeles involving Wells, as the veteran doesn't have a clear spot with his current team. With Mike Trout, Peter Bourjos and Josh Hamilton slated as regulars in the outfield, Wells figures to man a reserve role in Los Angeles.

For this reason, Wells might have been a match for New York if he wasn't owed another $42 million over the next two years. This hefty price tag wouldn't have been an issue for the free-spending Yankees of the past, but New York is currently attempting to rein in its budget. Shaikin doesn't get the sense that the Angels are willing to eat enough of Wells' remaining salary to interest New York.

Also, Los Angeles isn't necessarily in a hurry to ship out Wells considering he's the team's only experienced protection against injury to a starting outfielder or a lack of offense from Bourjos, according to Shaikin.

Wells hit .230/.279/.403 with nine doubles and 11 home runs over 262 plate appearances for the Angels last season. The 34-year-old owns a career batting line of .273/.321/.467, but he's only hit .222/.258/.409 over two seasons in Los Angeles.