January 20. 2014, 1:45 p.m.
@avdbkr20samuel
It appears the Phillies have dug deep into the old-age home stock of players available to them this off-season. That looks to continue.
According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Phillies have shown interest in signing free agent, Vernon Wells.
The 35-year old three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner with the Blue Jays has not lived up to these standards since.
Wells had a semi-decent season with the Yankees last season, hitting .233 with 11 home runs while driving in 50 runs, a far cry from his 2003 All-Star year with the Blue Jays, when he hit 33 bombs, drove in 117 runs, with an equally impressive .317 batting average.
From 2011-2013, though, he hit a meager .226, with a sub-par .267 on base percentage, and a .387 slugging percentage.
Essentially he doesn't get many hits or get on base often, but can help a team off the bench with the occasional last drops of pop he has left in his bat.
Wells fared better against lefties, however. From 2011-2013, he hit .267 with 16 dingers and 19 doubles in 419 at-bats.
Since he is a cheap option, Wells, who is already guaranteed $18.6 million from the Angels in 2014, will most likely receive a minor league deal from the Phillies if they were to sign him.
With Delmon Young being brought in last year and not producing for the Phillies, it appears to be a similar situation except with a player who is seven years older than Young. He would most likely be used off the bench, and only face lefties.
It's not a wasted deal since Wells is inexpensive, and the Phillies could release him anytime. This is not a move, however, that the Phillies should be pursuing right now, since they already have Darin Ruff and John Mayberry as serviceable right handed power bats off the bench.
- The Philadelphia Baseball
