I always knew that Arte Moreno would do something this offseason, I just didn’t know when he would strike or how conventional the move would be.
The Angels’ owner struck in the quiet of the January offseason, making his trademark splash in the trade pool Friday by jettisoning out-of-position Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera for Gold Glove center fielder Vernon Wells.
While not a move that anyone had on the Angel radar, the move certainly carries significant impact for the team’s immediate and long-term future. Initial reactions to the trade are mixed, so let’s dive in and break down the effect that it has on the Angels.