Can you picture Nick Swisher or Hideki Matsui in an Angels uniform?
Apparently the Angels are at least giving it some thought. Reports are that the Yankees are looking to make a trade as they have a glut of corner outfielders. On the trading block are Xavier Nady, Swisher Matsui. At least one, maybe two of those players will get moved.
As of December, the Angels likely would start Juan Rivera or Gary Mathews Jr. in left, Torri Hunter in center and Vlad Guerrero in right. Behind them as insurance would be Chone Figgins and the loser in the battle to start in left field. That’s a solid lineup, maybe better depending on how Guerrero bounces back.
Not that there isn’t some reason to at least talk with the Yankees. Swisher (just acquired this off-season by New York from the White Sox) is a left-handed bat and the Angels could use one of those, and Matsui is a switch hitter.
Matsui doesn’t make a lot of sense in one regard, he is due $13 million next year and likely would DH when not playing in the outfield. Angel fans could rightly question that big an expenditure on a Matsui quality player (.294 last season with nine home runs). Swisher, is a far more reasonable $5.3 million (and is just 28 years old) but he hit just .219 last year, with 24 home runs.
We know the Angels are not going after the biggest bats on the market now, Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn. But adding Swisher to the mix for some mid-level picks is at least worth a conversation or two.
