The Vernon Wells trade - I actually like it

I like the Vernon Wells trade for the Angels despite the doom-and-gloom of worrying about what the team will end up having to pay Wells the next four years - he doesn't seem to be the most vocal guy, but he signs his share of autographs and seems to be a stand up guy otherwise.

The Angels traded catcher Mike Napoli, who maybe the next Mickey Tettleton [he was actually was a productive player, so this is a compliment] - but the Angels milked most of Nap's talents as a one-time 17th round draft pick. Napoli wasn't going to get any better despite establishing himself as a power threat who somehow was perceived as being screwed out of playing time in favor of Jeff Mathis.

The Angels also traded outfielder Juan Rivera, who kind of got a bum rap in 2010 - his stats did lag and maybe there was some 'motivation issues' with him at times, but he may enjoy a bounce back season.

As an Angels' fan, I wanted the team to pick up a star locked up with a franchise in-flux instead of signing Jayson Werth, Carl Crawford or even Adrian Beltre - I maybe crazy, but I was hoping for Justin Upton or Hanley Ramirez.

Wells wasn't the type of star player I was hoping the Angels would get and there are nearly $85 million reasons and four years why that is the case - I wish the Angels could have gotten more money back, but hopefully Wells can stay healthy and avert his trend of having so-so years after relatively productive seasons, including an all-star year in 2010.

I suppose short of Wells turning into Albert Pujols and the Angels winning the World Series the next four years - he'll never live up to his contract. However, it seems like the experts are on Alex Andreopoulos's nuts for getting rid of the Alex Rios a year or so ago and now the Wells contract.

As much as Alex Andreopoulos' sleight of hand skills are praised into duping apparent GM black eyes in Chicago and Anaheim - Andreopoulos' Blue Jays teams will still be playing for third place in American League East.

It doesn't matter how many prospects, draft picks or money he hoards, Andreopoulos is still not going to get what is important in a way that consumes the people who deal with more than just statistical analysis - which is a legitimate chance to compete for a championship.

Maybe it is to circumstance, but for all the pundits and numbers guys who just love the guy right now and since he was hired - a #6 from Dave Cameron maybe the best accolade the Toronto organization might get this year.

The flags fly in Anaheim, not in Toronto.

Featured autograph - Juan Rivera

Juan Rivera is not a Major League player who has been a star - but when healthy, he can hit for power, he can hit for average and carry a team during a hot streak.

After Torii Hunter had tied an Angels club record by hitting three home runs in a Saturday 9-1 win against the San Diego Padres of the AAA Pacific Coast League - Rivera followed up with two home runs of his own on Sunday in a 6-0 win against the same AAA squad.

Rivera's future was sort of in the air this past off-season - but then the Angels reached out and re-signed him to a three-year contract to basically replace Garret Anderson in left field.

Despite being a righty, I think Rivera is comparable to someone like Raul Ibanez - a player who may not had a clear path to becoming a regular but beginning in his early 30s, strung together four or five good years, culminating with an all-star caliber season in Philadelphia this season.

The 2007 Topps Allen and Ginter base card was signed by Rivera at a public appearance last Saturday - the Angels are my home team, but during the regular season, the only times I typically get autographs of Angels is through public appearances.