The Los Angeles Angels have had a horrible start to their 2012 season. They made the biggest splash at the Winter Meetings by adding Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson on the same day, in hopes of catching the two-time defending American League champion Texas Rangers. Now four games under .500 and seven games behind Texas, the Angels are reportedly talking about trading Peter Bourjos.
Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported that the Angels have had preliminary talks with the Washington Nationals about the center fielder Bourjos. Morosi speculated that the Angels would seek a relief pitcher in return.
Bourjos is hitting just .192/.259/.288 so far this season and has started just seven of 18 games since outfielder Mike Trout was recalled from Triple A on April 21. But the strength of Bourjos is his defense, and he was the Angels' best outfielder last season, hitting .271/.327/.438 while catching everything in sight in center.
At just 25 years old with still five seasons before free agency, Bourjos is exactly the type of player the Angels should keep. He is especially not someone the Angels should trade for a reliever. Trout and Bourjos should be starting every day for the Halos, with the rest of the outfield built around them.
If the Angels want to make a splash, they should release Vernon Wells, who is owed $21 million per year through 2014, but has hit .220/.250/.409. Bourjos should be in Anaheim to stay.
For more news and notes on Peter Bourjos and Angels baseball, be sure to read Halos Heaven.
