Vernon Wells, Yankees third baseman

He can do everything! Well, while in pinstripes, anyway.

May 9, 2013, 2:35 PM UTC

USA TODAY Sports

Great, here we go again, the Yankees are just using their financial clout to acquire all the best players and destroy the rest of the American League. This time, we're seeing it with Vernon Wells, who was still owed $42 million over the last two years of his deal when the Yankees pried him from the grasp of the less fortunate Los Angeles Angels, who can only afford a payroll of about $140 million per year. The Yankees offered to relieve the financial stress of Wells' contract, and the Angels, having so much less money than the Yankees, were forced to oblige, giving up a player who has now hit .287/.341/.507 for New York with seven homers in 30 games.

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Obviously, the above isn’t serious. Well, not completely serious, anyway. The Yankees did take Wells from the Angels as something of a favor, and utilized their payroll to do so. At least in 2013 anyway, as the Yankees are responsible for more than half of his salary this year, but less than $3 million of it in 2014. Getting out from a park that has helped destroy his career -- Wells has a career .213/.251/.350 line at Angels Stadium -- and into one that benefits him relative to his past environment meant it was worth a shot to the Yankees at this price tag, especially with their injuries. You see, even a favor like taking Vernon Wells off of the hands of someone who can’t play him and can’t afford him isn’t entirely without self-serving motives. Nor should they be: baseball is competitive.

Now Wells is the owner of a 126 OPS+, hit a homer against the Rockies that helped the Yankees secure a 3-2 win on Wednesday, and even played third base. No, really. We have footage of this happening in the ninth inning of yesterday's game in Colorado:

If you don’t believe that’s Vernon Wells because you can’t make out his face or something, that’s fine. We have evidence that #12 -- that’s Vernon Wells’ number! -- was lined up at the hot corner. Outfield camera, do your thing:

You know, Wells might actually have more range at third than in the outfield at this point. Something to think about when Curtis Granderson comes back, New York.