Los Angeles Angels Rumors: SS Erick Aybar for RHP Phil Hughes?


Erick Aybar

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today, I wrote that the Los Angeles Angels  should trade Howie Kendrick in exchange for a starting pitcher, a second baseman and/or a promising minor league prospect.

The other valuable asset up for consideration in trade rumors about the Angels is shortstop Erick Aybar (.280, 4 HR, 37 RBI). Though I continue to believe that Kendrick would land a more respectable trade for the Angels, it’s worth looking into why the Halos might consider trading Aybar.

First, it’s obvious what Los Angeles would miss by dealing Aybar. He’s usually good for about a .280 average, and, most importantly, he’s the only good infielder on the Angels roster right now.

On the other hand, he is probably a tad overpaid at $8.5 million per year until 2016, but hey, when a team dumps $365 million on aging superstars past their prime, it kind of loses its moral and financial high ground, doesn’t it? So the Halos would be willing to entertain a truly solid offer.

Might the New York Yankees be willing to send starter Phil Hughes over to Anaheim and lock up a Derek Jeter replacement in Aybar? Sure, Jeter has been a Tim Duncan/Kobe Bryant type-legend whose inevitable decline has been postponed for several years, but at age 39, he can’t keep playing shortstop for much longer.

After earning $7.15 million this year, Hughes’ contract will be up at the end of the season. The Halos will have to see what kind of interest Hughes garners on the market, but he probably won’t command a whole lot more than the $7.15 million. In that case, throw in a minor league prospect from New York and the Halos have a trade that just might work in their favor.

Tony Baker is a Los Angeles Angels writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @tonloc_baker.


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