Mets acquire Gary Matthews Jr.

According to multiple reports the Mets are on the verge of acquiring Gary Matthews Jr.. The 35 y/o switch hitting outfielder has been a bad fit with the Angels for three years.
In 2006 Matthews made a highlight reel catch and had a career year at the plate(.313/.371/.495/.866). The Angels choose to see it as a break out year instead of a career year and signed him to a five year 50MM contract. The very next year he returned to his normal numbers and the Angels signed Tori Hunter during the 2008 off-season.

For the last two years he has been a very expensive fifth outfielder, behind Hunter, Vlad, Abreu and Rivera.

Last year he played in 103 games 56 of which were in center field when Tori Hunter went down with an injury.

Matthews name has come up before but has been immediately dismissed because he's owed 23.5MM ( 11M- 2010/ 12M-2011/ .5M for trade) but the reports indicate that the Angels are pitching in somewhere near 20MM and are only receiving Brian Stokes in return.

So the Mets have acquired a switch hitter who can play center field, and will only cost them 3.5MM for two years and a middle reliever that is out of options.

Here are Matthews career numbers which is what he basically hit last year; .258/.333 .408/.740. Which aren't great and his knees are starting to limit his range, but he has been successful at playing all three outfield positions off bench or as a spot starter.

Even without a follow-up move this deal makes sense to ensure center is covered until Beltran returns, I'd rather have Matthews then the group of back-up center fielders I mentioned the other day, of which only Reed Johnson and Alfredo Amegaza ( who's just starting to run) are left...

Source says #Angels will, in fact, acquire Brian Stokes in their Gary Matthews trade with the #Mets. Not sure yet on the money. source Jon Morosi Fox Sports