Blue Jays Make Offer To Vernon Wells?

According to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, a baseball source indicated that the Blue Jays have proposed a seven year, $126MM contract to Vernon Wells.  Wells's agent indicated that they have not had meaningful discussions, however. 

Wells turned 28 a few days ago.  He's part of the all-world center fielder free agent class of 2008, with fine defense and a .900 OPS.  Most folks seem to think he'll end up in Texas because of proximity to his childhood home. 

Rich Lederer marches to a different drum - he'd rather trade for Rocco Baldelli.

Comments

[gopher]

I thought the two sides were at each others throats?

[bsox21]

great offer by the Jays.

Wells is worth it.

Wells needs to consider that he eliminates the risk of getting injured this season for a contract that will not get much better.

He MIGHT cost himself 10-15 mil per by signing early, but 126 is good enough.

hopefully someone puts Wells in touch with Nomar Garciaparra to ask for advice on signing early.

[ScottBrosius]

Agreed bsox. I'm not sure how much more he could get beyond 18 million a year.

The thing that might hold him back, though, is that he probably does not want to spend the next seven years of his life in Toronto. I don't blame him. Ideally, he'd want to be in houston, and he could probably get that deal if he waits until the summer. But, with nomar and Juan Gone as reminders, it makes financial sense for him to take this deal.

[bsox21]

with 126 million, he can move his family out to toronto, and hire a staff of people to hang out with him and pretend its houston.

the heat is irrelevant becuz u have AC on EVERYWHERE u go in houston anyway.

[stormstarter28]

Come on now guys, we all know Wells is great, but nearly 21 million per year? That's more than a tad pricy if you ask me.

[stormstarter28]

Wow, I'm dumb-ignore that comment. 18 per year (not as bad, but still pretty pricy)

[eeleye99]

It's funny. I was just gonna post a link saying how the main Jays writer echoed that the Jays might trade wells, and he's usually right about what JP does...but he now confirms they offered this

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061213.wspt-wells-12/GSStory/GlobeSportsBaseball/home

[eeleye99]

That's what guys cost now. He's the leader of the team.

[bsox21]

bottom line: if he doesnt take this offer, he will be traded by spring training.

[wihargo]

I remember when guys would sign with the Jays partly because they wanted to live in Toronto. (or thats what they told the media).
I always wondered though, why do fans always believe that players want to return to their hometowns. It seems that 66% of the people I meet couldn't leave their hometowns fast enough.

[purduerowdie]

if soriano's worth 17 per, certainly wells could command 20+ on the open market.

[matt8149]

He should, without a doubt wait until the offseason and get out of the AL East. The Jays wont stand a chance against the Sox or Yanks, especially with all the new acquisitions. He would be intelligent to go elsewhere where a competitive team is fielded. He'll make the same, or better money. Why not go home to Texas, or go to a big market team like the Yanks or Mets. Depending how Coco does this year, the sox could even be in the hunt. There are plenty of teams that will be looking for bats next offseason.

[DunkinDonuts]

How much is Wells really worth beyond what the Blue Jays are offering? He's definitely a premium player who plays good defense at a premium position. But he's an .830 OPS guy. Soriano's OPS tops this, and that's factoring in previous years when he literally refused to take a base on balls.

Of the other players who approach his estimated price range:

Manny's career OPS is over 1.000. He's a machine.

From 2000-2004, Bonds was over 1.300, but I wouldn't be surprised if we never see numbers like that again.

Beltran has touched the .390/.590 range, and has a career average OPS of .847 with a major upturn last year.

A-Rod is around .960 for his career.

Even Jeter, who is paid as much for his intangibles as anything else, has put up an .851 average OPS.

Carlos Lee is in Soriano's range for his career, but his numbers, like Soriano's, have improved.

Wells has had two elite seasons, 2003 and this past season. What happened in 2004 and 2005, and does his defense make up for the fact that he doesn't get on base as much as other players who draw $17-20M+ salaries? I acknowledge that he can (and has) put up .900 OPS numbers, but can he sustain them over a $120M+ contract? Does anyone have his PECOTA or something similar for next year?

[kevmill21]

i believe he wants to come to arlington, home, and where his best friend michael young plays. i think that article comparing baldelli to wells is crazy, he's never healthy swings at everything and doesn't play near the defense, all he is is cheap. and i realize that means a lot to a lot of teams, but you can't really compare the two IMO

[eeleye99]

It might be more worth it to trade for Humber and Heilman.

[allabouthephils]

126MM over 7 is going to entice him... exactly 18MM a year... I think if Andruw Jones hits the market with him next year, he will top that easily....
I think one of them will end up a 20MM a year guy... Imagine WHEN Carlos Zambrano, Andruw Jones, and Vernon Wells all hit the market at the same time.... You think this winter was bad for contracts??? Wait till next year....

[djskilbr]

I think he should take this. He's not going to get any more than a max of $20 million per if he hits FA, and this offers him security now as well. I wouldn't be so concerned about Andruw's contract. He wouldn't make close to Wells because his body is breaking down and he's not near the defender ALREADY that he once was. Noone's gonna sign him for more than 6 years, and not for more than $16 per either I don't think, not when you watch him play compared to what he once was.

As for Zambrano, I think the Cubs have realized their mistake with Aramis, and will make sure they lock him up next year. I think next year's FA class is actually going to be relatively boring.

[zubes007]

The Mets should not trade for Vernon Wells. What is Wells primary asset? That he puts up excellent offensive numbers with power and plays excellent defense in CENTERFIELD. Thats an impossible combination to find...unless you are the Mets or Cleveland. A player who hits like Wells, inconsistent a little patience, in a corner shouldn't be payed over 15 MM per year (just like Carlos Lee shouldn't be).

In a corner OF spot, Wells' bat is NOT worth 20 MM like it IS in center. And who knows if Wells' defense will carry over to a corner? Mike Cameron is legit gold glover, but he was terrible in right (-15 FRAA in half a season). Technically, the corners are easier, but it depends on the player.

[SpecialFNK]

im a Jays fan, and i DONT want the Jays to resign Wells.
right now the Jays NEED pitching, and Wells is the best piece that can be traded for a quality SP.
i dont even think Wells is worth $18 million a season. last year was the only year in which he hit well in April, and that was coming after the WBC. he has a .255 career AVG in April.
he had great numbers in 06, but people dont seem to remember 05 and 04 where his numbers were good, not great, just good.
he is a good player, but IMO not worth $18 million a season.
IF the Jays sign Wells to a contract of $18 million(or more) then that leaves them with no money left to go after pitching for this season.. plus likely no money for next offseason when there are more quality free agents than there were this season including other CF's Andruw Jones and Tori Hunter, not to mention the Jays are going to be needing help at other positions such as C and SS.
i think the Jays would be better off for the future to not resign Wells and use the money elsewhere.
the Jays dont necessarily need another OF ..Alex Rios can also play CF, along with Reed Johnson and youngster Adam Lind almost ready to take over an OF spot.

[KE632117]

I was just reading a Mailbag article on the Blue Jays MLB website where fans had written in questions, and the fans were from Ireland, Switzerland, Nova Scotia, and Alberta. I don't know much about the Jays, do they have a lot of fans throughout Canada and in European countries?

[KE632117]

Scott, Why do you say that Wells would ideally want to be in Houston? I don't know anything about him except that he grew up in Texas.

If he does happen to get injured next year, or he bats .275 with 25 HR, how much money do you all, (I changed it from y'all cause I realize not all of you are from Texas), think he would get in free agency?

[wihargo]

The Jays are more popular than any other team in Canada, although there is a lot of diversity among fans overall. The english language media is based out of Southern Ontario. The national papers cover them extensively. Rogers Sportsnet gives you most of the Jays games on TV every year. Its usually the lead-off baseball item on every local sports cast as far as I have seen. The Jays are (or at least were) very involved in developing the sport across the country at a grass roots level with things like coaches clinics and skills camps. They try to market themselves as Canada's teams too. People in different regions will travel to see the jays play in nearby US cities. Oddly, the team that seems to pay the most attention to Canadian youth players is the Dodgers.

[hood]

I wonder if the Rangers would do a J.Benoit, C.J. Wilson, Ian Kinsler and Atsuka for Wells deal if they can get an extension done.

[hood]

Also he grew up in Texas about 10 min away from Arlington Stadium. And is having a house built next store to M. Texiarra. All those signs point to the Rangers not Astros.

[beeniez]

"I wouldn't be so concerned about Andruw's contract. He wouldn't make close to Wells because his body is breaking down and he's not near the defender ALREADY that he once was. Noone's gonna sign him for more than 6 years, and not for more than $16 per either I don't think, not when you watch him play compared to what he once was."

How is his body breaking down? He's never even been on the DL. He's going to get way more than Vernon Wells. He puts up bigger numbers offensively and is still the best defensively centerfielder in the game.

Boras will get Andruw his 20 million with 6 years. He's going to be the best position player on the free market. Boras already termed him "the complete player."

I hope Vernon signs cheap to bring down the ridiculous amount of money people are commanding.

[nrmax88]

is it really next store do mark texeira lol

[Bonatom]

Are they Still Playing baseball in Canada?

[ArodSucksAtLife]

If he gets the exact same offer from the Rangers, he is infact making a buttload more money. The canada/us difference alone, plus the lack of income tax in Texas. He'd be making millions and millions more a year.

[toshiro]

Hmmm... not sure about this signing. He could turn out to be the most glorious Shane Mack in history. It'd be nice if Wells learned to hit righties better (.277 career vs R, .320 vs ). Also, his onbase blows (.336 -- .321 vs R!). He's only scored 100+ runs 1 time and is not a rbi machine.

He's kind of a Torii Hunter, esp w/his solid D. His park inflate #s more than the Twins, so maybe they're pretty close. Torii is making $12 mil in 07.

Seems like the money could be used better elsewhere.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wellsve01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hunteto01.shtml

[eeleye99]

THis is what I would do if I were Jays GM.

Trade Vernon Wells for Aaron Heilman and Phillip Humber.
Make Heilman a starter. (Rotation solved).
Have $25 million free to spend this year, and $18 the next 7 years. Seeing as there is no one left on the market, and the team's hitting just went down, I'd take on all of Pat Burrell's contract and give practically no prospects back in return because Gillick is so desperate to get rid of him.
I'd cut John McDonald and/or Royce Clayton, and sign Ronnie Belliard (or less realistically Marcus Giles) to solidify the lineup even more. Now I have a dominant lineup. I have some financial flexibility ($5 million this year, an extra $10 next year), and my pitching got a whole lot better for years to come, and my offence perhaps improves with Burrell AND Belliard coming in.

[samael88]

if veron wells is "worth" 126m for 7 years, then...

i cant imagine how much would pujols and vlad "worth"

[Dont Do That!]

The Canadian/US dollar makes no difference, since all professional athletes get paid in American $'s. Yes, the taxes in Canada are higher than the US, especially Texas, but that keeps our country from wroughting from the inside! I love the Canadian-American smack, it's classic!
I thought of a trade with the LA Dodgers:
Dodgers get: Wells, McGowan
Blue Jays get: Penny, Billingsley, Kemp (or Ethier)
Ya, I know I'm dreaming, but in my opinion, Billingsley MUST be included in any deal with Wells.