Retired three-time All-Star Vernon Wells, who hasn’t played since the 2013 season, has embarked on a new career path as a player agent. The Gem Agency announced that Wells has joined the staff as an MLBPA-certified player representative.
Wells, 40, enjoyed a 15-year Major League career and was considered a high-quality center fielder at his peak. From 2003-06, Wells slashed .292/.344/.509 with 116 homers, 153 doubles, 15 triples and 38 steals. He won three Gold Gloves, made two All-Star teams, collected MVP votes in two seasons and took home a Silver Slugger Award over that impressive four-year stretch. In all, Wells retired as a career .270/.319/.459 hitter with nearly $132MM in career earnings.
“It’s an honor to have Vernon join the Gem Agency, as we begin our efforts to expand the staff and grow our resources,” Gem founder and former Legacy Agency president Greg Genske said in a press release. “I have known Vernon for a long time, first as his agent and second as a friend. He is one of the most respected individuals in the game, and his insights, baseball IQ and industry reputation will make him an invaluable resource for our growing firm.”
Tight. That’s tight. I thought he made enough money ripping off the Blue Jays though by convincing them he was gonna be worth that massive contract. Does he really need more?
Why is it his fault they signed him to a big contract? He was a very good player, young and a homegrown talent. His agent did a good job for his client, that is entirely why he had an agent.
Yes it didn’t turn out to be a great contract but I find it interesting its Wells fault for making a lot of money.. A deal he himself said was too much money…. “I personally thought they were crazy, but that’s what they get paid for, to know these things.”
On one hand fans cry that Rogers/ownership doesn’t spend money (despite evidence in their normal payrolls against this argument) but then its the “players” fault when a deal like this goes bad..
Exactly. Countless people change jobs each year because a new employer will pay them more money and it is no different. The Blue Jays paid Wells according to the way they valued him, and Wells gladly accepted the money.
He’s also done some great things with that money through his foundation.
Yes him and his wife seems like very quality individuals who have put a lot of effort, time and money into helping other people in need.
I don’t see most of us turning down excessive amounts of money in our own careers.
He didn’t make a lot under the jays. The big money came from the Yankees/angels pockets
lowtalker… For clarity, the Yankees paid 13.9 million of the 42 million left on his contract from the Angels.
Its totally his fault they signed him to a big contract because he puts up contract year numbers then pulls the wool over their eyes with that crap.
Dont worry StandUp, the Angel’s stepped in and scooped up that heaping pile of a contract and dropped it on Arte’s front door. And that pile still stinks today.
And threw in a very productive Mike Napoli to boot.
yep…and Juan Rivera. BUT this was the knee jerk reaction in 2011 when they tried to get Carl Crawford and didnt… so I guess you could say they dodged a bullet by shooting themselves in the foot.
That last line made me chuckle. Thank you
Yes.
Lol. Every time I ever hear about this guy I remember how this was one of worst contracts ever a MLB team has ever given out.
yeah I am very sure he is happy that the Orioles re-signed Chris Davis
The Not year he was in the blue jays under that deal he 31 hr 88 rbi 79 runs. Not a bad year at all
In his last 3 years, he made $68M for producing ZERO WAR. That’s really hard to do, unless you’re Albert Pujols or Hamilton. LAA sure knows how to pick them. If he can be half as good an agent as his agent was for him, he’ll be the next Boras.
He was a great player ravaged by injury, nobody held a gun to the Jays heads to sign him, in the end AA managed to get out from under the contract, if anyone should be bitter it’s the Angles
@StandUpGuy Because you stop earning money when you have ‘enough”, right?
Let’s ignore the fact Wells and his wife have given away millions through their foundation, including supporting charities in Toronto long after he was traded away, or that what he might earn as a player’s agent would continue that charitable effort.
No, let’s just blast the guy because you’re having a bad morning…
He certainly has experience with player friendly contracts. I can see why a player would want an agent with his track record.
Vernon always came across as a sincere guy. Not worth his contract and everyone involved with trading for him should never be allowed to work in baseball again, but that’s on them not Vernon.
he should bring his clients to the angels at heavy discounts.
Remember Vernon making 15 million and Trout 500K and Trout winning the MVP?
Let off some steam, Bennett.
“Did you see that contract I fooled Toronto into signing me for? I did that. ”
Watch the money roll in, Vernon…..
Actually, his agent did that.
I’m curious: is he the wealthiest player to ever become an agent? That would be an interesting list.
I think Gary Sheffield is an agent.
Other wealthy players who are agents are Dave Stewart and Miguel Montero.
Lifetime ~$132M/ 28.5 bWAR =~$4.6M/bWAR. I don’t know the current market rate but that isn’t outrageous.
Take away his arb/pre-arb salaries & production.
Take away age pre-31.
The issue isn’t how he performed in his first years. It’s how he didn’t perform in the last 3, leaving LAA to pay $68M for nothing.
Albert Pujols has produced negative fWar in the last five years. What’s your point? Does it make any of them lesser players when they were great?
Nice seeing him getting back into the game in some way, hope he can get the best for his clients.
They should make a show about this series of events, but with football and it should star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Oh wait…
Terry Crews
Wells was not as bad as some suggest. At least he tried to come back from injuries and earn part of his salary. I think the worst contracts ever signed would have to be Carl Pavano, Jacoby Ellsbery, and Carl Crawford all signed in the last two decades. Back when players signed incentive laden contracts they actually played everyday. Guaranteed money made all players soiled and entitled that whine and cry more than they play. Make them earn the money and the quality of play will rise accordingly.
I would think you would have to put Chris Davis’ contract up as the worst ever
josh hammilton and cj wilson.. the lather opened a mazda dealership in central cal while under contract and supposedly injured off-road biking or something.
Where is all the baseball news
He had a career batting average of 270 with 270 home runs.
why is even worth a headline? Had a horrible career decline, rivaling Barry Zito for one of the worst FA contracts.
All star player becomes agent. Put your salty feelings aside and you’ll see
Was Vernon Wells overpaid? Yeah. Was he a good CF? Yeah, and some years he was great. I blame the ex-Oakland exec and Jays GM at the time plus President Paul Godfrey.
If Wells had any say in that contract then he is absolutely prepared for this job.
this poor guy gets ridiculed for being a good player and a well-paid player at two seperate times. to act like this contract is anywhere near the negative value that a contract like Davis’s has been is ridiculous.
Must be nice let’s go get David wells
Always uplifting to see rich getting richer.