Wells Rumours

Noob · December 5th, 2006, 10:51 AM

http://www.benmaller.com/#mlb_rumors_notes

Quote:

A White Sox source said the team had discussed the availability of three-time Gold Glove center fielder Vernon Wells, who can become a free agent after the 2007 season. Wells, a two-time American League All-Star, batted .303 with 32 home runs and 106 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 2006. The Blue Jays would seek at least a starting pitcher and a center field prospect for Wells, who turns 28 Friday and has driven in 100 runs or more in three of five full major-league seasons. Wells will earn $5.6 million next season. Sox right fielder Jermaine Dye ($7 million) and Wells could be the two premier outfielders on the free-agent market after the 2007 season. Williams was careful not to specify any interest in fan favorite Aaron Rowand, who was dealt to Philadelphia last season in the Jim Thome trade.

Quote:

The Rockies also called the Blue Jays on Monday about center fielder Vernon Wells, though Toronto would have to get an overwhelming offer to consider moving him. Concern over Yorvit Torrealba's previous shoulder injuries also has motivated the team's pursuit of free-agent catcher Rod Barajas.

Looks like there is alot of interest in Wells. I would like to resign him but if we can't at least we know there is still a market for him. The Rockies is an intriguing match as they could put a package together surrounding Troy Tulowitzki.

TrueBlueJay · December 5th, 2006, 11:10 AM

What I dont get is how JP says he wants to settle the pitching before dealing with Wells.

We should deal with Wells FIRST. Because if he wont sign, we'll want pitching in return. What good is it to get a guy like Garcia or Jennings in return for him if we already have a 5 man rotation of Doc/AJ/Lilly/Meche/Gus?

fmradioguy · December 5th, 2006, 11:47 AM

Well, I've been wondering if JP sees the writing on the wall and knows the team likely won't want to resign Wells for the money it would take to do so. A team that has just traded a player like Wells is far less appealing to free agent pitchers who want both team stability and a good offense to back them up. If he's going to deal Wells, wait until you've signed who you want to sign. Keep the team looking as attractive as possible for as long as possible.

gojays2007 · December 5th, 2006, 12:20 PM

makes sense.

Not sure JP can think like this though.

Noob · December 5th, 2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmradioguy

Well, I've been wondering if JP sees the writing on the wall and knows the team likely won't want to resign Wells for the money it would take to do so. A team that has just traded a player like Wells is far less appealing to free agent pitchers who want both team stability and a good offense to back them up. If he's going to deal Wells, wait until you've signed who you want to sign. Keep the team looking as attractive as possible for as long as possible.

Good point. Just to add, maybe JP feels a team will be willing to overpay for Wells if they were unable to sign a big name free agent or perhaps he thinks if we sign another pitcher or two Wells if more likely to sign as he feels we are more likely to contend.

gojays2007 · December 7th, 2006, 09:54 PM

What good is it to get a guy like Garcia or Jennings in return for him if we already have a 5 man rotation of Doc/AJ/Lilly/Meche/Gus?

If we had that rotation, why would he trade wells for more pitching?

gojays2007 · December 7th, 2006, 11:44 PM

The Mets have a conversation with the Jays about Vernon Wells on Thursday.

The Mets don't have an established starter to surrender, but some combination of Lastings Milledge, Aaron Heilman, Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber could be enough to pull off a deal.

-rotoworld.com

TrueBlueJay · December 8th, 2006, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gojays2007

If we had that rotation, why would he trade wells for more pitching?

Uhhh, that was exactly my point

gojays2007 · December 8th, 2006, 08:04 AM

What good is it to get a guy like Garcia or Jennings in return for him if we already have a 5 man rotation of Doc/AJ/Lilly/Meche/Gus?

We wouldn't trade for Garcia or Jennings if we had that rotation. We would trade for something else obviously.

TrueBlueJay · December 8th, 2006, 09:31 AM

For what? A centrefielder to replace Vernon I assume then?

TheShaker99 · December 9th, 2006, 05:29 AM

I found this clipping from FoxSports on the The Jays board mlb.......

"Brad Penny, the National League starter in the All-Star game, is the most likely trade bait because his temper problems became tiresome to the Dodgers and he had a poor second half. However, executives from other teams said Penny's stock has dropped to the point that it could be difficult for the Dodgers to deal him for a proven hitter unless they also include at least one top prospect. A possible trade partner could be the Toronto Blue Jays, whose general manager, J.P. Ricciardi, likes Penny. Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells has one year left on his contract and isn't likely to re-sign with Toronto, so Ricciardi could be open to trading him".

TheShaker99 · December 9th, 2006, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheShaker99

I found this clipping from FoxSports on the The Jays board mlb.......

"Brad Penny, the National League starter in the All-Star game, is the most likely trade bait because his temper problems became tiresome to the Dodgers and he had a poor second half. However, executives from other teams said Penny's stock has dropped to the point that it could be difficult for the Dodgers to deal him for a proven hitter unless they also include at least one top prospect. A possible trade partner could be the Toronto Blue Jays, whose general manager, J.P. Ricciardi, likes Penny. Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells has one year left on his contract and isn't likely to re-sign with Toronto, so Ricciardi could be open to trading him".

Here's another one:

Lots of quotes today from both Godfrey and Wells that would make you think Wells will be signed very quickly--

We didn't discuss a drop-dead date on this, but that's probably a realistic timeframe," Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Godfrey said on Friday. "That's a very reasonable timeframe to find out if we can or if we can't.

"I've said right from the beginning that Vernon is our first order of business after free agency," he added. "Does that mean today? It may not mean exactly today, but we'd sure like to get Vernon done and put behind us so we can move on."

Wells, who has started his offseason workouts at his home in Texas, said that he has had no in-depth discussions with Toronto, yet. He didn't think that agreeing on a deal by the new year would pose a problem if the offer was what he deemed to be fair market value, though.

"I don't see why that wouldn't be realistic," said Wells, referring to the rough deadline. "If we're able to agree on things, it could be done as quickly as it gets started. It's just a matter of where both sides are and how quickly we can get to some sort of resolution."

"I hope we can find a number that is fair market value for Vernon in respect to the number of years and number of dollars," Godfrey said. "J.P. and I, we're on the same wavelenghth. Our first preference is to try and make a deal with him."

Any trade amongst Blue Jays does not necessarily have to involve Vernon Wells," said Godfrey, who added later that the board of directors for Rogers Communications was meeting in about a week to discuss Toronto's team payroll.

"J.P. has told my people that they're wanting to get something done," Wells said. "They're still working with ownership and going over all the pitching things that need to be done. It's just a matter of after these Winter Meetings, talking a little bit more."

ht tp://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061208&content_id=1754693&vkey=n ews_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor

December 5th, 2006, 11:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
TrueBlueJay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 174	What I dont get is how JP says he wants to settle the pitching before dealing with Wells. We should deal with Wells FIRST. Because if he wont sign, we'll want pitching in return. What good is it to get a guy like Garcia or Jennings in return for him if we already have a 5 man rotation of Doc/AJ/Lilly/Meche/Gus?

December 5th, 2006, 11:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
fmradioguy Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 18	Well, I've been wondering if JP sees the writing on the wall and knows the team likely won't want to resign Wells for the money it would take to do so. A team that has just traded a player like Wells is far less appealing to free agent pitchers who want both team stability and a good offense to back them up. If he's going to deal Wells, wait until you've signed who you want to sign. Keep the team looking as attractive as possible for as long as possible.

December 5th, 2006, 12:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
gojays2007 Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 177	makes sense. Not sure JP can think like this though.

December 7th, 2006, 09:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
gojays2007 Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 177	What good is it to get a guy like Garcia or Jennings in return for him if we already have a 5 man rotation of Doc/AJ/Lilly/Meche/Gus? If we had that rotation, why would he trade wells for more pitching?

December 7th, 2006, 11:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
gojays2007 Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 177	The Mets have a conversation with the Jays about Vernon Wells on Thursday. The Mets don't have an established starter to surrender, but some combination of Lastings Milledge, Aaron Heilman, Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber could be enough to pull off a deal. -rotoworld.com

December 8th, 2006, 08:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
gojays2007 Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 177	What good is it to get a guy like Garcia or Jennings in return for him if we already have a 5 man rotation of Doc/AJ/Lilly/Meche/Gus? We wouldn't trade for Garcia or Jennings if we had that rotation. We would trade for something else obviously.

December 8th, 2006, 09:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
TrueBlueJay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 174	For what? A centrefielder to replace Vernon I assume then?

December 9th, 2006, 05:29 AM	#11 (permalink)
TheShaker99 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 80	I found this clipping from FoxSports on the The Jays board mlb....... "Brad Penny, the National League starter in the All-Star game, is the most likely trade bait because his temper problems became tiresome to the Dodgers and he had a poor second half. However, executives from other teams said Penny's stock has dropped to the point that it could be difficult for the Dodgers to deal him for a proven hitter unless they also include at least one top prospect. A possible trade partner could be the Toronto Blue Jays, whose general manager, J.P. Ricciardi, likes Penny. Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells has one year left on his contract and isn't likely to re-sign with Toronto, so Ricciardi could be open to trading him".