Vernon Wells

by ae2cdk on Dec 4, 2009 11:43 AM EST Comment 27 comments

Now before everyone calls me crazy, it's Friday I am off work and bored out of my mind. So with that in mind.

What about trying to see if the Blue Jays will give us Halladay without us giving up Joba/Hughes?Montero etc if we take back Wells?

Here is my thinking. Wells is no longer an elite centerfielder but we don't need him to play center field. If we were willing to take him and his salary off the jays hands we can get Halladay with a lesser package of prospects. We probably will still have to give up Ajax but not Montero. I was thinking maybe Nova, Brackman,Ajax/Melky and maybe one other low prospect. Now Wells is not a player that can carry a team but we don't need that from him. Much like Swisher struggled in Chicago because they wanted him to be a offensive focal point I feel that is why Wells has struggled in Toronto. In the Yankee lineup Wells can be the complementary piece his talent projects to and much like Swish we will get far more production than they got. We also move him to LEFT which solves the problem of getting a left fielder. His speed and arm are much more suited to left field at this point with his history of hamstring problems and he still has a plus arm.

This also allows us to resign Damon or Matsui to a reasonable deal if we choose to and make that person the full time DH. We upgrade our outfield defense and we still keep Joba and Hughes.

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This would be like paying Melky Cabrera $20 million dollars.....

do we want to trade for Melky Cabrera?

Do we want to trade for Melky Cabrera making $20 million?

Do we want to trade for Melky Cabrera making $20 million who’s contract runs till the end of time?

…how about we just stick with Melky Cabrera?

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 4, 2009 11:53 AM EST reply actions

If the Jays placed Wells on irrevocable waivers

no team would claim him. Wells’ production right now is equal that of a league average player. It’s sad to see what he has become because he was once one of my favorite players to watch. Sure you can say that Wells can’t handle the pressure of carrying a lineup which has led to his offensive struggles but what’s the excuse for his extreme defensive regression?

by Scooby Snacks on Dec 4, 2009 12:05 PM EST reply actions

IMO his hamstring issues have turned a once elite center fielder into a corner outfielder. That is the only reason I think he should play left field. Like I said in the beginning of the post its just some winter spitballing. Your right no one would claim him because they would be stuck with his salary but my premise for Wells is actually looking at a different way to get Halladay without surrendering any of our young blue chip talent.

by ae2cdk on Dec 4, 2009 12:15 PM EST up reply actions

Those hamstring issues have lingered on for the past three straight years. There’s nothing to say that it’s all of a sudden going to go away for an athlete that is only 31 years old.

Let’s say that your proposal does materialize and the Yankees save Hughes/Joba/AJax/Montero/McAllister. What do you do with Wells and his $21M/yr. salary for the next five years? You can’t make him your fourth outfielder or bench him. You’re now forced to play him everyday knowing that you can most likely get better production out of a LF/DH on the open market that can be had for way less than half of Well’s annual salary.

by Scooby Snacks on Dec 4, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

It’s not Wells’ fault that JP Ricciardi decided to pay him like he was Albert Pujols, but right now this contract is probably competing with Mike Hampton’s for worst signing in the history of the game.

The Blue Jays could package Halladay with Wells, but I don’t think anybody’s doing that deal even if they’re just asking for two B-list prospects.

by 3460kuri on Dec 4, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions

Wells is interesting

I think the majority of his problems is that he is hated there… His contract has stunted the growth of the BJ’s. He was signed to carry the team, and can’t handle that obviously. But since Boston has been the clear front runner for Halladay in all the papers, magazines and blogs, if they took Wells, it would probably make more sense in what they are offering. Especially since it looks like they may lose Bay. It would also make it really hard to pay Vmart after next year.

by NJHEAT on Dec 4, 2009 4:34 PM EST reply actions

I really hope the Red Sox do this...

Not only would they lose a bunch of their good farm players, but Wells would tie their hands for signing other players for years to come. They would become the new Blue Jays.

by Wraithpk on Dec 4, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

Wells on the road

He did play a little bit better on the road, but he still hit for pretty much no power. Also the fact that being hated in Toronto affects his play isn’t a good indication that he’d be able to play in the pressure cooker of New York.

Vernon Wells is owed 107 mil over the next 5 years. To sign Roy Halladay would require paying him his 15 mil in 2010, plus the extension which I’d estimate at around 4 years, 92 mil. So by doing this you’d be saying that Roy Halladay over the next 5 years is worth about 214 million. You can’t expect the Yankees, or any other team, to do that.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 4, 2009 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

It may drive the overall price tag down..

Otherwise, still think we should pick up 3 FA’s (Pineiero, Badard and Ducsherrrrr or Mulder for Halladay’s price tag and stack up for a late season trade with the Mets for Beltran or Cleveland’s Sizemore. also allows us to keep the kids.

by NJHEAT on Dec 4, 2009 11:25 PM EST up reply actions

I doubt the Mets trade Beltran this year

It’s pretty much sink or swim for Omar Minaya this year. If the team doesn’t do well, he’s going to get fired, so there would be no reason for him to try to cut costs. And obviously, if the team is doing well they aren’t going to trade Beltran.

by Wraithpk on Dec 5, 2009 8:40 AM EST up reply actions

how would trading for Sizemore or Beltran allow us to "keep the kids"?

And we don’t need to be trading with the Mets. Everyone on that roster brings them down…its nice to see them drown in their own filth.

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 5, 2009 9:20 AM EST up reply actions

No

Yankees have a budget too, while it is high. Wells is a joke. And you’re going to take up his 20 million? The Yankees have wasted enough money on worthless players recently. Igawa, Pavano, Brown, Wright, ect. Do NOT waste more money when you know perfectly well that you won’t get any production.

Forget Halladay. THEY DO NOT NEED HIM!!!! He will be nice to have, but he isn’t needed, and he will cost a ton. Sign Lackey if you want another stud pitcher. He will only cost around what Burnett made. MUCH cheaper. And still a great, big game pitcher. Sign Sheets, who is a top of the rotation guy if healthy. Or just keep the team the way it is, and maybe when Wang gets back we’ll get another ace in there if he returns to form. The Yankees have a surplus of pitching, and there is pretty good pitching on the FA market right now, and a TON of good pitching on the FA market next year. Why throw away the farm now? To me, it does not make sense.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 4, 2009 4:39 PM EST reply actions

I like

how your thinking, but it is just too much money to take on. What if it is the trade from above, but the blue jays eat 12 mill a year on his contract? I think I would have to pull the trigger. But, I don’t know if the Blue Jays would do that trade.

by yankeechaser on Dec 5, 2009 1:59 AM EST reply actions

Doc can win 25 games

with the Yankees…heck he wins 20 games a year with the Blue Jays who feel .500 ball is acceptable. Doc also makes AJ a better pitcher as they are great friends and Doc mentors AJ preventing the “AJ moments” we have seen this year. This should allow AJ to win 18 or so as well.

I don’t see any of our minor league or fringe players winning 25 and assisting in 6 or seven more per year…ever.

I say trade for Doc Halliday

by ilBrutto on Dec 5, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions

First, I don’t buy the “Halladay makes AJ better” argument. It’s not like he’s gunna be out there holding AJ’s hand while he pitches. AJ is a man, yes, he has learned some things from Doc in the past, but in the end, it’s him pitching, not Doc. I doubt Doc would do more for him than Dave Eiland, that’s what we’re paying him to do.

Second, I don’t think Doc would win 25 games on the Yankees. Sabathia has been the better pitcher the past couple years, and he just won 19 games. I could see him winning 20 or 21, though.

by Wraithpk on Dec 5, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

Wells is actually the worst player in the league

and for over 20 mil a year for the next 5 years he is the biggest burden on any team in the majors

by Brian5517209 on Dec 5, 2009 5:51 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn't say he's the worst player in the league...

but I would say in terms of production vs. pay, he’s the worst value in the league

by Wraithpk on Dec 5, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

worst player in the league is harsh

i mean, Jason Varitek plays in this league, right?

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 5, 2009 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

He doesn't make $20 million.

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 5, 2009 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

true

I was just saying that, talent wise, there are worse players than Vernon Wells

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 5, 2009 8:15 PM EST up reply actions

Of course there is...

I mean he basically had as good a season as Melky Cabrera..and Melk is not the worst player in the league.

We had Cody Ransom right? Jose Veras ring a bell?

Its just that unlike Cody and Jose, Vernon Wells makes about as much as Mark Texiera…..

"It ain't over till its over"---

by FreeBradshaw on Dec 5, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

actually...

Melky was worth 1.7 wins more than Vernon Wells. Getting sub-replacement level play from someone you’re paying 20M a year to is pretty harsh, lol. But yeah, Wells isn’t the worst in the league, and I’d expect him to play better this year.

by Wraithpk on Dec 6, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

I think Wells would play better

if he got traded. Will he play to the level he did a few years ago? Probably not. But I think he will play better. Face it, they are awful to him in Toronto. They have reason to be, but still, the fans are terrible to him, and I think it affects him (much like the way the fans affected A-Rod in 2006, although A-Rod still put together a great year). If he got to a new environment, he probably would be a better player.

That being said, the Yankees should NOT IN ANY WAY take a chance on him. He probably won’t be worth 20 million. And I’d rather not the Yankees take that on just to make it easier to get Halladay. They want to spend 185 million, right? Taking on BOTH Halladay AND Wells, and you’re already over it. Not happening.

by nyyrocks29 on Dec 6, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions

The more I think about it ...

…the more I think that getting Wells wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

In Toronto, he’s paid to be “the man” a role that clearly doesn’t suit him. He could come to NY, play LF and bat 6th or 7th and be fine. He won’t be “worth” what he’s paid, but the Jays want to get rid of him and if it means the Yankees could offer a lesser package for Halladay, I would seriously consider it.

by New York Sports Jerk on Dec 7, 2009 11:06 AM EST reply actions

as much as we like to think the Yankees have no budget...

Paying a guy 20M a year to take a roster space will not be good. It will keep Cash from being able to sign a player actually worth that, like Joe Mauer.

by Wraithpk on Dec 7, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

Mauer is a pipe dream you need to let go of.

It’s not going to happen. He’s going to sign with the Twins, because if they don’t sign him they should just fold up their entire operation and burn their new stadium to the ground.

Book the following: Joe Mauer will be a Minnesota Twin in 2011. He’ll be a Twin in 2015.

by New York Sports Jerk on Dec 8, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions