Report: Wells won't re-sign with Jays

[TestSubjekt]

Here's some news to get this board hopping. I wish it was good news though...

www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=174693&hubname=mlb

It looks like Vernon Wells could be headed out of Toronto before the start of next season.

According to ESPN, Wells has told Blue Jays management that he has no intentions of signing an extension with the team after his current contract expires after the 2007 season.

Sources around baseball indicate that the Jays will explore trading Wells in the off-season.

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Riccardi told TSN that Wells has not indicated to the team his intentions for the future.

The 27-year old centre-fielder is hitting .319 with 27 home runs and 83 RBI this season. He has also stolen a career high 11 bases this season.

Wells signed a five-year, $14.7 million contract in 2003. He is due to make $5.6 million in 2007.

[TestSubjekt]

Also...the original Insider article on ESPN.com is from Keith Law, which adds credibility to the article IMO since he's Special Assistant to JP Ricciardi.

Let the Vernon Wells watch begin
Updated: 8/18/06

edit: when was he let go? He's still listed as JP's assistant on the Jays website.

Here's what the Star said...

In last night's blog posting on ESPN.com, Law, a former Jays special assistant to GM J.P. Ricciardi, officially became persona non grata with his former front office mates, stirring the pot surrounding the uncertain future of Vernon Wells in Toronto.

"Vernon Wells has told Blue Jays' management that he has no intention of signing a contract extension to stay in Toronto," Law wrote online. "He and his family would like to move closer to his home in Texas, and he has become increasingly disenchanted in Toronto as he has faced public criticism from general manager J.P. Ricciardi."

"The conversation never happened," Wells said, curtly, following last night's game. "It's a complete fabrication."

The general manager, the man who had proudly hired Law as one of his first moves upon landing his first posting as GM back in the winter of 2001-02, was even stronger in his denial.

"He's become a writer," Ricciardi said of the Harvard-educated Law. "It doesn't take long. Keith Law is officially an idiot."

[robinhood]

Wow, did JP call Law an Idiot? Way to go JP!!!! So I assume Law is a liar then.

[sensation11]

Man it hurts so much to be a Raptors and Blue Jays fan sometimes....I was expecting more from this guys chracter...but money talks...It really hurt after i read that...Hopefully we will get someone just as good if not better, for Wells....What's next? Halladay goes awal...?

[TheGreenHornet]

I can't say it surprises me that Wells wants out. He has been skirting around it for a while now. While it is unfortunate that the rumours of him wanting out have become public. I would have explored trading him anyways this offseason. We should get a fairly nice return for him. But it is Riccardi so you never really know...

[bluejayslee]

since he's Special Assistant to JP Ricciardi.

Was. He left the Jays to accept the job at ESPN

[broadwayjoe2]

JP's house of cards is slowly crumbling.

Just wait until he parlays Wells into a bunch of spare parts and never-will-bes

[TodaysJays]

Just wait until he parlays Wells into a bunch of spare parts and never-will-bes

and somehow manage to eat up some of the money that Vernon's owed next year.

[jon]

I'd eat his whole salary if it meant picking up a package including a prospect like Wood.

[TestSubjekt]

Do you think Texas would make a better offer than other teams, knowing that Wells is likely to look there first as a free agent? Y'know...so he'd be more likely to sign an extension with them?

[bluejayslee]

Do you think Texas would make a better offer than other teams, knowing that Wells is likely to look there first as a free agent? Y'know...so he'd be more likely to sign an extension with them?

No way. Why give up quality players when you can just wait one season and sign him as a free agent if Texas is his #1 choice?

But this does give me an idea. IF Texas were to offer someone, you can bet Carlos Lee is on JP's radar!

[TodaysJays]

But this does give me an idea. IF Texas were to offer someone, you can bet Carlos Lee is on JP's radar!

I'd certainly hope not. A player with a career .832 OPS is not worth 15 million.

[jon]

Not to mention Lee is a free agent after this season...

[bluejayslee]

That's why it makes sense for Lee to be coming over. JP tried hard to get him from Chicago a few years ago. It just wouldn't surprise me if it happens, that's all I'm saying.

[jaysmaniac]

I'd love to see Wells spun for Michael Young....then see how that played out.

[ws1992]

Thankfully, Ricciardi won't have to eat up any of Vernon's contract when trading him, though I'd imagine Ricciardi will offer to take on a chunk of Vernon's contract anyway. He's nice like that.

I made a thread on Scout a few months back entitled "long-term status" (or something along those lines). I tried to find it but I guess it disappeared. Anyway, the entire thread was to show how Ricciardi put EVERYTHING into 2006 and virtually ignored the ramifications it may cause from 2007 and beyond. I claimed back then that this was an 85+ win team. Now this is the core the Jays are stuck with. Vernon Wells is just the first casuality. Ricciardi isn't creative enough to make trades if/when this current roster proves it can't cut it and the farm system surely doesn't have another Vernon Wells anywhere in sight. Ricciardi will have to trade Wells for bluechip type players to make up for shoddy drafting and deperation in the free agent market last off-season. I'm sure there is a team that is desperate enough to give up high upside talent for Wells, but is Ricciardi the guy you want determining that talent?

Trading Wells is the only option the team has at this point. I've given Ricciardi a lot of heat (and he's deserved every bit of it). This is the time for him to prove the doubters wrong. I'm not holding my breath.

[jon]

bluejayslee said:

That's why it makes sense for Lee to be coming over.

Yeah, what, 6 weeks of Lee then he either bolts, or re-signs to an absurd contract? Makes sense to me too!

And all for the low low price of Vernon Wells who's still signed cheap for another year?

Heck yeah!

[TodaysJays]

That's why it makes sense for Lee to be coming over.

Can we can afford to pay an .850 OPS player 15 million a year?

[firstrounder]

Anything for Carlos Lee makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[willrain]

Meh.

We don't need Lee.

Assuming the Jays dealt Wells, the return being whatever it is (and I think Santana + Wood/Aybar is reasonable) the opening then becomes a RF, preferably one with a LH bat.

Lee isn't remotely what we need.

[DrEasy]

I would have loved Gibby to play Rios at CF yesterday, just to see if he really could be the person to replace Wells if he's traded. If Reed is indeed the CF next year, then our opening would be LF.

I guess the decision as to who replaces Wells as CF next year also depends on which OF we are able to acquire. If we acquire nobody and go with Lind as LF (although we'd still need a 4th OF), I wouldn't be surprised if Reed goes indeed to CF. I'm not saying that's the right decision though, just speculating.

[robinhood]

Wouldnt we Sign Cat for another go. Plenty of Ab's to split between Lind,Cat,Reed,Rios.

[clarica]

We should trade Wells for 3 pitchers and use whatever money we have in the off-season to find a OF replacement.

[gojays2007]

Anything for Carlos Lee makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

-Exactly.

[robinhood]

From Todays Globe: www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060821.WELLS21/TPStory/TPSports/Baseball/

Wells has said all along he did not want to discuss contract matters until the season is over. "And I still haven't," he said.

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said there has been no discussion on the subject.

Ok I don't think we have a Whitt thread on here and because this is from the Wells article, I'll post this quote from JP.

Ricciardi also denied a report that bench coach Ernie Whitt would be made a scapegoat and be fired at the end of the season