The major players in the Vernon Wells-for Mike Napoli/Juan Rivera trade discussed the move with reporters this evening, and Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times has some notable details (all Twitter links).
- Alex Anthopoulos said the Angels first asked about Wells during the Winter Meetings, and then negotiations "heated up over [the] last two weeks."
- Wells didn't ask to be traded, and the outfielder said he would've only waived his no-trade clause "for probably two teams." My guess is the other team was Wells' hometown Texas Rangers.
- Moreso than acquiring Napoli and Rivera, Anthopoulos said "The biggest component, it goes without saying, was financial."
- Tony Reagins said the fact that Wells is only under contract through 2014 (when the outfielder is 35) "was attractive to us." To use Carl Crawford (a rumored Angels target) as an example, the Red Sox are paying Crawford $62.25MM between 2015-17, including $21MM in 2017 when Crawford turns 36 years old.
- With Wells in the fold, it could mean that Bobby Abreu becomes the full-time Angels DH. This would seem to block Vladimir Guerrero from a return to Los Angeles. Reagins wouldn't say whether the Angels had "a role" for Guerrero on next year's roster.
- The Angels "still have flexibility" to look for a leadoff hitter, Reagins said.
Excuse me while I hahahhsahahahahahhahahahahahhahahaha
so the jays aren’t taking on any of this contract? seriously??? the only way this makes any sense to me is if vernon opts out of his contract after this season. then its a brilliant trade by the angels. vernon publicly stated that he doesn’t feel he deserves the giant contract he has. so please please opt out. otherwise this was a dumb move, i wish we would have stuck to staying put and not doing anything
I’m hoping for the best but this trade just seems pretty dumb from a financial point of view. Well’s is only 31 right now. Maybe the change of scenery will help him attain previous levels of success.
Like I said. I hope.
This is one of the worst trades I’ve ever seen. Why not sign Damon for 5 million to have a little less production, or Manny for 2? I highly doubt Wells will be 10x as valuable as Manny.
I honestly cannot think of a worse trade … ever.
Let’s leave the money aside and pretend that everything balanced out financially. I would NOT trade Wells for Napoli straight up. No way. Napoli is just as likely to have as good of a season with the bat as a catcher as Wells will as a LF’er.
Then you throw in the financial component. Essentially the Angels are taking on $70m+. They give up 2 years (1 each for Napoli and Rivera) and gain 4 years of Wells. It makes me sick just typing it out.
I’ve defended the Angels moves up until this point. I had NO problem passing on Crawford at $20m/year or Beltre for $100m over 6. But that was working under the premise that the Angels were not going to bog themselves down with horrible contracts.
This is just a bad move. And bad isn’t a strong enough word. Horrid, putrid, disguisting. This effectively puts the nail in the coffin for Reagins as a GM and guarantees that the Halos are no better than 85 win team over the next few years unless they up payroll to $150m+. What a stupid, stupid waste of resources.
Is everyone on crack? Napoli is not a good player. He is a sub-par catcher defensively who’s presence behind the plate is straight up a liability – he can’t play first for the Angels b/c of Morales – he is horrible situational hitter and won’t be a DH b/c they HAVE to put Abreu there – or put him in the outfield which is another liability. Rivera is disliked in the clubhouse and again, a liability both defensively and offensively – neither was going to be on the team – so they were both gone anway. The Angels in return get Vernon Wells – yes he has had some injury seasons – but the guy is better then both those players and fits well with the Angels needs – they needed a better defensive LF and some pop in the line-up. Would the Angels like Crawford better? Yes. Would they rather pay more for Beltre and be locked into a long term deal with that guy? I don’t know yet…that remains to be seen. Years are the albatross that kills a team…Vernon will only be on the Angels for 4 years. Yes, in yearly salarty they are overpaying him, but he is arguably WAY more consistent then Beltre, they didn’t have to deal with Boras, and they aren’t locked into a ton of years. This was not the first choice for this team…it’s probably choice D or E on the list…but listen, if you are an Angels fan would you be content going into the season with Rivera and Napoli earning a bunch of money to be bench players? If you are ok with that, then you need to do some homework. The team is a lot better today then it was yesterday and it’s just that simple. They have a short window to compete as it is closing rapidly, if not already completely shut…had they sat pat they would have finished 3rd or even last. This move at least puts them in the conversation…and as a fan that’s all you can ask after losing out on some of the other options out there. The only other trades would be to get another bad contract…and of all the bad contracts out there this was the least bad.
has reagins found a money tree???
lender
So its official, no money going back. Wow.
This frees up $20M/year for Fielder next year. Nice.
Or, better: Pujols
AA didn’t just get rid of one bad contract just to turn around and sign another – guys who hit free agency after turning 30 who know that someone will give them a 7 or 8 year deal turn into bad investments around year 4 (which makes no sense since that when we might have enough of the youth movement coming up ready to contribute at the MLB level)
I fail to see how locking up one of the game’s all-time best players, one whose game doesn’t rely on speed, would be a bad contract. I don’t see Pujols in decline any time soon. If it were going to happen i think we’d start seeing signs of it already.
Pujols on the Jays would be an absolute dream and a major shot across the bow of the ALEast. Don’t see it happening but if I were AA I’d have my sights set on him.
There is no way in the world Albert Pujols is going to be on the Blue Jays.
I agree with you in that Pujols isn’t declining any time soon. However, Pujuls is not going to sign a 3-4 year contract which would lock him up for the rest of his prime ..he is going to want a 7 to 8 year contract that’s going to make him a payroll burden in 2016 and beyond since the price is going to be around $20 mil per year.
Those contracts make sense for teams that are ready to compete now since they can sacrifice some money in the future for world series runs in the future) but not for a team like the Jays that probably won’t become a perennial contender till about 2015 (once enough of our draft picks and international free agents start getting close to the majors and contributing or being traded for players that will contribute to the dynasty)
Even since MLB started testing for steroids there’s just not a lot of impact players of 35 years of older in the league….long gone are the days of guys in their late 30s setting homerun records. I don’t think Pujols is a juice head in the first place – but that’s why I think he’ll slow down in about 3-4 years, just like normal men do
Ok, I leave my computer for a few hours and the Angels make a massively desperate move… go figure.
Apparently they’ve been waiting for you to walk away from the computer to do this. You really should get out more.
I really should. Maybe when I get back the yanks will have traded Blanton for Montero.
look at the pot calling the kettle black
Who me? Nooo…
I just came home from work to this…funny thing is before I left I mentioned on here that I was hoping the Jays would get Napoli, definitely didn’t think it’d be for Wells though
$86 million and a ntc – this is the neatest trick any GM has pulled since the Cowboys turned Herschel Walker into a bunch of SBs
This is one of the worst trades I have ever seen for the Angels. I was disappointed with the offseason, but was ok with them saving money and not overpaying players. Then they trade Nap (who I like) and Rivera (who is ehh) for one of the WORST contracts in baseball, with NO salary relief. Way to go Reagins. I honestly cannot believe it. How can you not sign any of the targets (which I was ok with), then trade to overpay Wells? Hey, at least we get to pay him 23, 21, 21, 21 when he MAY be worth about 14M per season. I wish I had a way to get in touch with Scioscia, Reagins, and even Moreno for that matter. What a bunch of idiots.
Albert Pujols wearing a Blue Jays Uni next year? It makes ton of sense now. That team would (hypothetically) be ready to win AL East.
Who already has firstbaseman under longer term contracts
Yankees: Tex
RedSox: Gonzo
White Sox: Konerko
O’s: Lee
Phillie: Howard
Cubs: Pena
Just have to worry about the Dodgers and Mets. Otherwise I think the Jays get either Fielder or Pujols (Fielder more likely)
Pena’s contract is only 1 yr for 10 MM–I wouldn’t call that long term
Gonzo doesn’t have the long term deal done yet. Neither does Pena nor Lee (they both signed one year deals)
Cubs only signed pena for 1yr 10 mill so they could be in on the market too
every team on that list except nyy, bosox, and phillie will give up on their aging firstbasmen for pujols tho
Lee and Pena’s contracts are up this season. Probably going to get some flak for this, but one team that has been shown to be able to overwhelm other teams in terms of years and dollars is the Nationals, who also have a tradable piece at 1B, Adam Laroche; I can see them making a run at Pujols if he ends up on the market.
No money being exchanged???? When I first heard of the deal, I figured The Jays must be paying a minimum of $40 million to The Angels.
Now I am perplexed and depressed. The Angels of the 1970s are back. Next step is to trade Mike Trout for Carlos Zambrano and the transformation will be complete.
Pour me another scotch.
Hey, remember when we traded Dante Bichette for Dave Parker? Good times. Good times.
Pour me one.
Yeah, that one still hurts. How about that Brunansky – Corbett deal?
Dante Bichette was an alcoholic and drunk at games, or just forgetting to show up and fighting players on his own team at the time – he had to go.
Alex Anthopoulos has to be the craftiest man on the planet. Or he has some dirt on Tony Reagins. Hmm…
I’m no saber wiz, but here’s some basic math on this contract from the Jays’s point of view.
08 salary: $500,000 – – – – – War: 1.5 – – – – – – Value in $: $6,600,000
09 salary: $1,500,000 – – – – War: 0 – – – – – – – Value in $: $0
10 salary: $12,500,000 – – – war: 4.5 – – – – – – Value in $: $14,900,00
Total:
War: 6
Value of War: $21,500,000
Value of $ spent: $14,500,000
As the book closes on the Wells contract from a Blue Jays point of view, they are up $7,000,000 … for what people said was the worst contract in baseball.
Not bad!
What you’re forgetting is that he was paid an $8.5M signing bonus in each of those three years, so in reality, he has produced $21.5M worth of production and cost the team $40M. So yes, it’s one of the worst contracts in baseball.
lawyered
Gotta love it ..AA is the man!!
If the Angels didn’t make any additional moves for a leadoff hitter, who would leadoff for them this season?
Abreu.
The whole idea that you overpay for the decline phase of a player in order to get the elite production during his prime just completely went over Reagin’s head.
If I could “like” your comment thrice I would.
Nice use of “thrice.” I am waiting for Conan to have the band Thrice perform.
Thanks. You can also see them at the Orange County Fairgrounds on 3/5/11, albeit not for free
I may be harping on this out of frustration, but let me see if I have the gist. The Angels are paying MORE money for a WORSE player than Crawford…and they had to give up Napoli and Rivera to get him. Is that it? Pretty much?
That pretty much nails it. I will pass the tissue box.
That’s pretty much it…must suck to be an Angels fan right now. But I’ve been stuck cheering for Toronto teams for the past decade so it’s nice to start being on winning sides of deals
No – it’s ok to be an Angel fan right now – we got rid of two players who weren’t going to start and got better defensively and offensively. Yes, they have to pay for it, but not for long term deals and this is better then sitting on their butt and doing nothing. Yes, some of the other guys out there would have been more attractive free agents, but they didn’t get them – so does that mean you just don’t do anything and waste an entire season? No. You go out and try to get better so you can compete – they have a short window with some of these guys (Torii, Weaver, Haren, Morales) so they need to at least try to win. Some will call this desperate and maybe it is, but I’d rather throw a hail mary and have a shot at winning then give up and walk off the field. Tough not getting one of the sexy free agents, but this at least keeps the Angels in the conversation.
i keep seeing angels fans say they’re improving their defense, and bringing up how bad Napoli is as a catcher. Do any of you realize that Wells is one of the worst defensive CF in baseball?
to be fair, he won’t be playing CF in anaheim
It’s not more money – Crawford’s deal is worth 140 some odd million – Vernon is only 86. It’s a years thing – people under value a short term deal – I’d rather overpay yearly then be locked into a long term deal.
AA is a Genius!!!!
Just in: Angels trade Santana to Astros for Carlos Lee. Just kidding…
Wouldn’t surprise anyone.
That would have been the trade if this didn’t get done so Angel fans should be happy this one got done.
Still would like a third baseman.. would rather have Bautista in right !
Yeah – I’d also love to have Teixeira, Hamilton, Buster Posey, Joey Votto, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Mariano Rivera, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzales…but you have to be realistic – would you give the Angels the league leader in HR’s for Napoli and Rivera? They’d laugh you all the way home.
I LLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEEE this trade…of course I am an A’s fan.
bwaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For all you Billy Beane lovers out there, this trade makes him look like an amateur.
Tony Reagins should of sign Vlad for less money. Vlad will have a better season next year than Vernon Wells. How does Tony Reagins still have a job? Come on Arte open your eyes.
So then you have Abreu out there? He is a horrible defensively player. In a pitchers ballpark you need defense to cover the ground. Vernon is better defensively. I’m not defending Tony as he pisses me off, but they have to play Abreu, and I think it suits the team better to have a stronger defensive option in the outfield with Vernon Wells over Bobby Abreu. Signing Vlad means a much weaker defense for probably comparable numbers with signing Vernon. Plus it makes Abreu a better leadoff hitter candidate, which the Angels absolutely need.
At least one of Toronto’s teams knows how to rebuild properly.
Why is this so bad? We don’t pay for these salaries! Arte does! Halos lost one of their 18 catchers today…one that strikes out too much, can’t throw a runner out to save his life, and hits solo homers when the Angels are losing in the 8th by five runs! Juan Rivera…we will all miss his clutch bat and spectacular fielding…ha! Wells is potential 30 homers, 40 doubles, 280 average, and 100 rbi! I am positive about one thing…Halos are a better lineup without Napoli and Rivera, and with Wells in it! Stop the hating!
Delusion is a helluva drug.
This is a good trade for both teams.
i agree with some of the things you mention…. but then you look at the contract and you gotta think it makes this deal very bad
The contract not the player makes this bad. I agree with Mark. The Rangers did NOTHING to upgrade their pitching when the could have VERY EASILY signed Pavano and that would have been something to add to their staff. Texas doesn’t learn….just because you have a high powered offense, doesn’t mean you win.
Aside from the contract $$, let’s think about the player the Angels received. Somehow acquiring a RH power hitting OF in his early 30’s who’s a team player from a Canadian team sounds oddly familiar. And what happened for the Angels shortly after acquiring that player….
Exactly. It worked out pretty well.
I think that you may be right … possibly. Wells and Napoli are a wash offensively. Hard to predict who will do better. So from that angle you could be right (your offensive predictions are a little on the high side though).
The problem is that they paid $70m for that incredibly marginal, potential upgrade. And no I don’t pay for it but the Angels have a budget. Their budget is maxed out. Now they are unable to make other moves to help the club. It’s a horrid trade no matter which way you look at it.
To make it simple, let’s say you hate Napoli and Rivera (I disagree with your assessment but we’ll go with it). You simply release them. In the case of Napoli you could have non-tendered him a contract a month ago. Wouldn’t have cost you a dime. Rivera sets you back $5m with his release.
You take that money and bring in Vlad and Manny. Cost you $15m for the year. You trot out Abreu to LF, Manny and Vlad manage the DH role. Your total cost would have been $20m. Instead you have Wells in Left, Abreu at DH AND you are paying $80m. And oh yeah – your team is worse.
All I know is that they are paying him what they would have had to pay Crawford for, and only doing it for four years. They are not losing anything by letting Napoli and Rivera go! NOTHING! Napoli is the most un-clutch player! Not to mention you and I could steal a bag off him! They got a consistent power threat to add to the middle of the order…they will be done with his contract when he is younger than Beltre and Crawford will be when their contracts are up on their new deals. It is not that bad of a move for the Angels. Their bullpen is better, their rotation is better, and now the offense will be better by this move! You guys don’t think Wells and Torii are going to play well together? I think they both have potential to have great years this season! They still don’t have enough to win in the playoffs though, but they do have the goods to take the division!
They would have actually gotten some value out of Crawford tho.
Yes, but these two contracts are NOT COMPARABLE – one is worth 140 some odd million and the other is worth 86. Crawford is awesome and it sucks the Angels didn’t get him – but thankfully they stopped crying over spilled milk and got something else done. Even if it’s not the best deal (probably the 5th or 6th option for them this off season), it’s a deal that makes the team better.
but Wells and Crawford are also not comparable.
One will almost be worth his money. The other will almost certainly not.
Except that 1) this trade kills your chances of signing anyone in the next 4 years 2) Wells has hit .201 vs LHP the last 2 seasons 3) is entering his decline age of 32 4) doesn’t project to play CF for much longer…I mean, there’s nothing to like about this. Nothing.
That is just simply not true. In no way does this hinder the Angels ability to sign players. The numbers for Wells aren’t horrible, and he isn’t going to play CF. He is going to play LF. HE is only 31 years old…and is a better option then Rivera. You can’t keep comparing Crawford to Wells…yes, Crawford is obviously the superior player, but he isn’t on the team and isn’t going to be so the Angels can cry about that all they want or try to do something to be in the conversation. I’ll take the second option.
Exactly – it’s not OUR MONEY – I wish they paid for Crawford, but whatever they didn’t – so at least put a team with a chance out there – I’m not in love with how much money they have to pay Vernon, but honestly, whatever, he makes the team better.
Exactly, afterall, it’s the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who play in the 2nd largest market in the country. Not the KC Royals of prospect hoarding lol…If Arte wants to spend his money to try to compete…let him!
YEAHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Angel fans. Our run is officially over. Deals like this will make 2010 seem like a good season. Just you wait.
We are back to being (at best) a middling franchise with no hope. I’m still a fan, though. In a way, going back to “long suffering fan” will be nostalgic.
It is true, it did feel a little awkward going in to each season expecting to win as an Angels fan.
uh what? This trade actually gives the Angels a chance…had they done nothing then you would be right, but this trade makes the Angels contenders…not favorites but contenders. I’d rather be a contender then a team with no chance.
Wait tell Vernon pulls his hamstring 10 games into the season, and injures his wrist and shoulder sliding for a ball 20 games in. He then plays injured fir the next 100 or so games and is batting 240, with 17 HR and 53 RBI’s. At seasons end it’s revealed that he had all these injuries and thats why he had an “off” season. Don’t worry though, next year will be all butterflies and rainbows and he will get back to that 2003/2006 level and you will love him. Until the next year when it all happens again… Last year was his first decent year since ’06 and he had a grand total of 88 RBI’s batting in the clean up spot in every game he played.
Think I’m exagerating? Revisit this in June or July and you tell me what you think then…
any angel fans want to head down to the Big A tomorrow and protest or something? lol
INTERIOR. Tony Reagin’s office.
Arte grins, pats Tony on the back. Walks to the door, stops, turns around and flashes the “OK” sign before walking out.
Slow zoom on Tony. He reaches down to his neck, pulls off his mask and reveals…Jackie Autry!
Laughs maniacally. Fade to black.
As a hardcore Jays fan, I can honestly say with pride that we were not left in the bedroom biting the pillow on this one getting pumped by the bad stepfather. In AA we trust…all others pay cash!
hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
yes – great move for AA.
It’s over for me. I’m done. This is indefensible. If this was a fantasy baseball trade every owner would scream collusion. My 10 year old daughter understands how craptastic this deal is.
It’s so utterly depressing. I’m going to have to take a week off before I can even look at baseball news again. The team I’ve loved since 1985 has just made the biggest mistake in the 25 years I’ve been following them.
Any teams need new fans? I’m a FA fan now and will be looking at offers to join another organizations fan base.
As bad as this deal is for the Angels, take some solace in this: The Angels don’t have Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome (and their horrendous contracts), Jim Hendry as their GM, and 102 consecutive years of failure!!
But this is worse than anything Hendry’s ever done! Really, isn’t it?
The Angels last won the World series in 2002. For the Cubs it was in 1908.
Ok let’s talk this offseason: Hendry traded half of the Cubs top prospects including both the minor league pitcher of the year (Archer) AND the minor league player of the year (Guyer) for Garza (who would be #5 in the Angels rotation at best!) Hendry also signed Carlos Pena who hit .196 with Tampa Bay to a 10MM contract.
Angels fans, just be thankful you don’t have the laziest, most selfish, most lackadaisaical defenively, most overpaid superstar wannabe known as Alfonso Soriano!!!!
Let’s talk about those prospects: a B- Baseball Prospectus player in Guyer (that every team has), an aging catcher, 27, in Chirinos, that was coverted to C and hasn’t yet made the big leagues, an unproven SS in Lee, and a September call-up in Fuld. The Cubs just traded Archer for Garza, whose better than Kazmir and Haren (probably ranked higher than #5 in the Angels rotation). But I will agree with you about Soriano and the World Series 😉
Good points about the prospects lous222! Regarding Haren, one thing he’s proven is that he can more than effectively pitch in the AL West, when healthy. IMO last year (and the 32 HR he gave up) were an aberration. I agree….I’m not sure what happened to Kazmir since moving to southern Cal…
Now if we could just unload useless players like Aram and Soriano for their lack of effort to teams during the trading deadline….that is, after they have rebound seasons like Wells. 🙂
Unfortunately both of them are untradeable contract wise. Of the two Aramis Ramirez would fetch the most value, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy lately. Plus, Hendry is no Alex Anthopolous lol!
“Unfortunately both of them are untradeable contract wise.”
I think that same statement was once said about Vernon Wells.
Edit…you are right, Hendry is no AA.
Garza’s pretty good dude and he should do much better now that he’s out of the AL East, plus Pena is only on a one year deal. With his defense, he should easily be worth that contract and can also bring back draft picks next year.
The Rangers have a fun team to watch!
A’s always could use more fans
If you wanna take 2011 off, Nationals could be a fun team to watch
Let me just summarize the off-season so far – now that we have made our big move. I can give out my official grades.
1. We surrender a 2nd round pick to add a bullpen arm. I liked the signing under the assumption we would add another Type A (or 2 for that matter) pushing down the value of the lost draft pick. That didn’t happen. Needed the arm and Downs is quality but 3 years and the draft pick were too much. Final Grade = C-.
2. We passed on Crawford. I’m fine with that given that his price tag had reached $140m. However, in light of spending money on Wells Crawford is BY FAR the better financial move. His signing would have only cost us our 3rd round pick. Final Grade = D.
3. We passed on Beltre. Same story as Crawford. Bidding got too high but that’s only true if you are really watching the checking account. Turns out we aren’t. Passing on him was a big mistake. Final Grade = D.
4. Resigning Jeff Mathis. Nothing to be said. Final Grade = F.
5. Trading Mike Napoli and getting nothing of value in return. Final Grade = F.
6. Trading Juan Rivera and getting nothing in return. Final Grade = C.
7. Taking on Vernon Wells and his entire $80m contract. Final Grade = what’s lower than an F? I’ll grade it as that.
8. Sticking with Abreu as our full-time DH. Final Grade = D.
9. Passing on Manny, Vlad, etc. Final Grade = D.
It’s just so depressing knowing that even if EVERYTHING goes right with Wells that we still totally got hosed in this deal. I mean, the guy could replicate his great 2010 year for the next 4 years and this would still turn out to be just bleh. And the odds of Wells doing that? About 1%. Odds him putting up a consistent OPS in the 775-800 range … about 80%. Last check Juan Rivera was able to do that for a quarter of Wells’ contract price.
I thought you said you were going to take a week off
Hahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahaha
All I know is that they are paying him what they would have had to pay Crawford for, and only doing it for four years. They are not losing anything by letting Napoli and Rivera go! NOTHING! Napoli is the most un-clutch player! Not to mention you and I could steal a bag off him! They got a consistent power threat to add to the middle of the order…they will be done with his contract when he is younger than Beltre and Crawford will be when their contracts are up on their new deals. It is not that bad of a move for the Angels. Their bullpen is better, their rotation is better, and now the offense will be better by this move! You guys don’t think Wells and Torii are going to play well together? I think they both have potential to have great years this season! They still don’t have enough to win in the playoffs though, but they do have the goods to take the division!
Don’t look it at as losing Napoli, look at as giving more AB’s to Mathis, who is arguably the worst offensive player in the entire majors. He should give you guys a nice negative value from the catcher position this year. Another funny thing is, Angel fans complaining about Napoli striking out a lot, meanwhile Mathis strikes out more and has nowhere near the power (that’s an understatement). Napoli threw out 19 out of 52 last year, while Mathis was at 11 out of 43…not a uge difference there, year before Mathis was threw out 18 out of 52. Oh he also let more passed balls than Napoli in both years.
I think the Angels should’ve waited out for the Rays offer. I would take the cheaper, younger, more potential BJ Upton. Upton would’ve made us faster and better in the OF too.
Just curious how many games it would take before Scioscia benched BJ Upton with his lackadaisical and unmotivated play?
half of a game?
I just can’t believe it.
…
I don’t like this trade at all if I’m an Angels fan. This would be like signing a 32-year old Gary Matthews Jr to a ridiculous multi-year contract. Oh wait…
Yeah hte problem is Wells was hitting in that great homerun stadium then now he is moving to angel stadium where his homeruns would be caught at the warning track. Besides, he will go down in quality faster than Crawford.
can we stage a coup?
o’doyle rules
O’doyle rules
O’doyle rules
Wow! One of the worst trades I have ever seen. I am sure the Toronto organization was sitting around in disbelief after the Angels took on a player that is hardly much better than “either” Napoli or Rivera. I would assume both players have a fair chance of outproducing Wells moving forward for a fraction of the dollars.
Wait !!! The Angels refuse to give 20.5 per to Crawford but are willing to take the 86/4 contract of Wells? Good job Moreno and Reagins… That deserve the classic ” facepalm “..
I agree, Moreno even said how bad the contract for Crawford was, then he does this? Can you impeach an owner?
Wells can repeat his 2010 for the next 4 years (fangraphs value: 15 mil) and he still wouldn’t be worth the contract.
Wells can opt out after 2011……hahaha
I woke up and this deal is still real and not just a bad dream? Unreal…
Reagins = Idiot Moreno = Idiot Enabler
So I was out drinking last night when I first hear about this trade.
As a Jays fan I was ecstatic! Now I am super hungover.
Go Jays! No bring on Prince (Albert is a pipe dream)
The best part is that this trade actually makes the team worse in 2011, and then crippled in 2012-2014.
Absurd. The Angels could have gotten Wells off waivers for nothing but his albatross contract at the end of last season, but instead traded positive value to the Jays AND got the Wells contract.
Still can’t believe this!
Like him or not VW was great for T.O.
define “great.” VW was a superb citizen, great guy in the clubhouse, and over the last season had about a 283-point differential in his OPS between Rogers Centre and the rest of the world. That ain’t great. Over his career it’s a more manageable .844/.767 split. Still not awesome. At Angels Stadium his career OPS is .607. Yuck. I do not think having the home crowd behind him is going to up him the few hundred points he needs to get to for respectability.
Vernon should hopefully have these things going for him: not playing in the AL East, possibly less pressure – though the contract has provided plenty of that – and possibly health.
As a Jays fan, I can tell you that hoping for more than that, and hoping for more than the season he put up last year, is a futile effort. Good luck with that contract and with getting anything close to value out of it. I like Vernon, the person, and it’s not his fault – who wouldn’t sign that contract if offered – but what the Angels really traded to the Jays was flexibility. LAA lost a bunch of it, and Toronto gained a hell of a lot of it with this trade.
I never understood arguments like this. What does a players’ OPS at a certain road stadium have to do with his ability to produce there? He’s not facing those same pitchers anymore.
I agree about specific stadium numbers, but his home/road splits definitely are something to think about.
The fact that Vernon Wells, Barry Zito, and Alfonso Soriano have the worst contracts in baseball right now and the Angels couldnt even get a dollar out of the Blue Jays is what makes this a joke. For the $20+ million per season spent on him could have been spent in a variety of more valuable ways. Wells at $20+ million per season is NOT value.
DH Abreu
2B Kendrick
RF Hunter
LF Wells
1B Morales
3B Callaspo/Izturis
SS Aybar
C Mathis/Conger
CF Bourjos
WOW Angels Fans…
Vernon Wells average WAR for the last three years: 1.8
Juan Rivera’s average WAR for the last three years: 1.1
Mike Napoli’s average WAR for the last three years: 2.7
This trade pushes the Angels’ 2011 payroll up to about $145MM according to Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times. AND they only have approx $29M coming of the books after 2011 with Rodney, Kazmir and Matthews.
Angels just got older all while adding $86M over the next 4 years. Did I forget to mention Mathis’ negative WAR value over Napoli’s 3 year avg of 2.7?! The difference offensively running with Mathis over Napoli is like giving Mathis a piece of string cheeze to hit with in the batters box.
AMAZING!
OUTCH!
Sad when Angel fans will be happy “if” they can get a 2.7 WAR out of Wells…all while paying Wells $21M+/yr over the next 4 years. Welcome to the cellar with the Mariners Angel Fans.
At least the Mariners are “rebuilding”, and developing their farm system during this process AND have a “Bavasi” excuse at being at the bottom! $145M payroll for the Angels in 2011 is FAR from rebuilding mode. The Angels will be right alongside the Mariners this year at the bottom, but with $60M in additional payroll.
What is scary for Angel fans is the aging team, and salary, and a depleted farm system. Not much more than Trout in the system worth talking about!
If I were the Angels, I would save the money for next year free agents. It was a salary dump by the Blue Jays. I don’t think much of the players that the Blue Jays got. If Wells has a good year, I don’t think it is as bad as some want us to believe.
wells for 20+ million for the next 4 years is bad any way you look at it
I guess that the ONLY upside is that Vernon Wells has an opt-out clause after the 2011 season, and if he is such a good person then I need him to do the Angels a favor and OPT OUT, and re-sign to a 3yr/15-20M contract(up to 30M MAYBE in order to make him opt out). This is my only hope for this to be a semi-good deal…
why on earth would he opt out of 63 million? to resign for 20 lmao
Its kinda funny that the Angels went after Soriano too and were willing to pay that much for him, now they add Wells…
I still cant believe he was able to swing this deal, the force is strong in AA!! good ol’ jedi mind trick works again
wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwow