Vernon Wells

[Guancous]

Ken Rosenthal on the Fox pregame said that Vernon Wells turned down an extension with Toronto. He said that several clubs are interested and Texas is the favorite.

[sherwood921]

He's not a free agent til 2008 though.

 

Rotoworld says

2006: $4.3 million, 2007: $5.6 million, 2008: Free Agent

[bdutts]

Ken Rosenthal on the Fox pregame said that Vernon Wells turned down an extension with Toronto. He said that several clubs are interested and Texas is the favorite.

 

His OBP is too high for the Cubs. :wink:

 

Actually, he had a good 2003, then two bad ones and now a really good season. I'd take him over Pierre any day, especially if both are going to command 10M or more per season.

 

EDIT: Oops, didn't see that he isn't going to be a FA until 2008.

[Guancous]

The Jays want to re-sign Vernon Wells, as Jeff Blair reports, but there is some sentiment around baseball that Wells will be perhaps the biggest name on the trade market in the winter. That is one aspect of the Carlos Lee deal for the Rangers that I wondered about: The Rangers apparently are devoted to the idea of signing Lee, and he'll probably cost them something in the range of $60 million to $80 million, depending on how many years he gets. It's taken as conventional wisdom that Wells, a product of the Dallas area, wouldn't mind playing for the Rangers. But if the Rangers give Lee a huge deal, will they have enough to pay Wells, too? My guess is: No, they won't. The whole reason for the A-Rod deal was to create payroll flexibility. We'll see if they still have it after a Lee deal. And let's face it, if you have a choice between signing Lee and paying Wells -- who is younger, and a defensive star -- you'd always lean toward Wells.

 

 

 

These are the types of reports I've been hearing.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think the Cubs have some nice young pitching to offer Toronto. The thing that worries me is that if Pierre isn't re-upped that leaves the Cubbies without the proto leadoff guy Hendry so desires. I think Wells brings value as a CF unless the Cubs move Pierre to left and use Murton as part of the trade to get Wells.

[Mushimus]

:shock:

 

 

Chances of the Cubs making a trade 1 %

[CuseCubFan69]

:shock:

 

 

Chances of the Cubs making a trade 1 %

 

I think that they might make one with Toronto since they have that new guy on board. Maybe not an impact one but one nonetheless. I also think that Murton would be a guy Riccardi would like to have.

[Rusch33]

Why even talk about this guy?

 

Hendry's too much of an blankity, blank moron to go after someone like this, instead we'll live with Juan "I don't take a walk" Pierre.

[shnsajax]

With the cash Toronto is spending, and a decent team they are building I won't be suprised to see them resign him at some point. They will try very hard to keep, and won't dump him till the deadline next season at that IMO unless you blow them away with an offer.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Why even talk about this guy?

 

Hendry's too much of an blankity, blank moron to go after someone like this, instead we'll live with Juan "I don't take a walk" Pierre.

 

Vern hasn't exactly been the master of the free pass in his career either.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Vernon Wells is like staring into Felix Pie's future.

[Laura]

I could live with that outcome!

[RynoRules]

I could live with that outcome!

 

No kidding. In fact, I could live with an OF of Pie, Wells and Jones (assuming Pie produces like Wells does).

[Big Fergie J]

Vernon Wells is a great player. Problem is he's from Texas, his dad still lives there and his best friend is Michael Young......odds heavily favor Vernon going to the Rangers when he's a FA.

[KaiserCesar]

I could live with that outcome!

 

No kidding. In fact, I could live with an OF of Pie, Wells and Jones (assuming Pie produces like Wells does).

 

I agree, except Jones needs a platoon partner to follow him around no matter which position he plays. Also, if you already have a CF, isn't it pretty likely that Murton could outproduce Pie straight up and by giving Murton the job, you allow Pie to not be rushed, given he still has a lot of time. Now, if Murton is the only platoon option for Jones, then you got to have Pie in there.

[TheDude]

Despite the short-sighted and anger-driven commentary about Hendry in this thread, Wells is exactly a Hendry-type player.

 

Wells has always been billed as a 5-tool player. His defense is outstanding, he has speed and power. He is a toolsy player that also has some plate patience.

 

Simply saying that because Wells has a high OBP, Hendry won't look is really ignorant. The real question/issue is whether the Cubs have enough to get Wells, and I think no.

 

The Blue Jays will want a can't miss prospect for Wells, and the Cubs don't have that. A package of players likely won't equate either.

[RynoRules]

Wells:

 

Link to stats

 

He's entering his prime. If you are going to do it, now is the time.

[bdutts]

Simply saying that because Wells has a high OBP, Hendry won't look is really ignorant.

 

That was me who said that. Didn't you see the emoticon I put up there? I was only half joking as one can see that the current cast of Cubs doesn't exactly set the world on fire with their team OBP.

[Twiggy]

I'd take wells in a heartbeat if we could make it happen.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wells is a player who's going to give you pretty good production most years out of CF (~800 OPS), and when he can hit for a higher than normal average, he has super good years. Problem is that trading for him now means you are paying for the super good year, which would be a misallocation of resources. If you really want Wells, the best bet might be to wait until he becomes a FA to avoid grossly overpaying for his production.

[CuseCubFan69]

Wells is a player who's going to give you pretty good production most years out of CF (~800 OPS), and when he can hit for a higher than normal average, he has super good years. Problem is that trading for him now means you are paying for the super good year, which would be a misallocation of resources. If you really want Wells, the best bet might be to wait until he becomes a FA to avoid grossly overpaying for his production.

 

Or to try to get him like many of us suggested when his value was low last off season. But instead....the Cubs got that much needed leadoff guy.