December 15, 2006

JAYS MAKE “TAKE IT OR BE TRADED” OFFER TO VERNON WELLS

      After striking out, so far, in the free agent market the Toronto Blue Jays turned their attention to their biggest in house problem—the status of all-star centerfielder Vernon Wells.  With obvious holes in the starting rotation, and with a missing link in their bullpen, the Jays now need to work the trade market in order to solve their pitching problems.  If Wells does not plan on being with the team past next season, when his current contract expires, then he becomes that primary trade asset capable of generating the necessary missing ingredients for the club.  As such the Jays made a very competitive offer to Wells and attached a deadline with it.  If Wells accepted the offer then the entire issue would be put to bed and the team’s best player would remain in Toronto for years to come.  If he rejected it then it would prove to the club that Wells did not want to be a Jay long term and they can now proceed with discussions aimed at trading him.

       The offer, for slightly more per year than Alfonso Soriano received from Chicago, would put Wells, if accepted, in the company of the best paid players in the game.  It would also solidify Wells as the face of the franchise—along with Roy Halladay—for the foreseeable future and ensure that the club would remain competitive for years to come.   If Wells chose not to accept it then the Jays could go forth with the trade discussions that they obviously have already began.  It is apparent that the Jays insistence that they are not seeking offers for Wells would more than likely just let him walk away after next season and collect two draft choices, was merely public bravado.  There are definite possibilities out there where Wells could be dealt and quality players could be acquired—and the Jays needed to know right away where Wells’ plans lay.  By making the offer, and making it public, they are attempting to surface those plans.

       By stating that the Jays had no intention of trading their best player GM JP Ricciardi was asserting, to the other major league clubs, that if they wanted to talk trade they had to come with a substantial offer.  If he had let it be known that Wells could be had then the other clubs would obviously try to low bridge the Jays, and that would back the club into a corner.  The club had absolutely no intention of letting him walk away for draft choices—a decision had to be made one way or another this off-season.  And with the potential of adding decent pitching starting to wane, a decision needed to be made immediately.

       If Wells accepts the offer then the Jays can move forward with trade discussions and/or financial offers to selected free agent pitchers.  The club will have a solid idea of its payroll, they will be able to convey to free agents that the organization is indeed committing to winning, and they will impart to their players that if they succeed they will be rewarded and not dealt away. 

       If Wells turns down the offer then the club can easily point out, to its fans, that Wells had obviously no intention of staying in Toronto and that a trade was the only feasible result.  Wells would then be vilified in public for turning down such a monstrous offer.  (Remember Juan Gonzalez turned down a huge contract and ended up signing one year deals after that until his career ended).  

       The contract is definitely heavy, and burdensome, and could stall the Jays pursuit of a championship should Wells get injured or if he does not continue to improve on his stellar numbers.   However, it locks the best player into the team for seven years, allows the marketing department to re-include him in their off-season campaign, and sends a signal that the Jays will do whatever is necessary to compete.   

      Now all they need is a couple of pitchers.

Preview my new fictional novel A Walking Parody at www.michaelghobson.com

Preview my fictional novel A Walking Parody at www.michaelghobson.com