Vernon out of Toronto

[Rios15]

5:41pm: Wells has waived his no-trade clause and underwent a physical in Anaheim today, Rosenthal reports. Juan Rivera could also be headed to Toronto along with Napoli.

5:22pm: Rosenthal hears from a source that Toronto will send Vernon Wells to the Angels in exchange for Napoli. (Twitter link) Wells is under contract through 2014, earning $23MM in 2011 and then $21MM in each of the remaining three years. Wells would presumably take over in center field for L.A. now that Torii Hunter has been shifted to right, though Hunter (-6.2 UZR/150) was a bit better than Wells (-7.0 UZR/150) in center last season.

4:36pm: The Angels have agreed to send Mike Napoli to the Blue Jays, pending a physical, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Rays appeared to be targeting the catcher/first baseman earlier this evening, but their division rivals ended up acquiring him instead.

The Blue Jays could combine Napoli with Jose Molina and J.P. Arencibia behind the plate or with Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind at first base.

Napoli hit 26 home runs last year, reaching the 20-homer plateau for the third consecutive season. He hit .238/.316/.468 overall, with a career-high 137 strikeouts. The right-handed hitter has a .931 OPS against southpaws in his career, so he is a potential complement to the lefty-hitting Lind at first base.

Would-be base stealers were successful 73% of the time they tried stealing off of Napoli in 2010; they've been successful 76% of the time in his career.

Napoli, 29, is arbitration eligible this year and eligible for free agency after 2012. He asked for $6.1MM in 2011 and the Angels countered with a $5.3MM offer, as MLBTR's Arb Tracker shows.

The Angels dealt from a position of strength; along with Napoli, the Halos have backstops Jeff Mathis, Hank Conger and Bobby Wilson on their 40-man roster.

The Angels would like to move Juan Rivera and his $5.25MM salary, according to Rosenthal and Morosi. They have explored one-year deals with players such as Scott Podsednik and Vladimir Guerrero.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/01/blue-jays-to-acquire-mike-napoli.html

Even f it's for the best of the Jays, I'm really going to miss Vernon. He's been a Jay since I started watching baseball and he's been a real leader for us. I'm sure some Jays fans will be happy but I'll miss Vernon. I'm not saying this is as bad trade though. Glad to hear we'll have Napoli apart of the team though.

 

[The Guid]

Was just about to post this. Looks like the Jays finally got rid of Wells

 

[Elite]

Makes zero sense for either teams....

 

[elcheato]

This makes a lot of sense for Toronto.. None for LA.

 

[Rios15]

Makes zero sense for either teams....

Jays have too many outfielders and they dump Wells' huge salary and Napoli can play 1st base while Lind plays in Left, Bautista in right. I'm just wondering who we put in center. But apparently we're putting Lind at first. Napoli is a great catcher though. Either way we will have space for Snider in the line-up.

 

[Elite]

Jays have too many outfielders and they dump Wells' huge salary and Napoli can play 1st base while Lind plays in Left, Bautista in right. I'm just wondering who we put in center. But apparently we're putting Lind at first. Napoli is a great catcher though. Either way we will have space for Snider in the line-up.

Your team is going to be awful defensively.

 

[Rios15]

Your team is going to be awful defensively.

Either way we get rid of the salary, so I don't see how this doesn't make sense. We save almost 20M.

 

[Rios15]

According to a report from Fox Sports, the Toronto Blue Jays have sent centrefielder Vernon Wells to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for catcher/first baseman Mike Napoli pending both players passing a physical.

Wells had a resurgence in the 2010 season belting 31 home runs and driving in 88 runs, his highest totals since 2006.

The 32 year old outfielder is entering the fourth year of a seven year deal expected to be worth 126M.

Wells was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 1997 amateur draft.

Last season Napoli had career highs with 26 home runs and 68 runs batted in but saw his average dip to .238 in 140 games played.

If he passes the physical, the 29 year old could play first base, catcher or both positions in Toronto as the Blue Jays saw their 2010 starters at each position depart though free agency.

TSN.ca

Definitely official.

Man will I miss seeing Wells in Centre Field.

 

[Mexi]

This makes a lot of sense for Toronto.. None for LA.

*Anaheim


lol. good for toronto. who cares how this immediately effects the jays, you get rid of that contract

 

[Rios15]

Where the hell was AA in all these decisions when JP was here? lol. He needs more recognition for what he has done with the team. WOW.

 

[snipezo]

Not a fan of river but both players are pretty versatile. And Rios, Lind is never gonna play of ever again lol.

 

[Rios15]

Not a fan of river but both players are pretty versatile. And Rios, Lind is never gonna play of ever again lol.

Lol. I don't want to really see Snider of Lind in outfield but who do you think is going to Center now? Wells has been their for years. lol. Jose? Unless I'm missing someone.

 

[snipezo]

AA is probably not done yet. I wouldn't be surprised if Brett Lawrie gets it though.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

Sorry but I didn't like Wells at all.

 

[Lake Louise]

Well, I guess it's official. He truly wasn't worth the money.

 

[Rios15]

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

Sorry but I didn't like Wells at all.

Not his fault he got paid that much lol.

 

[snipezo]

Oh yeah Rajai Davis is probably gonna play CF

 

[Phil The Thrill]

True. He'll have some great speed in outfield.

 

[The Guid]

Official, Napoli+Rivera for Wells..no money changing hands.

Seems to me that the Halos pushed the panic button here. They lost out on Crawford, Soriano, and Beltre and made a move just for the sake of doing so. It's interesting, someone on twitter, can't remember who it was, noted that the $75MM they were offering Beltre was just spent on Wells (his $86MM minus Napoli and Rivera's total $11MM)

EDIT: It was Jon Heyman

 

[footballplaya52]

heard this on the radio at work.

finally, vernon wasnt playing on a level anywhere close to being worth that contract