Comments on: What does the Vernon Wells trade mean for Jose Bautista? http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/21/what-does-the-vernon-wells-trade-mean-for-jose-bautista/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Thu, 23 May 2013 13:57:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Old Gator http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/21/what-does-the-vernon-wells-trade-mean-for-jose-bautista/comment-page-1/#comment-106198 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 05:30:27 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=36200#comment-106198 PC, I was thinking of you listening to the local sports talk station on the drive home from my favorite folk-blues cafe tonight. I figured when this broke, you must’ve fallen face down in your beaver of the week. It’s hard to imagine a GM so desperate that he would give up a fine young player like Napoli to tie an anvil like Wells’ contract around his neck and then go jump in the Marianas Trench while the Rangers laugh their asses off. Damn.

]]> By: proudlycanadian http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/21/what-does-the-vernon-wells-trade-mean-for-jose-bautista/comment-page-1/#comment-106156 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:38:10 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=36200#comment-106156 Very interesting. Rivera will become a free agent in 2012 and Napoli can be released after the 2011 season if he does not perform. They would be under no obligation to offer him a contract in 2012 even if he would be eligible for arbitration. Napoli can become a free agent in 2013. The Jays will have a lot more flexibility going forward.

]]> By: baseballstars http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/21/what-does-the-vernon-wells-trade-mean-for-jose-bautista/comment-page-1/#comment-106148 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:26:11 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=36200#comment-106148 Yeah, I agree. If they could get Bautista for a reasonable price, then it would be worth the gamble. Unfortunately the Jays play in the strongest division in baseball, so they will probably have to take a chance on Bautista and hope he’s the real deal. Right now is the time for the Jays to make their move, with the Yankees and Rays being vulnerable.

]]> By: D.J. Short http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/21/what-does-the-vernon-wells-trade-mean-for-jose-bautista/comment-page-1/#comment-106141 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:13:19 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=36200#comment-106141 Don’t disagree, but multi-year doesn’t mean seven-year extension. Could just be a two-year deal, buying out his first year of free agency. If they could get him to give a little on the annual salary, that might not be so bad. It’s a tough call, though.

]]> By: baseballstars http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/21/what-does-the-vernon-wells-trade-mean-for-jose-bautista/comment-page-1/#comment-106139 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 01:04:39 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=36200#comment-106139 I wouldn’t break the bank on a player who had an outlier of a career year. The Jays are just in one of those “damned if they do/don’t” scenarios with Bautista. There’s a higher probability that he’ll end up like Hill and Lind did coming off of career seasons.

But if they convinced the Angels to take on Wells’ salary, the GM truly is a genius. I know everyone will focus on Napoli, but Rivera is a solid hitter.

]]>