By Tracy Ringolsby
FOXSports.com
March 5, 2011
First the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim made a bid, and came up short, for free agent center fielder Carl Crawford, who wound up signing with Boston. Then they took a shot and missed on third baseman Adrian Beltre, who wound up signing with AL West rival Texas
Then, behind Door No. 3, an Angels team in need of an offensive lift found outfielder Vernon Wells, whose production has been decent but whose sizable contract had become an obstacle for Toronto in its rebuilding plans.
It was a perfect fit for the teams.
The Angels moved spare parts, outfielder Juan Rivera and catcher Mike Napoli, whom Toronto later dealt to Texas. Toronto had to pick up only $5 million on the $86 million that Wells has coming to him during the next four years, providing the Jays financial flexibility in their attempt to build a contending team in the next couple of years. The Angels added a legitimate run producer to help revive an offense that was 19th in the major leagues last year in runs scored and 23rd in batting average.
Wells, meanwhile, admitted disappointment at leaving the organization he had been with since he was a first-round draft pick in 1997 at the age of 18, but welcomed the chance to try to help the Angels rebound from an 80-82 struggle in 2010 after having won the AL West division title in five of the six previous seasons.
What's more, it all happened without a lot of fanfare, unlike the mess in Texas with his friend Michael Young, a fifth-round draft choice of the Jays in 1997, the year Wells signed, and a minor-league teammate of Wells for three years.
The Rangers' shopping of Young during the offseason became so public that Young, considered the heart and soul of the franchise, finally asked to be dealt after potential deals fell through. And when the demand wasn't met, he showed up at the Rangers' camp in spring training questioning the integrity of general manager Jon Daniels.
"It just gives me a greater respect for the way Alex (Anthopoulos, Blue Jays GM) handled this trade and the way Tony (Reagins, Angels GM) handled this trade,'' said Wells. "They kept it in-house. If it didn't happen, no one would have heard about it. It's one of those situations where it's our business."
Not that it made it easy for Wells.
"It was a tough few weeks, saying bye to guys who I had grown up with (in pro ball)," said Wells. "I'd known some of those guys since I was a teenager. They are the people who shaped who I am."
Now the business is about getting into the postseason, where Wells has never been.
"This is huge for him,'' fellow outfielder Torii Hunter said. "He's going to be revived, refreshed. He has a chance to win over here. He's never been to the postseason. It's something that gives you a boost. It's exciting. He gives us that added dimension."
A year ago, the Angels were an offensive mess. They had lost their spark, Chone Figgins, along with Vladimir Guerrero to free agency prior to the 2010 season, and then, on May 29, first baseman Kendry Morales suffered a broken leg in a home plate celebration after hitting a game-ending home run. Morales was out for the season, and it remains a question as to when he will be ready to return this year.
That's why Wells is such an important addition.
The Angels have a first-class rotation with Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, Dan Haren, Joel Pineiro and Scott Kazmir. They have a first-class defense, particularly in an outfield in which rookie Pete Bourjos is such an accomplished defensive center fielder that he will be flanked by two Gold Glove center fielders, Wells in left and Hunter in right.
It is bittersweet for Wells. He was in no hurry to leave Toronto.
"When I went home after last season, with the way (the Blue Jays) had played at the end of last year and with the approach the front office is taking, I was thinking about what (the Blue Jays) could do to move up in the AL East. Then all of a sudden, in January, Alex called and told me the situation,'' Wells said. "What the Blue Jays are doing is stockpiling young talent, and I understood my (trade) was to create the flexibility (financially).
"At the same time the Angels are in a position to win now. They don't make the Dan Haren trade (with Arizona) last season if they aren't looking at winning."
And that's why the Angels were willing to take on the financial obligation of Wells, whose contractual situation had become an issue with Toronto fans.
"Really it started on Day One: 'Do you think he deserved it?'" Wells said. "I felt you can judge a player by the contract or the way he plays the game, and I feel I've always played the game hard, each and every day."
