MLB Free Agency: The highs and lows of long-term deals
By Bill Felber
T-10. Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, 2008-14,+6.7
The Blue Jays gave Wells a seven-year, $126 million extension following the 2006 season. At the time, the move could be viewed as making sense; Wells was in his mid 20s, and he was he was a two-time All Star coming off a season in which he had hit .303 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs. Most significantly, entering his free agent season, it solidified his status with the club.
The newly secured Wells fought through a series of mediocre seasons in Toronto, then in January of 2011 the Jays sent him to the Angels in exchange for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder-first baseman Juan Rivera. In Anaheim, Wells struggled even more, batting .218 and .230 before the Angels shipped him off to New York for a pair of minor leaguers prior to the 2013 season.
In New York, Wells batted .233 with just 11 home runs. So the Yankees released him following the 2013 season even though they and the Angels together still owed him $21 million.
Collectively, Wells was paid $45 million from the Jays, $67.1 million from the Angels and $13.9 million from the Yankees. In return for that, he batted .255 with a .302 on base average.