Turns out no money changed hands in the Vernon Wells trade on Friday. After Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman tweeted that the Toronto Blue Jays would be sending $5 million to the Los Angeles Angels in the trade, Both Angels’ general manager Tony Reagins and Blue Jays’ general manager Alex Anthopoulos confirmed no money would be changing hands in the deal. The Angels will now be on the hook for all $86 million remaining on Wells’ contract.
Vernon Wells Trade Does Not Involve Money, Angels GM Tony Reagins Confirms
With no money moving around in the trade, the Blue Jays get away almost completely free, dumping a huge contract off on the Angels while getting two players that may be useful at a low price back — Juan Rivera and Mike Napoli. Combined, Napolia and Rivera will cost the Blue Jays about 11 million. Compare that to Wells’ 2010 cost — $23 million for the season — and you can see why many were shocked no money is changing hands.
Now that we know the terms of the deal, and that it doesn’t involve money changing hands, it’s safe to say the Jays got away with highway robbery.
For more on the trade, check out Bluebird Banter and Halos Heaven.
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