What say to this?

"Hey, Gord Ash isn’t here any more.  Maybe we can get something like Thomas Diamond and Joaquin Arias and Laynce Nix for Wells."

I think JP and Law don't make that deal, though it'd at least be worth considering.  

That's a clever and funny column. Thanks for passing it along. It is interesting to see what has become of the long list of infielders that have moved on from the Jays since the World Series years - just the four second basemen who auditioned to succeed Alomar have played quite a bit in a variety of places.

We’ve got Wells locked up through 2007.  Then he’s a free agent.  Texas will probably want him.  And he’ll probably want to play in Texas.  With Young.  We’ll get a draft pick from the Rangers and another one from the league, but we’ll probably screw those up. 

So if we lose sight of the Yankees and Red Sox by July, I’m sure we’ll be on the phone with the Rangers, just to see what they’d give us for Wells.  If we can get Diamond and Arias and Nix, as an example, then we eliminate having to hope that two compensatory draft picks become legitimate prospects, and we also save the $2 million we’d have to pay in signing bonuses to the two draft picks.  If we don’t talk to Texas in July, bet we do in December.

That would be a horrible trade for Toronto.  Another shortstop who won't hit, a pitcher who can't throw strikes and an outfielder who will be on the waiver wire later this season.  Thanks but no thanks.  There is no CF in the system, none available in free agency and no way to compete without Wells in 2007. 

 Oh, I think we can survive. Alex is a pretty fair centre fielder himself.

Rios' range and arm make him a suitable CF

You get me a technicality.  Still a horrible trade and leaves you with a right fielder then. 

I don't think TOR would do it, either, but interestingly, some folks who weighed in today think it's a deal TEX shouldn't make, given Wells's production and free agency 16 mths from now.

Thanks for reading the article.

-- Jamey

I like Diamond's potential but I'm so-so on Arias and not much interested at all in Nix.  Maybe a different package would make it more interesting for the Jays but Wells is one of the best two-way centerfielders in the game.  That package isn't anywhere NEAR worth his rights for even 16 months, especially to a competitive team.

I'm hoping Wells is open to discussing an extension after this season.  If the Jays are right there for a playoff spot near into the last days of the season, maybe he will be.