Vernon Wells Q&A: 'At some point I plan to retire'

Though he never formally retired from baseball, Vernon Wells didn't play an inning in the major leagues in 2014, the final season of the seven-year, $126-million deal he signed during his halcyon days with the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Wells, a three-time All-Star, took some time this week to chat with theScore's Jonah Birenbaum about his future while reflecting on his decorated but volatile 15-year stint in the big leagues.

Jonah Birenbaum: Vernon, you never officially announced your retirement following 2013 - obviously, you had financial incentive not to do so as you were entering into the final year of your contract - so now that that extension is officially done, what are your plans?

Vernon Wells: At some point I plan to retire, I just haven’t actually got around to it. I guess when the time is right and I feel that it’s actually  - well, to be honest, I don’t even feel like it’s even relevant at this point - but, yeah, I guess officially it needs to be done and officially it’ll get done at some point, most likely getting closer to once the season starts.

JB: I know that your good friend Michael Young now has a front office position with the Texas Rangers - do you have any intention of getting involved on the management side of baseball or working, really, in any capacity in baseball once you officially retire as player?

VW: It’s something I’ve always thought about even during my time playing. I was always intrigued by what went on on the other side - the older you get, the more you learn what goes on behind the scenes (and) it makes it that more intriguing - so at some point, yes, it’s just a matter of when and where.

JB: And now, going back a little bit to your days in Toronto - Vernon, I think that your perception among Blue Jays fans evolved over your tenure with the club, especially in some of those leaner seasons after you signed that seven-year deal; how would you summarize your time in Toronto and your relationship with Blue Jays fans?

VW: I had a blast. I had a chance to grow up in a great city and be involved with a great organization. I think with any growing period and any family there’s ups and down and, unfortunately, the ups and downs when it comes to sports are based on numbers and if your numbers aren’t there then somehow you’re perceived as a bad person, at times. But I think through it all it was a blessing, in my eyes. I can’t speak for everyone that was a fan or is a fan, but I can only speak for my side and everything that went on - good and bad - made me a better and stronger person.

JB: And when you were dealt to Los Angeles it was rather unexpected in January of 2011 - you had a contract at the time that many felt was perhaps “untradeable” - what was it like when you got that phone call from (general manager) Alex Anthopoulos?

VW: Alex and I, we’ve always had a good relationship. We’ve always talked about different players and different situations and the direction of the organization. We had talked earlier in that offseason about different guys, talked about the manager because that was the year (John) Farrell was hired, and talked about the direction we were going within the Blue Jays organization. And during that time he had mentioned to me just, "If something were to come up, how would you feel?" and different things like that and he was feeling out at that point. We were always open and honest with each other and my number one goal was to win (in Toronto), but if he felt that they wanted to go in a different direction, I’d understand because it kind of goes back to the knowing the business side of the game. And he called me back a few months later and told me that this deal was in place, and I think it was best for the organization to move in a different direction at that time.

JB: And how did you feel when you first arrived with the Angels having played for only one organization throughout your professional career?

VW: It’s a huge change. I don’t think people understand - I don’t think athletes understand, sometimes, especially being in an organization for so long, since I was 18 years old - change is difficult. You take for granted, I think, a certain comfort level that you have within a city, within a ballpark, (and) everything changes once you move to a different scenario.

JB: Unfortunately, the team success with the Blue Jays eluded you throughout your time in Toronto and you never actually appeared in a postseason game throughout your time in the major leagues. What is your single fondest memory of your time in baseball?

VW: My best moments are experiences that other guys had - watching Carlos Delgado hitting four home runs (in a single game); John McDonald, after his father passed away, coming back and hitting a home run on Father’s Day. It’s memories like that that are lasting. The whole playoff thing and things like that, it’s a byproduct of coming up in an organization that unfortunately was in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox when they were in their heyday. So I wouldn’t trade it for the world because I got a chance to play against the best each and every week and prove yourself against the best, and I think that was our goal going into it - "We got to compete and do everything we can to compete" - even though sometimes the chips were stacked against us.

JB: You mentioned your longtime teammate Carlos Delgado - you guys shared a clubhouse for six years - what was it like to watch him get knocked off the Hall of Fame ballot in his first year of eligibility?

VW: I mean, I can only speak to how valuable he was to me and what he was able to accomplish when we were together. And it was special. I was lucky to have someone like him “mentoring” me as I was coming up and getting my first years in the big leagues, and he was instrumental in a lot of my success and a lot of what I learned as a young baseball player. So, in my opinion, he deserves a lot more and I think he will (get more recognition) as this process moves forward.

JB: Vernon, I’m curious about your final season with the Yankees. Obviously, you spent a long time with the Blue Jays and then you were out on the west coast. What was it like being an older player on a largely veteran team that has pretty much unmatched media coverage and this sort of constant spotlight being shined on the New York Yankees? What was that season like for you?

VW: It was a blast. It was a really good time. I’ve always had a great respect for the Yankees organization, going back to the Boss’ (late owner George Steinbrenner) days. I always loved the fact that he would do anything and everything he could to make his organization the best that it could be, and when you have that kind of sacrifice from your owner - and he’s kind of the heartbeat of the organization - it’s special. And to get a chance to put the pinstripes on was a dream come true.

JB: You mentioned that you had a good relationship with Alex Anthopoulos, and I’m curious as to what is your take on this year’s Blue Jays? Obviously they’ve had a very active offseason, adding Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson, so how do you like their chances in 2015?

VW: A lot more than I did in 2014, so I guess that’s a good thing. I think (Anthopoulous) added some guys that love to compete and do it at a really high level, not only in numbers they could possibly put up but with the energy they bring to your ballclub. So I think the key for that organization to be where they think they should be is just a matter of consistency. Something I felt putting on the pinstripes - and walking into that (Yankees) clubhouse, and walking into that stadium in New York - there’s a certain expectation, not only internally but even externally, that you’re expected to win each and every night you go out on that field. Each and every day you walk into that clubhouse, it’s a matter of excellence. And for the Blue Jays organization, it’s something that needs to be a daily habit of expecting to win and doing everything you can to win.