Batter A- 30 years old

Batting Average- 260

RBI's- 66

Slugging %- 400 

Batter B- 24 years old

Batting Average- 317

RBI's- 117

Slugging %- 550

No-brainer right?! A younger player, with better numbers, still destined to hit his prime in 4 to 5 years...The problem is, that's what Toronto thought they were getting when they paid for player B, but instead they ended up with player A! Vernon Wells was destined to become one of the greatest hitters in the game; He could hit for average, hit for power and he played well above average defense. I haven't even touched his character, which is rumored to be second to none in the league. Batter A is not the problem though! His back-loaded contract is about to back-fire so hard that even the Giants are jealous (Check Mr. Barry Zito) ; His base salary is about to jump from 1.5 million (The last 8 million dollar installment of his 25 million dollar signing bonus was also dished out) to 12.5 and then skyrocket to 23 Million the year after!

OK no problem, someone will take a chance on him at the GM meeting this year right?! Absolutely not! The teams that can afford him really don't care to have him or need him for that matter (New York, Boston, and maybe the Mets) and the teams that would love to add him can't afford him! So the Blue Jays find themselves with quite the conundrum.They have found a way to hold themselves hostage and the next couple of years, unless Vernon can return to form, will have them locked in the basement.

Big contracts put a lot of pressure on some athletes and that's a huge part of the evaluation process any General Manager has to consider (unless your the rockies- Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle and yes Todd Helton). Some have crumbled, some have shun (C.C Sabbathia) and some hide how they handled it till sports illustrated lets us know (ARods cousin's "medicine" helped him get over those blondes in the background). Either way, Vernon should just know there is absolutely no pressure; NO ONE is watching. All the pressure is on Toronto, who have managed to tie there own hands behind their back; And don't bother screaming for help, no one is listening!