The value of Vernon Wells next contract continues to rise as more and more free agents of this class cash in on deals that are for astronomical figures. "Vernon is very much part of our future," Paul Godfrey said, not implying how long that future will be. "We're not shopping him around. We're not looking to trade Vernon. Don't read too much into (the fact he is not in their recent ads). Too much is being made of that already. "Once the winter meetings are over, we'll go back to talking to Vernon. Right now, we've got to concentrate on the free-agent market. There's still a long time between now and the time Vernon becomes a free agent. "We have an owner who wants to win and who has been very generous. When we finally establish what the number is (for Wells), and if that's not enough, we may go back to (Ted Rogers) and ask for more, or we may not. We'll know at the time."