The Red Sox have reportedly made a one-year offer to lefthanded starter David Wells, and ESPN’s Peter Gammons thinks there’s a good possibility he’ll accept it.
ESPN first reported the offer, the terms of which are unknown at this time. The Indians have also reportedly offered Wells a contract.
Wells will be 42 in May, and was 12-8 with a 3.73 ERA for the Padres last season. He was expected to return to San Diego, but he makes sense for Boston in that he would give them a lefthander in the rotation and would be looking for only a one-year deal.
The Red Sox met with Wells’ agent today, and it appears wasted no time putting together a proposal for the former Yankee, who has had some choice words about Fenway Park in the past.
He’s long been critical of Fenway, where he’s 10-10 lifetime with a 4.87 ERA.
Wells’ agent, Greg Clifton, told MLB.com’s Ian Browne the Red Sox and Indians are the two most serious pursuers of Wells.
"We received a proposal from both the Indians and the Red Sox, which I think were both very sincere, very serious proposals," Clifton told MLB.com. "I think they were both definitely getting David's attention and showing him how serious they are about trying to attain his services for next season."
It’s unclear what the signing of Wells would mean for Boston pursuit of free agents Pedro Martinez and Carl Pavano.
The Padres offered Wells arbitration earlier in the week, meaning the Sox would have to give up a draft pick if they signed him.
"I'm going to call David right now and fill him in on both meetings and try to evaluate with him how he wants to proceed and then will go from there and probably get back to both teams either later tonight or by tomorrow morning," Clifton told MLB.com.