Posts Tagged ‘david wells’

David Wells to the Dodgers

Friday, August 24th, 2007

Left-hander David Wells has reached an agreement with the Dodgers, and is expected to make his first start Sunday night against the Mets at Shea Stadium, according to a major-league source. Wells, 44, was released earlier this month by the Padres after going 0-3 with a 14.33 ERA in his last four starts. He joins a Dodgers rotation that has been depleted by injuries to Jason Schmidt, Randy Wolf and Hong-Chih Kuo.

The Dodgers will pay Wells a pro-rated portion of the minimum salary, with the Padres assuming the rest of his $3 million guarantee. Wells also will receive incentives from the Dodgers based on his number of starts.

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Wells agrees to rejoin hometown team

Saturday, January 20th, 2007

David Wells is all but penciled in as the No. 5 starter for his hometown San Diego Padres. The Padres and Wells’ agent reached preliminary agreement Friday on a one-year, $3 million contract plus incentives that will give the 43-year-old left-hander the chance to earn a maximum of $7 million if he makes 27 starts. Padres general manager Kevin Towers said the two sides need to finalize some contract language and Wells must pass a physical. He expects the deal to be finalized by Monday or Tuesday.

Wells will anchor a rotation that includes Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Clay Hensley and Greg Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner.

Besides his $3 million in base pay, Wells can earn $1 million in active roster bonuses, meaning he must avoid time on the disabled list, and another $3 million based on making starts 11 through 27.

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Wells contemplates Padres’ offer

Friday, January 19th, 2007

The Padres offered free-agent left-hander David Wells a one-year contract Wednesday. The offer includes a modest base salary plus appearance-based incentives, according to a major-league source. The two sides plan to resume discussions Thursday; the Padres intend to explore other options if they can not sign the 43-year-old Wells by the end of the week.

The Blue Jays are interested in Wells if his talks with the Padres collapse, but Wells almost certainly would desire a higher salary to leave his hometown team.

Wells underwent surgery on his right knee after the ’05 season and missed six weeks early last season due to lingering knee soreness. The pitcher, however, finished strong, going 3-4 with a 3.03 ERA in his final 10 regular-season starts for the Red Sox and Padres. Wells is 230-148 lifetime with a 4.07 ERA.

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Blue Jays give Wells Club Record Extension

Saturday, December 16th, 2006

The Blue Jays have signed center fielder Vernon Wells to a seven-year, $126 million contract extension. The deal includes full no-trade protection and an opt-out clause after the fourth season, according to a source with knowledge of the contract. It also includes a $25.5 million bonus to be paid in equal installments of $8.5 million in 2008, ’09 and ’10, leaving the Jays flexibility to spend on pitching for next season.

While Wells said he wanted to remain with the Jays, many in the sport believed that he intended to play out the final year of his contract, then return home to Arlington, Tex., to join the Rangers and reunite with shortstop Michael Young, his former Jays teammate and best friend in baseball.

The Jays still want to add pitching, and their signing of Wells could lead them to trade another of their outfielders, most likely Alex Rios, for a proven starter.

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David Wells back to the Padres

Thursday, August 31st, 2006

The Padres won the last-minute sweepstakes for Wells, acquiring the veteran left-hander from the Red Sox on Thursday in exchange for a player to be named or cash. The player is Class AAA catcher George Kottaras.

Wells, a native of San Diego, pitched for the Padres in 2004, then signed with the Red Sox as a free agent after that season. He spent two months on the disabled list with right knee soreness earlier this season but was 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA in five August starts.

If Wells stays healthy, he will bring vast postseason experience to a rotation that already includes right-handers Jake Peavy and Woody Williams and left-hander Chris Young. In 26 career postseason appearances — 16 starts — Wells is 10-4 with a 3.15 ERA.

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