Padres appear to have edge in Wells talks
OAKLAND, Calif. -- David Wells is still scheduled to face Toronto's Roy Halladay tonight at Fenway Park when the Red Sox begins a 10-game homestand, but barring a last-minute change of heart by general manager Theo Epstein, it's likely the 43-year-old lefthander has already pitched his last game in a Boston uniform.
Multiple sources confirm that Epstein is prepared to trade Wells back to his native San Diego unless another potential trading partner, the Los Angeles Dodgers, is willing to trade one of its top three prospects: outfielder Matt Kemp, third baseman Andy LaRoche, or first baseman James Loney, all three of whom are tearing up the Triple A Pacific Coast League. Loney was batting .383, Kemp .356, and LaRoche .319 for the Las Vegas 51s.
As things stood last night, the Dodgers were not willing to do so, which means Epstein is likely to send Wells to the Padres for a lefthanded-hitting catcher, George Kottaras, who came into this season ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Padres organization by Baseball America. Kottaras, 23, has split the season between Double A and Triple A, batting .276 with 8 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .394 on-base percentage at Double A Mobile and .233 with 2 homers and 14 RBIs in 28 games for Triple A Portland (Ore.).
``He's a pretty good player," Sox second baseman and former Padre Mark Loretta said of Kottaras. ``He was the catcher of the future there. Maybe with [Josh] Bard, things have changed."
The deadline to complete a deal for Wells, who already has cleared waivers, is midnight tonight, at least in terms of his eligibility for postseason play. The Padres trail the Dodgers by three games in the National League West, but lead the wild-card race by a half-game over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Epstein had resisted trading Wells as long as the Sox were in contention for a postseason spot, but with that possibility all but eliminated, he has shopped Wells. He also had talks with the St. Louis Cardinals, who need pitching with Mark Mulder a huge question mark, inquiring about lefthanded prospect Adam Wainwright, first baseman Chris Duncan, and Single A outfielder Colby Rasmus. But Wells has told the Sox he does not want to go to St. Louis, and the Cardinals reportedly won't part with any of those players.
Epstein had no comment when asked about Wells trade talks, and was believed to be flying back to Boston with the club last night. There remains the possibility that the Dodgers will try to entice the Sox with a package of other prospects, but it appears that Wells, who last winter lobbied vigorously to be sent back to San Diego, will be granted his wish.
Who would pitch for the Sox tonight? One logical possibility is rehabbing lefthander Lenny DiNardo, who was scratched by Pawtucket as its starter last night.
Pitcher Jon Lester, injured in a car accident on Storrow Drive, was undergoing more tests on his back yesterday.
Manny Ramírez? What is making the patellar tendinitis in his right knee more of a problem, according to Francona, is that it is right at the tip of the tendon, which connects the kneecap to the shinbone.
``Rest is the only thing that's going to get this better," Francona said. ``Whether it's five days, 10 days, we just don't know. But I think by saying two days, we're doing him a disservice. We've got to let this [heal]."
``I obviously got my pills mixed up," said Francona, who believes he inadvertently took an extra Coumadin out of a pill container when he was intending to take an Ambien, a sleep aid.
``My INR [international normalized ratio] is supposed to be a 3, which is fairly high," Francona said. ``I think [pitching coach Dave ] Wallace is at 2. Mine was a 4."
Francona, who accidentally bit a hole inside his cheek in Seattle Sunday, said the bleeding did not stop until the following day. In addition, yesterday he showed a dark bruise on his arm where he was hurt, he said, bumping into David Ortiz while ``just screwing around with handshakes."
``I was fortunate," Francona said, ``that I didn't get hit with a foul ball."
