Bad signals

It took a few months longer than expected and David Wells endured a painful setback after offseason knee surgery, but the big lefthander last night finally got his wish to be traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for a player-to-be-named, likely Triple A catching prospect George Kottaras.

``David's very happy," said his agent, Gregg Clifton. ``When he was sent home this afternoon we didn't know what to expect, but this was the best-case scenario for David, who has wanted to return to San Diego for some time. I know he loved his time in Boston and he hopes he can lead the Padres deep into the playoffs."

Wells, who said he plans to retire after this season, might be talked into staying another year if he performs well. Considered the best available pitcher on the market, Wells, 43, has had a tough stretch with injuries, but there's very little wear and tear on his arm this season.

He is known for being a money pitcher. He's 10-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 26 postseason appearances, including 16 starts.

``David was appreciative of the opportunity we gave him to play for a team near his hometown," Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. ``In the end, we had four semifinalists and then two finalists and we made the deal we felt was best for our organization. We didn't limit ourselves at all."

The Sox have been entertaining deals for Wells for a few days. As the Sox tumbled out of contention, Epstein attempted to acquire a player who could help the team in 2007.

With the dearth of catching in the majors and with the Sox having no prospects close to joining Jason Varitek, Kottaras makes sense.

``Getting Wells, we are a serious player to win the division," Padres GM Kevin Towers said last night.

It's not the type of deal Epstein wants to make again -- sending a veteran to a team still in playoff contention.

``We never want to be in this position at this time of the year," Epstein said. ``We had a chance to make a deal for an older player who will help a team for a month or two months and in return we hoped to get a player who can help us in the future."

This will be Wells's second stint with the Padres. He went 12-8 with a 3.73 ERA for them in 2004 when he signed a one-year deal as a free agent after his Yankee tenure.

Epstein tried to land one of the Dodgers' top three prospects -- outfielder Matt Kemp, first baseman James Loney, and third baseman Andy LaRoche -- but was rebuffed. Epstein is no stranger to making deals with Towers.

Towers acquired reliever Scott Cassidy for outfielder Adam Hyzdu. He traded Mark Loretta for Doug Mirabelli and turned around and traded Mirabelli back to Boston May 1 for Cla Meredith, catcher Josh Bard, and $100,000 in cash. While the Loretta move was criticized by Padre fans, it saved the Padres about $2 million and it enabled the Padres to give the second base job to promising youngster Josh Barfield.

The Padres were always Wells's first choice because he has a home in the San Diego area. He had hoped the Red Sox would deal him to the Padres last offseason but the teams didn't match up. Towers insisted the Sox take righthander Woody Williams, but at the time the Sox had no room for another starting pitcher.

The Cardinals and the Reds both wanted Wells, but Wells might have retired if he didn't land in a favorable spot.

Clifton also thought Wells would have agreed to go to the Mets, but it wasn't known whether Epstein had talked with Omar Minaya.

The Sox weren't able to announce the player because 40-man roster players have to clear waivers during the waiver period that ends Oct. 2.

Kottaras, 23, is 6 feet, 190 pounds, and considered an average receiver and a patient hitter, which fits into the Sox philosophy. Scouts are torn on his readiness for the majors, however, some feeling he needs to toughen up and learn to call a game. A Canadian, he didn't play baseball until he was 15 and played mostly fast-pitch softball until then because his high school only had softball.

The son of Greek immigrants, Kottaras played for Greece in the 2004 Olympics. He attended Connors State Junior College in Oklahoma, where he began to blossom.

Kottaras hit .277 with 7 homers and 33 RBIs at Double A Mobile with a .394 on-base percentage before joining the Triple A Beavers. Through Wednesday, he was hitting .224 with 2 homers and 15 RBIs in 107 at-bats.

Wells, who was scheduled to make last night's start, will now start Sunday for the Padres against Cincinnati.