According to a Major League source, the Red Sox would like to work out a trade for Mets reliever Billy Wagner, who was placed on waivers Wednesday, the day before he made his first appearance in nearly a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Red Sox have been monitoring the 38-year-old lefthander, according to the source, and scouted him last night during the Mets' 3-2 loss to the Braves.

In his first appearance since last September, Wagner pitched one perfect inning, striking out two. According to one report he was hitting 96 miles per hour on the radar gun.

SI.com's Jon Heyman reported this afternoon that one team put in a claim on Wagner, and Florida radio station WFTL 640 reported that the team was the Red Sox.

While this has not been confirmed, a Major League source told the Globe that the Red Sox do hope to acquire Wagner if they are the team that is awarded the waiver claim.

Wagner, who has a 2.40 ERA and 385 saves in 15 seasons in the majors, had a 2.30 ERA in 45 appearances for the Mets last season before undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery.

Wagner is due a little less than $3 million this season, with an $8 million club option for 2010.

He has a no-trade clause in his contract, but has indicated he would be willing to waive it to go to a contender.