Will Wells Be Back?

[yankeessuck013]

Wells considers calling it quits

By Michael Silverman

 

It is difficult to imagine David Wells walking away from $2.5 million guaranteed, plus an additional $5 million in incentives, but the left-handed starter was thinking seriously last night about not returning to the Red Sox next year.

 

"Obviously my health is one issue, but we'll see what my wife wants to do,'' said Wells after the Red Sox were swept out of the postseason by the White Sox last night. ``She does all the traveling with my kids, and if she says, `Honey, stay home,' I wouldn't fight it off too hard.''

 

Wells, who will turn 43 next May, finished the season with a 15-7 record and 4.45 ERA in 30 starts. This offseason he is having an arthroscopic procedure performed on his balky right knee, the one injected ``a few'' times with cortisone this season, but Wells said that is not the biggest issue.

 

With a home in San Diego and kids aged six and 13, the coast-to-coast trips have taken a toll on his quality of life. His inability to have a personal life here in Boston is also tough.

 

"This town is really hard to live in,'' Wells said. ``I couldn't go out this year. Everyone wants your autograph, wants to take your picture. It's not fun and me and my family got annoyed by that. Now, I understand why fans do that and that's never going to change. I do understand that and don't blame them. The fans here, they're supportive as anything, but they have to understand us. We go through this (expletive) and wind up having to live like hermits.

 

"This was the worse I've ever seen, ever,'' he added. ``They're good fans. It's hard not to recognize me, I know, but I like to keep to my own.''

 

"Wells said he would make the decision on retirement, but he knows which way his wife is leaning.

 

"I definitely know what she's thinking, but we'll see how I feel,'' Wells said. ``I still love this game very much, but for me to walk away, it wouldn't be tough. It would be pretty easy to walk away.

 

"My competitive nature is still there. I had a good team behind me if I won 15 games. Why give it up but then again, the injuries, all the shots I had. We'll see.''

 

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=106103&format=text

[Soxfan1]

Never heard of bommer. But wells will be back.

[yankeessuck013]

Never heard of bommer. But wells will be back.

 

its called a typo....ass

[schillingouttheks]

It's called sarcasm and making a joke out of a typo, and not meaning it....ass.

[Soxfan1]

not a bitch anymore :shock:

[schillingouttheks]

lol...I could make fun of someone in another thread, then just come to their defense in another thread. Maybe I'm just too trigger happy?

[stocker323]

Soxfan I really wouldn't be one to start a spelling war.

[26 to 6]

hahah

 

 

----------------------

I think Boomer will be back, if he s as serious about his dislike for Yankee fans as he says (which I dont think, i think hes just flapping his gums because hes in Boston and not here) then he will definately be back because he wouldnt want us to get the satisfaction

[jimmycarter05]

i hope boomer comes back...he's electric is yankee stadium and would be great for those games

[Manny Goes Boom]

I hope so. He was good this season, and he should have won game 2. But I understand where hes coming from with those quotes of his, so it's hard to say.

[yankeessuck013]

Epstein expects Boomer back

 

Left-hander David Wells has made a lot of comments of late suggesting that he will at least consider retirement this winter. However, the 42-year-old Wells is under contract for 2006, and could pass up as much as $9 million if he opts not to pitch again.

 

"I'm sure we'll be in pretty close contact with Boomer this winter," said Epstein. "He'll let us know his feelings. But right now we're certainly counting on him coming back. I think the first year in Boston can leave you at the end of the season feeling like you need to take some time off and you need to get away a little bit.

 

"He was a little bit taken back by how passionate the fan base was here. You expect a guy that's played in New York to make a seamless transition to Boston. But it was tough on him. He couldn't go out. I think he used the word 'hermit.' We know David doesn't like being a hermit. But this guy is pretty competitive. If you saw the way he pitched down the stretch, I think this guy's got a lot left and the fire still burns. We'll be in touch with him. But he's a guy we'd love to have back."

[User Name]

I hope Boomer comes back, but I just jope he can stay consistent.

[Soxfan1]

ive ben impovin.

[stocker323]

ive ben impovin.

Improving on what? Certainly not spelling.

[mosox]

Since when do pro ballplayers turn down money? If he can walk, he'll pitch. The problem is, he may pressure Theo for a trade if he's still down on Boston.

[yankeessuck013]

he's down on boston?

[mosox]

he's down on boston?

 

From Chris Snow in the Globe on Wells:

 

He's pondering retirement, and will have that discussion with his wife. It wouldn't be entirely surprising if he requested a trade back to the West Coast, to pitch closer to his California home. He didn't particularly enjoy the city of Boston, socially, which Epstein acknowledged.

 

''The first year in Boston can leave you feeling like you need some time off," Epstein said. ''He was a little taken aback by how passionate the fan base was. You expect a guy who's played in New York to make a seamless transition to Boston.

 

''It was tough on him. I think he used the word hermit. I know David doesn't like to be a hermit."

 

But, Epstein added, ''This guy's pretty competitive. We saw the way this guy pitched down the stretch. This guy has a lot left. He's a guy we'd love to have back."

[Soxfan1]

ive ben impovin.

I was joking. I did that on purpose. Holy crap am i making this board dumber.

[riverside sluggers]

Wells requests a trade

He'd like to end on West Coast

By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff | October 21, 2005

 

CHICAGO -- With a guaranteed $2.5 million in his contract for 2006, Red Sox lefthander David Wells intends to return for his 20th season in the major leagues, according to an industry source. But Wells, who turns 43 May 20 and plans to have knee surgery this winter, has conveyed to the Red Sox a desire to finish his career on the West Coast -- he has a home near San Diego -- and the Sox have indicated they will try to honor his request. Wells went 15-7 with an earned run average of 4.45 for the Sox this season, and by making 30 starts, he met all the performance clauses in his contract, enabling him to make a maximum of $9 million as stipulated in the deal. But Wells would prefer to be closer to home -- he pitched for the Padres in 2004 and could have re-signed last winter but negotiations broke down.

 

The Sox have three starters under contract for 2006 -- Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield, and Matt Clement -- and Wade Miller and Bronson Arroyo are eligible for salary arbitration. Jonathan Papelbon, who pitched primarily in relief for the Sox after his call-up, is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation next season, and top lefthanded prospect Jon Lester, while a long shot after pitching in Double A, is a possibility from within the organization. Marlins righthander A.J. Burnett is expected to be the top pitcher available on the free agent market this winter, followed closely by Kevin Millwood of the Guardians and Matt Morris of the Cardinals. Seattle lefthander Jamie Moyer is another veteran pitcher eligible for free agency.

 

The Sox have eight players eligible for free agency: Johnny Damon, Tony Graffanino, Matt Mantei, Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Mike Myers, John Olerud, and Mike Timlin. Damon, of course, is expected to attract the most attention, but the Chicago Cubs, expected to be in the market for a center fielder, probably won't be involved in the bidding for Damon. The money and length of contract Damon, 31, is expected to seek may be too prohibitive for the Cubs.

[mosox]

So much for the suspense of whether he stays. The Sox are very accomodating when players want to leave. If his only concern is being "close to home" rather than helping to make the Sox a winner then he can take his incentive checks and wave goodbye. This time, not bargain deals, like Payton for Bradford.

[Ray10]

I hope he decides to come back. He did struggle at the beginning but he really came on and pitched well for the bulk of the season. I think he'll give it one more year.

[yankeessuck013]

No problem, that clears a starting slot for Papelbon. Maybe they can trade him for a decent reliever - Linebrink or Otsuka from the Padres would be nice, throw Dave Roberts in as well.

[Soxfan1]

RS I just posted that last week. Why are you reposting it?

[yankeessuck013]

RS I just posted that last week. Why are you reposting it?

 

huh?

 

look at the date on that article and look at the date today....Let that sink in.

 

last week was not October 21st.

[Soxfan1]

I posted wells wanted out and he just reposted it.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Does rock beat paper, etc ? Now we're fighting about first posting recognition ? Com'on guys lighten-up.

[yankeessuck013]

I posted wells wanted out and he just reposted it.

 

I was saying that they aren't the same articles

[26 to 6]

wow...this thread got stupid!

[example1]

Yeah. Any thoughts on the players/types of players we would want or possibly get?

[ClayBuchholzIsDaFuture]

Don't think he'll be back, hope we can rape the Pad's again like we did in the Roberts trade ...