BOSTON — Billy Wagner is on his way to the Red Sox, leaving the Mets for a chance to pitch in a pennant race as a setup man for all-star closer Jonathan Papelbon.
After a few days of back- and-forth talks about Wagner’s future, the depleted Mets traded the left-handed reliever to the Red Sox on Tuesday for two players to be named.
The AL wild-card leaders had claimed Wagner on waivers, and the teams worked out a deal that persuaded Wagner to waive his no-trade clause. Wagner’s main motivation, according to agent Bean Stringfellow, was his “overwhelming desire to pitch in a pennant race.”
“He woke up and decided he wanted to join a team in the middle of a pennant race to have a chance to pitch in October and to have a chance to get a ring, which he’s never done,” Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said.
Boston agreed not to pick up his $8 million option for next season, Stringfellow said.
Wagner, 38, will join the team in Boston on Thursday.
Wagner has pitched two scoreless innings since recently returning from major surgery on his left elbow last September. He had lost his role as the Mets’ closer after their offseason acquisition of Francisco Rodriguez.
Giants’ Sanchez put on DL
SAN FRANCISCO — Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left shoulder. The move is retroactive to Aug. 18, making him eligible to return Sept. 2.
The Giants recalled infielder Ryan Rohlinger from Triple-A Fresno.
Boone to return Friday
ST. LOUIS — Aaron Boone is set to rejoin the Astros on Friday, about five months after undergoing open-heart surgery, and will be activated when rosters expand Sept. 1.
Boone, 36, has been playing in the minor leagues since Aug. 10, going 3-for-15 with one RBI for Double-A Corpus Christi before moving to Triple-A Round Rock, where he was 0-for-4 in two games.
Footnotes.
Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds has the flu and isn’t at the ballpark for the team’s series opener at San Francisco.
• Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki will not return today from a sore calf as the team had hoped. He likely will remain sidelined until late this week.
• The Rangers placed outfielder Andruw Jones (hamstring) on the DL and recalled Chris Davis from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
• Twins third baseman Joe Crede is out indefinitely with a sore back.
• Rays outfielder Carl Crawford is sidelined with muscle tightness in his lower back.The Associated Press
