Padres bring back 'Boomer' for stretch drive

By: SHAUN O'NEILL - Staff Writer | Thursday, August 31, 2006 11:53 PM PDT ∞

David Wells
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They call David Wells "Boomer." But it was Padres general manager Kevin Towers in full voice Thursday after he traded for the veteran pitcher.

"I think we got one of the biggest big-game pitchers there is in the game," Towers chirped enthusiastically after acquiring Wells from the Boston Red Sox for his second hometown stint.

The Padres, fighting on two fronts to get into the playoffs, decided to part with one of their top prospects to add such a big-game pitcher for the September stretch drive. Officially, the trade is Wells to the Padres for a player to be named and cash considerations. Unofficially, club sources confirmed the player is Triple-A catcher George Kottaras.

By making Kottaras a "player to be named", the Padres don't have to expose him to waivers in order to make the deal. Instead, they will wait until after the season to send him to Boston.

On July 31, the last day to make trades without any waivers, Towers balked at sending two top prospects to the Chicago Cubs for veteran right-hander Greg Maddux. A month later, with the Padres in a less secure playoff position and the price cut in half, Towers, club CEO Sandy Alderson and the rest of the team's brass were willing to pull the trigger to get a 43-year-old left-hander.

Wells arrives just in time to be eligible for the Padres' postseason roster.

By parting with a player rated as the organization's No. 2 prospect by the publication Baseball America, the Padres prevented National League West leader Los Angeles from twice landing a player the Padres sought. They also signaled to their own players a willingness to sacrifice both future potential and present money to strengthen the club ---- something that wasn't done a month ago.

"Several of our players said, 'Go get him,' " Towers said. "He's from San Diego, and he's been teammates of several guys in the clubhouse right now. He's kind of like (Mike) Piazza, with a swagger, a pedigree."

Wells also has a strong desire to play in San Diego. The 1982 Point Loma High graduate went 12-8 with a 3.73 ERA for the Padres in 2004, their first year in Petco Park. He then departed as a free agent when the Red Sox offered a bigger deal.

Almost from the time he reported to the Red Sox, he talked about his desire to be traded back to San Diego. And he wasn't shy about lobbing phone calls to Towers saying the same thing.

"He's thrilled to have this opportunity," said Gregg Clifton, Wells' agent, "to be in a pennant race and to be going back to a place he enjoys."

Wells, who was scratched from his scheduled Red Sox start Thursday, is expected to take the mound for the Padres on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, who are 1 1/2 games behind the Padres in the National League wild-card race. Clifton said Wells was unable to get a flight back to San Diego on Thursday night but was hoping to fly into Orange County instead to be at Petco Park today.

It will be Wells' ninth start of the season. He is only 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA, and his season twice has been disrupted by injuries to his right knee ---- first a sprain and then a bruise when a line drive hit the knee during his comeback start. Padres scouts Ted Simmons and Ken Bracey have viewed Wells, and Towers has watched closely on satellite TV as Wells rounded into form. In five August starts, Wells went 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA.

"We're getting him at a hot time. His last four starts have been exceptional," Towers said. "This guy thrives this time of year, in September games, in pennant races. I'm really hoping David's going to be a difference-maker in this division."

Besides paying the rest of Wells' $4,075,000 salary, the Padres are on the hook for per-start incentives. His third start with the Padres will kick in a $200,000-per-start clause.

Towers said he had no discussions with Wells about the 2007 season but was open to keeping him if he chooses to play another year.

Kottaras, 23, batted .224 with two home runs and 15 RBIs in 29 games with Portland. He started the year with Double-A Mobile, where he hit .276 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs in 78 games. He has a sweet left-handed swing and was rated higher offensively than defensively. The presence of switch-hitting catchers Josh Bard and Rob Bowen in the big leagues made Padres management more willing to move him.

Nick Hundley, batting .279 at Single-A Lake Elsinore, assumes the title as the organization's top catching prospect.

PADRES NOTES ---- The Padres have signed RHP Rudy Seanez, recently released by the Red Sox. He will be added to the roster today and won't have postseason eligibility unless he is added as an injury replacement. ... OF Terrmel Sledge was called up from Triple-A Portland, and RHP Scott Cassidy will arrive today. RHP Mike Thompson was optioned to Portland, but he is sure to return after Portland completes its season Monday.

Contact staff writer Shaun O'Neill at (760) 740-3546 or soneill@nctimes.com.