SAN DIEGO -- Two weeks after signing with his hometown Padres, pitcher David Wells finally made it home, stopping by Petco Park on Wednesday for his public unveiling in his new clubhouse and new jersey.

The clubhouse was a perfect fit for Wells, who grew up in Ocean Beach dreaming of playing for the Padres. The jersey? Not so much. Padres general manager Kevin Towers even made light of how loosely the navy-blue threads seemed to hang from Wells' noticeably slimmer physique.

"It's a svelte David Wells, everybody," Towers said to the assembled media as he slipped the No. 33 jersey onto his new ace.

When he wasn't introducing Wells, Towers was busy with his ongoing work to try to build a contending club around the 40-year-old pitcher. One day after upgrading the Padres' offense and defense with the signing of center fielder Jay Payton, Towers kept beating the bushes and could have two more pieces in place by the end of the week.

The Padres, sources said, are close to re-signing pitcher Adam Eaton to a multiyear deal. Meanwhile, the team is in negotiations with the agent for Seattle Mariners shortstop Mark McLemore, looking for insurance in case touted prospect Khalil Greene struggles in his transition to the starting job.

The 26-year-old Eaton made $350,000 last season, his fourth in the major leagues, in which he went 9-12 with a 4.08 ERA in 183 innings as the Padres' No. 2 starter. It marked an impressive comeback for the right-hander after he made only six starts in 2002 because of a yearlong rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. He is due a big raise since he is eligible for salary arbitration.

McLemore, 39, a San Diego native, has seen his playing time steadily dwindle during his four seasons with the Mariners. Last year, he posted his worst average in more than a decade (.233 with two homers and 37 RBIs). But he is valued as a utility man who can play both middle infield positions and the outfield in a pinch. For the Padres, he would back up Ramon Vasquez should Greene falter in his starting audition.

If and when completed, the two moves would likely be the Padres' last of the offseason. The acquisition of Wells remains among the most significant. The Padres are counting on the big lefty to head their staff, eat major innings and serve as mentor to three young pitchers (Eaton, Brian Lawrence and Jake Peavy) immediately behind him in the rotation.

Those are lofty expectations for a guy who had to walk off the mound after the first inning of Game 5 of the World Series because of back spasms and whom the Yankees didn't re-sign in part because of objections to a proposed weight clause in his contract.

The Wells who appeared at Petco on Wednesday afternoon, however, offered 235 reasons for encouragement. That's his approximate current weight, a decrease of about 20 pounds since he underwent his second back surgery six weeks ago.

And Wells actually had been at the ballpark since 8 a.m., allowing plenty of time for one of his five-days-a-week workouts with his personal trainer, Scott Yeckinevich.

"There's a lot of determination in this soul of mine," said Wells, who also was accompanied by his wife, Nina, his 4-year-old son, Lars, and his agent, Gregg Clifton. "I want to make San Diego proud, let alone myself, going out there knowing that I can get through a major obstacle like I'm going through right now.

"It's not every day you get to play in your own back yard, where you grew up. And that just gives me more determination to go out there and bust my (tail) that much more."

Yeckinevich, who lives near Wells in Palm Harbor, Fla., has been the pitcher's trainer, physical therapist and nutritionist for the past four years. Never has he seen his client so motivated.

"He's way ahead of schedule right now. He's on, he's dialed in," said Yeckinevich, who added that Wells is feeling no pain in his back. "Right now he's at the same weight he entered spring training last year. He's in great shape."

The formula has been sessions as long as 1 1/2 hours featuring cardiovascular fitness, endurance training, flexibility exercises, and weight lifting. On the nutritional side, Wells is on a low-fat, low-carb, high-protein, high-water diet.

His wife has noticed the results.

"Ever since the surgery, he has been attacking the regimen very hard," Nina Wells said. "He's very focused. The kids and I will sometimes have macaroni and cheese or doughnuts, but he's not cheating."

Contact staff writer Brian Hiro at bhiro@nctimes.com.