Matthew Cerrone
Buzz: Red Sox, Real Prospects and Billy Wagner
By Matthew Cerrone - Aug 22, 2009 9:25 am
"The Red Sox were awarded a waiver claim on Billy Wagner on Friday, according to two major-league sources," writes Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.
Yesterday, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com said if the Mets want to get a decent prospect in return for Wagner, they will likely need to pay most of the $3.5 million left on his contract.
However, according to Rosenthal, "The Mets will be reluctant to include money in a deal."
That said, Rosenthal cites a rival executive as saying the Red Sox will be motivated to give up 'real prospects,' in a deal for Wagner.
The Mets and Red Sox have until Tuesday, 1 pm, to work out a deal.
The Mets (57-66) continue their four-game series against the Phillies (70-50) at 1 pm today in Citi Field, with Oliver Perez taking on Pedro Martinez.
Angel Pagan will hit leadoff today, followed in order by Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy, Jeff Francoeur, Cory Sullivan in center, Fernando Tatis at third, Brian Schneider behind the plate, Anderson Hernandez at short, and Perez.
Martinez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) was on the disabled list four times in four season with the Mets, going 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts last season.
Perez (3-3, 6.06) won his first game in six weeks in his last start, when he allowed four runs in five innings against the Braves. He is is 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts against the Phillies.
Update, 11:49 am:
Before today's game, Jerry Manuel said Gary Sheffield tweaked his wrist lifting weights, but should be available to pinch hit.
Manuel said Perez assured the team that his knee is fine, and he's ready to go roughly 100 pitches in today's start.
Lastly, Manuel said Billy Wagner is available to pitch in today's game.