The Red Sox reportedly will entertain offers for three of their seven starting pitchers, with David Wells topping the list, in order to strengthen other positions.

01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, March 14, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In the rare position of having more starting pitchers than available spots in their rotation, the Red Sox have let it be known that they are willing to entertain offers for three of their starters -- Bronson Arroyo, Matt Clement and David Wells -- numerous industry sources have said.

The Sox have four other starters in camp -- Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and Jonathan Papelbon -- giving them a total of seven. They could use help at a number of positions, including outfield, first base and the bullpen.

Wells, in particular, figures to draw plenty of attention when he throws in a game on Thursday at the Sox' minor-league complex. Recovering from offseason knee surgery, Wells has yet to appear in a game this spring.

An official with another major-league club said "at least a handful" of teams figure to have scouts on hand to watch Wells.

"You can figure most of the contending teams will be represented," said the official. "There are a lot of teams interested, but they want to see him pitch first. They want to see if he's healthy."

Ironically, the focus on Wells comes some 10 days after he told Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein that he was rescinding his trade request. Unhappy with what he felt was a suffocating environment in Boston, Wells had asked the Sox over the winter to deal him to a West Coast team.

The Sox had discussions with the San Diego Padres, Oakland A's and Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, but were unable to find a suitable package in exchange for the veteran lefty, who turns 43 in May.

Wells' slow recovery this spring and inability to get out on the mound until later this week also has set the stage for a potential conflict between the pitcher and the club. The Sox already have approached Wells about starting the season on the disabled list, since the team does not need a fifth starter until April 15. That would enable the Sox to start the season with just 10 pitchers and open another roster spot for the first two weeks.

But Wells, whose contract is laden with incentives, already has balked at the suggestion, and told the club he would resist such a move.

His base salary for 2006 is $2.5 million. Wells is scheduled to get $200,000 for every start from his 11th outing until his 20th, and $300,000 each for every start from his 21st through his 30th. Missing two April starts could conceivably cost Wells $600,000 at the end of the season.

Though Wells took back his trade request, he is not in position to refuse a trade. His contract lacks a no-trade clause, and while he has spent 19 years in the big leagues, he does not have "10-5 rights" -- the ability to negate a deal if a player has spent 10 or more years in the majors, the last five with the same club. Last season was Wells' first with the Sox.

Clement, who is unscored upon this spring, is due $9.5 million this season and $8.5 million in 2007 as part of a three-year, $24.5-million deal he signed with the Sox in December 2004.

His salary -- and poor second half last season, topped by a horrific performance in Game One of the ALDS against the White Sox -- may make him the toughest of the three to deal.

Clement, who has twice been traded on the final day of spring training, knows there are rumors circulating.

"If they trade me, they trade me, and there's nothing I can do about it," he said. "I want to be a Red Sox. I love playing in front of the fans and I love the passion that's in Boston. But if it doesn't work out, there's nothing I can do about it."

Arroyo is the youngest and least expensive of the three, and might fetch the most in return. Correspondingly, the Sox might be more reluctant to deal him, given the age of Schilling and Wakefield, both of whom are 39.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340