01:00 AM EDT on Friday, April 21, 2006

BY STEVEN KRASNER and CAROLYN THORNTON
Journal Sports Writers

BOSTON -- David Wells sounded like a man who is staring the end of his career in the face.

Wells, who will turn 43 next month, already had said this would be his last season. But offseason surgery to his right knee, and the pain associated with his bone-on-bone knee structure that has forced him back to the disabled list, is not encouraging.

Last night he had the second of three Synvisc shots in his right knee, an injection of lubricant into the joint. The third and final shot in the Synvisc series will be given next Friday.

After that, Wells said yesterday, he'll have a better idea of when, or if, he'll be able to pitch.

"If the shots don't work, I don't pitch, I go home. The only thing you can do (if the shots don't provide him with relief) is stick around. I'd just stick it out until they told me to go home," said Wells, who said there's a possibility he might need a knee replacement after his playing days are over.

"If it's going to be a struggle to pitch, I'm not going to jeopardize my health. I want to be able to do things with my boys. I don't want to be a cripple," he said.

Wells, who had the first Synvisc shot last week, played catch yesterday. He termed the session "a struggle."

"It still hurts," said the left-hander, who won 15 games last year for the Sox. "I can feel it when I long-toss, and when I shorten up I can really feel it. I'm hoping the shots will take. If I knew (in the offseason) that this was going to happen, I would have said goodbye last year. I pitched well last year."

Harris fills roster slot

As expected, Willie Harris's contract was purchased yesterday. The veteran utilityman replaced Adam Stern on the roster.

Stern had told reporters after Wednesday night's game that he was going down to Pawtucket, having fulfilled his Rule V requirements. Stern needs at-bats, said manager Terry Francona.

Harris, meanwhile, had an "out" clause in his contract that gave him the opportunity to leave the organization as a free agent yesterday, no doubt the date tied to the date Stern was eligible to be optioned to the minors.

Francona said Harris, a left-handed hitter, will likely platoon with Dustan Mohr, a right-handed hitter, in center field while Coco Crisp (left index finger) remains on the disabled list.

He entered last night's game in the seventh and went 1-for-2.

Ortiz receives DH award

Four Red Sox players were presented with their 2005 league awards before the start of the game.

David Ortiz received his third consecutive Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award -- from Martinez, himself -- recognizing him as the American League's top DH, an honor he earned after hitting .297 with 43 home runs and 141 RBI.

Former Red Sox star Jim Rice then presented Ortiz, and Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek with 2005 American League Silver Slugger Awards.

Varitek also received the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, becoming just the third Red Sox catcher to earn that honor. The others are Carlton Fisk (1972) and Tony Pena (1991).

Frank Malzone, the ex-Boston third baseman and three-time Gold Glove winner, presented Varitek his award. Also receiving the Rawlings award from Malzone was third baseman Mike Lowell, who earned the distinction in the National League with last season's .983 fielding percentage with the Florida Marlins.

Ortiz also received a Players Choice Award, named by his peers as the 2005 A.L. Outstanding Player.

Youkilis has advice for Stern

Kevin Youkilis, who was optioned to Pawtucket four times last season, knows what Stern is going through and sent him a message Wednesday night, advising him not to get frustrated and to "do as much as you can to get better because you're going to get called back up again."

Once the frustration of being sent down to Triple-A wears off, Youkilis said, Stern will realize the value of being in a situation where he will get to play -- and most importantly, hit -- on a regular basis.

"When you first get sent down, it's tough," said Youkilis. "But then in the long run, for me, I realized after last year that getting those 150 to 170 at-bats (in Pawtucket) was huge. I didn't lose a season. I got over 250 plate appearances last season, and that helps out a lot."

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

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