OAKLAND -- The Red Sox are attempting to trade veteran left-hander David Wells, according to ESPN.com.

Wells, 43, reportedly cleared waivers on Aug. 3. If a deal is struck, it likely will be consummated in the next two days because players who join rosters after Aug. 31 are not eligible for postseason play.

Asked if Boston, which has been in a free fall in the standings this month, is going to be a "seller" as the deadline approaches, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said, "That's not our focus right now."

Wells has pitched well since leaving the disabled list for the second time, on July 31. Over his last five starts Wells has gone 2-2 with a 2.65 earned-run average.

He has said that this will be his final season, so if the Sox don't trade him, Wells will probably disappear without Boston having been able to receive compensation.

If the Red Sox do ship him off, such a trade might be viewed as the waving of the white flag for their fading postseason hopes because Wells was Boston's most consistent pitcher in August.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals were reported to be the interested in Wells.

Wells, who is scheduled to start tomorrow night in the first game of a homestand, was sent home yesterday to be rested for that outing.

Schilling nears 3,000

Right-hander Curt Schilling is one strikeout away from a milestone. And he'll likely rack up that milestone -- strikeout number 3,000 -- today when Boston plays Oakland in a businessman's special game at 12:30 p.m., local time.

Schilling will become the 14th pitcher in big-league history to reach that magic number.

"The bigger number for me [than 3,000 whiffs] is being the 14th guy, given all the baseball that has been played for over a century. You're talking about only 13 other players who have done it. I'll appreciate it for what it is. I'll be excited about it," said Schilling, who at 39 has been in the big leagues for more than 16 seasons.

Schilling's career features three 300-strikeout seasons, including a high of 319 with the Phillies. Equally impressive is that, while he has fanned 2,999 hitters, he has walked only 683.

"I wanted to be the type of pitcher who could throw strikes and get a lot of strikeouts with command," said Schilling. "I wanted to have Roger Clemens' power and Greg Maddux's control. I didn't do either, but it has been a mishmash of both for me."

Gabbard sent down

The Sox optioned Kason Gabbard, Monday night's starter and loser, to Pawtucket yesterday, adding right-hander Mike Burns to the roster to take his place.

Burns had been obtained the previous day from Cincinnati in a trade for Pawtucket right-hander Tim Bausher.

Boston needed a fresh arm for its bullpen, partially because the Red Sox really didn't know what to expect from last night's starter, Josh Beckett, who had to leave his previous start in the seventh inning because of a cut on his right middle finger.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona thought Beckett would be able to spin breaking balls because the cut had healed, but the uncertainty prompted the Gabbard-for-Burns roster swap. Gabbard will be recalled the first week of September, after the rosters have been expanded.

Group rehab at Pawtucket

Epstein announced some rehab assignments for injured Red Sox:

Jason Varitek (left knee) will play five innings behind the plate for Pawtucket on Friday and seven innings on Saturday. Trot Nixon (right biceps) will serve as the PawSox' designated hitter tomorrow and Saturday nights, and will play right field on Friday night.

Alex Gonzalez, meanwhile, will play shortstop for the PawSox Friday and Saturday.

Tim Wakefield, meanwhile, will throw a short side session today and the hope is that the knuckleballer can face hitters (simulated game) Friday.

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