LOS ANGELES (AP) -David Wells made it official Friday, signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the rest of the season.
Wells’ agent, Gregg Clifton, said late Thursday the parties had reached a tentative agreement and the 44-year-old left-hander would pitch Sunday night against the Mets in New York.
The Dodgers made room for Wells by designating right-hander Brett Tomko for assignment. Wells will be replacing Tomko in the Los Angeles rotation.
“David is an established veteran and has a long track record of success,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said in a statement. “He’s a true competitor who has pitched well down the stretch numerous times and we believe he can do so again this season.”
Wells was not pitching well when the San Diego Padres designated him for assignment Aug. 6, having gone 0-3 with a 14.33 ERA in his last four starts. Overall, he made 22 starts for the Padres this season, going 5-8 with a 5.54 ERA.
The burly Wells, known as Boomer, has 235-156 career record, and is 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 27 postseason games, 17 of them starts. He is 37-25 with a 3.90 ERA in 115 September games, 73 of them starts.
The Dodgers will be Wells’ ninth team in a 21-year career.
Wells became the 14th pitcher in big-league history to throw a regular-season perfect game in a 4-0 win on May 17, 1998 vs. Minnesota while pitching for the New York Yankees. At age 44, he is the second-oldest active player in the majors, behind Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer.
Tomko, a 34-year-old right-hander, was 2-11 with a 5.80 ERA.
Wells will get a prorated salary with the Dodgers plus performances bonuses that would allow him to make $800,000 if he starts seven games.
Wells’ contract with the Padres called for him to make $176,470 per start from Nos. 11-27. He made 22 starts with San Diego.
After facing the Mets, Wells could start against the Padres the following weekend in San Diego, which is also in the hunt for an NL playoff spot.
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