David Wells was 12-8 with a 3.73 ERA for the Padres in 2004. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Jon Heyman, SI.com

The Padres have acquired veteran lefthanded pitcher David Wells from the Red Sox for their playoff push.

San Diego had been battling the Dodgers, Reds, Cardinals and possibly the Phillies for Wells as the deadline approached. The Red Sox had shown interest in catching prospect George Kottaras but it wasn't yet known what player was going to Boston in the deal.

Wells had signaled in the last couple days he preferred to go to his native West Coast. He is from San Diego and has previously pitched for the Padres. He gives them a decent top three if they can make the playoffs, along with Jake Peavy and Chris Young.

Talks with the Dodgers are believed to have centered on James Loney, a first-base prospect.

The Red Sox had been in the middle of the pennant race until an 8-21 August that included several key injuries left them well behind the Yankees in the A.L. East.

The defending NL West champion Padres were off Thursday. They were leading the wild-card race by a half game over Philadelphia, and trailing the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers by three games.

A Padres official confirmed the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because the teams were still coordinating an announcement. The Red Sox are to receive a player to be announced, or cash.

The 43-year-old Wells has a history of postseason success and has been one of Boston's best starters while the team has fallen far behind in the playoff race with an 8-21 record in August, the worst in the majors for the month. The Red Sox began the day eight games behind in the AL East and 7 1/2 behind in the wild-card standings.

Wells, who battled knee problems most of the season, is 2-3 with a 4.98 ERA. Since returning from the disabled list on July 31, he is 2-2 in six starts. He has a 2.65 ERA in his last five outings beginning Aug. 5

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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