Rockies in the midst of another unbelievable turnaround (cont.)

Wagner goes to head of class; Papelbon a dunce

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On the very day the Mets announced Johan Santana and J.J. Putz were out for the year, Oliver Perez went to have his knee checked out and Gary Sheffield appeared to injure himself while walking (Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Sheffield has spasms, and he said it with a smile, which we assume he does to keep from crying), Billy Wagner came to his senses and accepted a trade to the Red Sox.

Wagner originally had reservations about going to the Red Sox in part because he worried that he'd be pressed beyond his capabilities while pitching for a contender only 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery. But he was sweet-talked into going by the Red Sox, who explained to him that they'd be careful with him. Which, incidentally, is the way they treat all their pitchers.

It was curious that Wagner thought he'd have a better chance of staying healthier with the Mets, who seem jinxed now. The news has been so bad that word that Santana only needed arthroscopic surgery to remove elbow chips that would knock him until next year was taken as a relief (he won't need Tommy John surgery and will be good to go next spring).

Wagner did well to get back from Tommy John surgery three or four months quicker than normal. And though he hesitated at first, he made the right call to go to Boston, which agreed not to pick up his $8 million option for next season. While the Red Sox didn't agree to guarantee that they would decline arbitration for Wagner as the reliever originally requested, he still understood it's better to showcase himself on a contender than the Mets.

Though this is mostly speculation, there's an outside chance, too, the Red Sox could wind up keeping Wagner and dealing incumbent closer Jonathan Papelbon over the winter. Papelbon is taking over the old Curt Schilling role of the over-opinionated, ill-informed motor mouth. Papelbon's remarks suggesting they didn't need Wagner could have hurt the chances for a deal, as Wagner didn't enjoy hearing them. After the deal was finally done, GM Theo Epstein reminded us that Papelbon is "not a Rhodes scholar."

That fits into a theory going around the game that the Red Sox might be tiring of Papelbon's act and could consider using Wagner as closer next year, with relief prodigy Daniel Bard playing the role of setup man and protégé. Papelbon would fetch a lot in trade, though that still seems like a somewhat far-fetched scenario.

Around the majors

• While Cliff Lee has thrived with his new team (he's 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in Philly), Roy Halladay has struggled since remaining in Toronto at the deadline. Could his struggles have something to do with the state of mind of a pitcher who was "emotionally gone" in the words of one Jays-connected person? He is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA since not being traded.

• Halladay continues to hurt the Rangers. He's lost two straight games to the wild-card contending Rays and Red Sox after declining to go to Texas in trade. The Rangers, battling those two teams in the wild-card race, were offering hot hitting prospect Justin Smoak in a package before Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi informed Rangers people Halladay didn't want to go there. (Ricciardi has since incorrectly denied that Halladay declined the Rangers.)

• Pudge Rodriguez was a good pickup for Texas, and he may soon see some time as a DH against left-handed pitchers now that Andruw Jones is on the disabled list. He's started by hitting .667 with the Rangers (4 for 6).

• Bobby Abreu is to be admired for never complaining once about having to sign a bargain-basement deal of $5 million. He is having the same season he always has, only better.

• Congrats to Jacoby Ellsbury, who set the Red Sox record with 55 steals (topping Tommy Harper's 54). The Red Sox have made it a point to become more well-rounded in recent years, and it's paid off.

• Chad Qualls was just put on waivers by the Diamondbacks. He's expected to be claimed, and while there's a slight chance for a deal, he's under contractual control at a reasonable rate for next year, so they aren't especially motivated to trade him.

• As if Cy Young candidate Chris Carpenter's pitching isn't good enough, supposedly he's the one who picked up that John Smoltz was tipping his pitches in Boston.

• Baseball people expect the Padres to entertain offers for Adrian Gonzalez this winter. If Halladay is also on the block, the trade market will be oddly strong.

• Freddy Garcia looked very good in his outing Tuesday vs. Boston (6 1/3 innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, five K's) before the White Sox bullpen blew it. But with Jose Contreras struggling, it's a good thing Jake Peavy is on the way now.

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