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'Right here' Wells arrives, expects to stay with White Sox
Updated: Friday February 23, 2001 6:20 PM
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- David Wells finally made it to spring training with the Chicago White Sox, and cameras followed his every move Thursday. Toronto has asked the commissioner's office review the controversial trade that brought him to the White Sox for injured Mike Sirotka, with the Blue Jays asking that the deal be reworked. Wells, wearing a blue "Creed" hat and a blue T-shirt, claimed Thursday he wasn't concerned. "That's out of my hands. I'm here now and I'm not going to even worry about it," he said. "It's not a distraction and it's not going to make any difference because I don't think I'm going anywhere. I think this is where I'm going to lay my hat. Right here." Wells, given permission to arrive six days after the other pitchers, had expressed his preference before the Jan. 14 trade to return to New York with the Mets. Wells thinks that's why he didn't end up there. "They knew I wanted to go there, so they said 'You know what? You did that article and we're going to stick it to you and trade you to Chicago,' "Wells said. "I said, 'Great.' Unfortunately two guys they got were hurt and it's not my doing.
"I look at it from my point of view that they tried to stick it to me and got stuck. ... But I just go where I'm told. and this is a pretty good place to be told."' The outspoken Wells, known for his portly physique and taste for heavy metal music, went 20-8 last season at age 37, despite back problems. After a 15-2 start before the All-Star break, he was 5-6 in the second half. The White Sox gave up Sirotka, a 15-game winner last season, and now he's rehabbing a shoulder injury. That's why the Blue Jays want the trade reworked. Wells is expected to be a leader in the clubhouse and example for Chicago's young pitching staff. "A lot of people perceive me to be this wild and crazy guy. Knock on wood I've never been in serious trouble. Yes, I speak my mind and it's gotten me into trouble," Wells said. "I've had great seasons the last six years and I keep getting traded. So I don't know. Is it my mouth or my physique? It's nice to know you're a wanted man." Wells is listed as 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds. White Sox manager Jerry Manuel wouldn't guess whether the pitcher had slimmed down this spring. "He is a big guy and that goatee looks dangerous, too," Manuel said. "Whether he's lost weight or gained weight, he says his arm feels good and he's ready to go. He says he's never felt this good at this time of the year." Wells, who thinks spring training is too long, will be allowed to go at his own pace as the White Sox take the cautious approach with his back. "I know what it takes to get ready, not going out and killing yourself, especially when you're 37," Wells said. "You don't need to do that. That's for the young guys." Some White Sox seemed startled and amused as Wells entered the clubhouse for the first time with 30 some media members trailing. When Wells held his news conference at a picnic table, second baseman Ray Durham came from behind and gave him a bear hug. Reliever Keith Foulke the late arrival wasn't a big deal. Wells is to work out with the team for the first time Friday. "That's up to him, and I don't think any of us care," he said. Wells started the All-Star game for the AL last season, led the league in fewest walks per nine innings (1.2), tied for the league lead in starts with 35 and was second with 229 2-3 innings. His weight is always a topic and Wells -- using one of his familiar lines -- doesn't care. "I'm fat. You're ugly. And I can diet," he said. "I've been able to help teams win, and I don't worry about this and that. It doesn't matter what you look like, you don't run the ball to the plate. You can get somebody to think: 'How can this guy he's fat, pitch so well?'"
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