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Wells done in Toronto Six-player deal sends 20-game winner to Windy City
Updated: Monday January 15, 2001 1:37 PM
CHICAGO (AP) -- David Wells, a 20-game winner who recently ripped Toronto's front office and fans, was traded by the Blue Jays to the Chicago White Sox in a six-player deal Sunday. The AL Central champion White Sox sent pitchers Mike Sirotka, Kevin Beirne and Mike Williams and outfielder Brian Simmons to Toronto for Wells and pitcher Matt DeWitt. "Certainly, David Wells will be missed," Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash said. "He was an important guy for us, but it's time for him to move on." Wells, 37, is 161-107 in a 14-year career and the White Sox will be his sixth team. He was 20-8 last season with a league-best nine complete games in 35 starts and has averaged 16 victories over the last six years. Wells has been at his best in the postseason with an 8-1 record in 19 games. "We had the opportunity to acquire one of the premier left-handers in the league over the last decade," new White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said. Williams, a former Toronto teammate of Wells, admitted the trade was a bit of a gamble. "We needed an ace and the price for an ace is high," he said. "We won 95 games and got to the playoffs and it wasn't enough." Wells was on his honeymoon in New Zealand, and neither the White Sox nor Blue Jays could reach him with news of the trade. Earlier this month, Wells criticized the Blue Jays' organization was not doing enough to win. He also said the Blue Jays' fans "stink." "They are terrible," Wells said. Said Ash: "This last time when he was critical of our fans, I don't think it was called for. It did not play a role in this transaction. It was a baseball transaction, first and foremost."
Even so, when the trade was announced at halftime of the Toronto Raptors' NBA game against Charlotte at the Air Canada Centre, fans cheered. Williams said Wells should fit right into the White Sox's young clubhouse and give the younger pitchers someone to watch. "He leads by example on the field. Off the field, he's his own man. He always has been." There had been speculation that Wells might wind up back in New York, this time with the Mets in a deal, possibly for outfielder Jay Payton and pitcher Glendon Rusch. "We had multiple discussions with the Blue Jays, but I guess they felt they were able to fill more holes with the trade they made with the White Sox than with the trade they made with us," Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. "Sure, I'm a little disappointed but I'm not discouraged. I like our team a lot and I think we have a great chance to get back to the postseason again," he said. Ash said it was difficult to choose between the potential deals. "We had a White Sox package and Mets package, and the overwhelming feeling among our baseball group was that the White Sox package presented us players who could make an impact on the present and the future," he said. "The Mets was more skewed to the future. We felt we needed to go this way." Sirotka went 15-10 last season for Chicago. He is 45-42 overall in 125 major league games. "I was pretty shocked," Sirotka said. "But I see a similar team in Toronto and a chance to win." Wells, known for his girth, personality and love of a good time, is signed for the 2001 season at $8.25 million. The White Sox have an option for 2002 at $9 million, with a $1.25 million buyout. Nicknamed "Boomer," the outspoken and popular pitcher worked 229 2/3 innings last season and allowed an AL-low 1.2 walks per nine innings. Wells pitched a perfect game for the Yankees on May 17, 1998, against Minnesota. He helped lead the Yankees to the World Series championship later that season, but then was traded to Toronto for Roger Clemens in a deal during 1999 spring training. Wells also has pitched for Detroit, Baltimore and Cincinnati. "It was a benefit to have it done before camp. It takes away a lot of the distractions and the uncertainties on whether Boomer would or wouldn't be there on time," Ash said. Sirotka, 29, made 32 starts last season and was considered the White Sox ace as they made the playoffs for the first time since 1993. "It was extremely tough to depart with a quality pitcher and person like Mike Sirotka," Williams said after making his first major trade. DeWitt, 23, was 1-0 in eight outings for the Blue Jays last season. He spent most of the season with Class AAA Syracuse, where he was 4-5 record. Beirne, 27, was mainly a reliever for the White Sox. He was 1-3 with a 6.70 ERA in 29 games. Simmons, 27, missed the entire season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon in spring training. Williams, 22, was 3-4 at Class A Winston-Salem.
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