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To: Caxton Rhodes who wrote (110090)	12/31/2001 8:14:07 PM
From: Ruffian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Wells set to sign with Yankees By JOSH DUBOW AP Sports Writer December 30, 2001 NEW YORK (AP) -- Lunch with New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was enough to persuade David Wells to return to pinstripes. Just days after Wells was set to sign with the World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks, The Boss did everything he could to bring back one of his favorite former players. Wells has agreed to a $7 million, two-year incentive-laden contract with the Yankees, pending a physical next week, according to his agent, Gregg Clifton. ``It happened at a Christmas lunch. George presented it to him and he said he wanted to come back to pinstripes and end his career as a Yankee,'' Clifton said Sunday. Just days earlier, Clifton said a deal with the Diamondbacks was ''85 percent'' complete. All Wells needed was a physical on his balky back to join Arizona. But Wells returned home to Clearwater, Fla., before taking the physical and met Steinbrenner for lunch for the second time this month. The first time the two met, the Yankees did not have interest in bringing Wells back to New York. But after a deal with the team that beat New York in the World Series was almost complete, Steinbrenner made an offer that Wells couldn't turn down. ``He always wanted to be a Yankee,'' Clifton said. ``He thought it was over because when he met with Mr. Steinbrenner a few weeks back he didn't think there was an opportunity for anything to happen. He was surprised as anyone when Mr. Steinbrenner said he wanted him back.'' Wells will get a $1 million signing bonus, $2 million in 2002 and $3 million in 2003, according to Clifton. The Yankees will have a $6 million option for 2004 with a $1 million buyout. Wells will also have the opportunity to make an additional $4 million a year over the next two seasons based on the number of starts he makes. The Diamondbacks had guaranteed only $1 million in salary. Wells spent two years with the Yankees, going 34-14 in 1997-98, pitching a perfect game and winning a World Series. He was traded to Toronto in the deal for Roger Clemens before the 1999 season. Wells basked in the limelight of New York and was a favorite of Yankees fans and Steinbrenner. He was devastated by the trade to Toronto and wanted to return to New York ever since. Wells joins a powerful rotation that already has Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte and Sterling Hitchcock. The addition of Wells could lead to the Yankees trading Orlando Hernandez, who struggled with injuries last season. The 38-year-old Wells was 5-7 with a 4.47 ERA in 16 starts for the Chicago White Sox this year. His season was cut short because of back surgery. Wells, who has battled weight problems throughout his career, said he has lost about 20 pounds during rehabilitation. He has a 166-114 record and a 4.08 ERA in 15 major league seasons. In 19 postseason appearances, he is 8-1 with a 2.74 ERA, including victories in his last seven decisions.