Billy Wagner could be calling Fenway Park home by Tuesday.
Fresh off Wagner’s impressive return Thursday night from Tommy John elbow surgery, the Red Sox placed a waiver claim on him yesterday.
The former All-Star closer said Boston’s move was “news to me,” but Wagner was openly excited by the prospect of a meaningful September and October.
“Every player wants to do is play on a contender and have a shot to go to the World Series,” Wagner said before the Mets opened a four-game series at Citi Field with a 4-2 win over the Phillies.
The Mets now have until 1 p.m. Tuesday to work out a trade with the Red Sox, allow Boston to simply take him as part of a salary dump, or pull Wagner back off waivers.
A source said Mets general manager Omar Minaya would like at least one quality prospect in return, a demand that could kill a potential deal much as it did with Gary Sheffield’s recent waiver claim by San Francisco.
Acquiring Wagner will require a commitment of at least $2.7 million from the Red Sox. That’s the prorated amount of his $10.5 million contract this season and his $1 million buyout for next season, though Boston has the financial muscle to digest his $8 million salary for 2010.
Wagner also has to waive his no-trade clause, but that didn’t appear to be a holdup to any deal.
“Like we all know, I’m not getting any younger and the window’s starting to shut,” said Wagner, 38, who threw in the mid-90s Thursday in a perfect eighth inning against the Braves. “You want to have that chance, and take it if you get it.”
The Boston Globe reported that the Red Sox scouted Wagner’s appearance Thursday and hope to work out a deal for him, meaning the move wasn’t simply to block the Yankees from acquiring Wagner.
Boston’s ability to claim Wagner means that no National League teams did the same, because players in the waivers process must be offered first to every team in their current league.
It was thought that the Phillies — one of Wagner’s former teams — or Marlins would be interested, but neither team made a claim.
Wagner said he hasn’t given much thought to finishing the season with a team other than the Mets, simply because of the fragile nature of his rehab.
“I can’t [think about it],” said Wagner, who is just 11 months removed from the surgery. “I’ve got so much ahead of me right now, I can’t think about going somewhere else. [Thursday] was a big step, but I’ve got a lot to work on, a lot to do to get better and help myself.”
Wagner also was basking in the afterglow of his terrific return, which began and ended with a standing ovation at Citi Field and included two strikeouts among his 14 pitches.
Wagner said his phone was clogged with congratulatory messages afterward, most notably from former teammates Tom Glavine, Brad Lidge and Pedro Martinez.
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Jeff Francoeur’s three hits, including a solo home run, powered the Mets to a rain-delayed win over Cole Hamels in the opener.
Manager Jerry Manuel was ejected for arguing a blown call in the fifth inning in a chippy game that saw both teams warned after Hamels plunked two batters — including Mike Pelfrey — and Pelfrey retaliated.
Pelfrey (9-8) allowed just two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings to pick up his first win since July 28.
bhubbuch@btc365-futebol.com