Wells’ Season Is Likely Over After Surgery

Chicago White Sox left-hander David Wells underwent surgery on his back Wednesday and will probably be sidelined for the season.

The White Sox said the surgery was minimally invasive and repaired the left sides of two disks.

“David was supposed to be up and walking around already,” Manager Jerry Manuel said.

Wells is 5-7 with a 4.47 earned-run average.

Wells will immediately begin the first phase of his rehabilitation program, which will last four weeks and involve walking up to two miles.

The White Sox have a $10-million option for next season but will pay a $1-million buyout if they don’t exercise the option.

Catcher Joe Mauer, a three-sport star at Cretin-Derham Hall High in St. Paul, Minn., chose baseball over a scholarship offer to play quarterback at Florida State when the Minnesota Twins offered a signing bonus of $5.15 million, spread over five seasons.

“I’m just happy the Minnesota Twins took me--and that I’m a baseball player,” Mauer said. He was the first pick in the June draft.

The amount of money offered in the early part of the contract was the final sticking point in negotiations.

The sides agreed to put most of the money on the front and back ends of the contract, with little in the middle.

The largest bonus previously paid by the Twins to a draft pick was $2.75 million to outfielder B.J. Garbe, the fifth pick overall in 1999.

Mauer will leave today for their rookie league team in Elizabethton, Tenn., where he will be used at designated hitter in his first few games. He also will be teamed with his brother, Jake Mauer, a second baseman.

Twin General Manager Terry Ryan said Joe Mauer will be invited to major league camp in February.

Mauer batted .567 in 208 at-bats in high school, striking out only once. He tied a national record this season by hitting homers in seven consecutive games. Mauer led the Raiders to a state championship in football and averaged nearly 20 points in basketball.

John Smoltz passed another test in his comeback for the Atlanta Braves, pitching a dominating inning in relief for double-A Greenville, S.C.

He needed only eight pitches--seven strikes--to retire the side and struck out two.

Smoltz proclaimed himself ready to rejoin the Braves.

“I’m trying not to get too excited,” he said. “But the last two days, it’s been fun to compete.”

The Colorado Rockies signed former New York Met outfielder Darryl Hamilton to a minor-league contract. Hamilton, who was unhappy about his role with the Mets this season, was released on July 9 after an argument with Manager Bobby Valentine. . . . The Detroit Tigers activated infielder Deivi Cruz from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Pedro Santana to triple-A Toledo. . . . The New York Yankees activated right-handed pitcher Todd Williams from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Clay Bellinger to triple-A Columbus. . . . The Seattle Mariners demoted left-hander John Halama to the bullpen after he was ineffective in his first start since returning from the minors. The Mariners will start right-hander Joel Pineiro in Halama’s place Saturday against Minnesota. . . . Former major league all-star Carlos Baerga is heading to the Korean Baseball League after the independent Long Island Ducks sold his contract. In a 10-year major league career, Baerga batted .291 with 124 homers and 686 runs batted in.