Wells Leaves the Yankees for Deal With the Padres

Left-hander David Wells spurned the New York Yankees and agreed to a one-year contract with his hometown San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Wells, a 40-year-old starter coming off arthroscopic back surgery, is expected to lead the Padres’ rotation in the club’s first year in its new $458-million downtown ballpark.

“He’s a big-game pitcher, and the perfect guy to head our staff,” General Manager Kevin Towers said. “We think our staff is pretty strong right now.”

Wells will make $1.25 million in base pay, with incentives that could make the deal worth $7 million if he is healthy and pitches all season.

Wells’ agent, Gregg Clifton, had been talking with the Yankees about the pitcher remaining with the defending American League champions, but New York was offering only a minor league deal and wanted to include a weight clause.

“We were involved in discussions, but nothing had been finalized,” Clifton said.

Then Towers called, offering Wells a chance to finish his career at home. He graduated in 1982 from Point Loma High.

Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman said he learned that Wells was having second thoughts on Monday when he talked with Clifton.

“David agreed verbally to a deal,” Cashman said. “There was one component to be completed, a weigh-in. We didn’t get it finalized, but we had the financials in place.”

The Yankees declined Wells’ $6 million option for 2004, and the pitcher, who underwent back surgery in early December, rejected the Yankees’ arbitration offer.

*

Free-agent first baseman Tony Clark and the Yankees are close to a deal that is contingent on his passing a team physical.

“We haven’t signed anything,” agent John Boggs said. “There are a few things to straighten out, but we’re moving in a positive direction. We’re hopeful we’ll get it done shortly.”

With Jason Giambi coming off knee surgery, the Yankees have been seeking a first baseman since trading Nick Johnson to Montreal in the deal for right-hander Javier Vazquez.

Clark, a switch hitter, spent last season with the New York Mets, batting .232 with 16 home runs in 254 at-bats. He has a career batting average of .268 with 175 home runs in nine seasons, the first seven with the Detroit Tigers.

*

Hockey

Zach Parise scored two goals and assisted on a third to help the U.S. defeat Russia, 4-1, and advance to the semifinals of the world junior championships in Helsinki.

The U.S. (4-0-0) won the Group A section of the under-20 tournament. Canada (4-0-0) finished first in Group B after beating the Czech Republic, 5-2.

In other games, Finland defeated Switzerland, 2-0, and Slovakia beat Sweden, 1-0.

*

Miscellany

Tickets for the 2004 NBA All-Star practice session, to be held Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the Convention Center, are priced at $35 and are available at the Staples Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com, NBA.com. and by calling (800) 462-2849. .

The NBA All-Star game is scheduled for Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. at Staples Center.

*

T.J. Simers has the day off.