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Wagner sent to Red Sox

Billy Wagner will be set-up man for Jonathan Papelbon. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From Wire Reports
Billy Wagner will be set-up man for Jonathan Papelbon. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Billy Wagner is on his way to the Boston Red Sox, leaving the New York Mets for the chance to pitch in a pennant race as a setup man for All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon.

After a few days of back-and-forth talks about Wagner’s future, the depleted Mets traded the left-handed reliever to the Red Sox on Tuesday for two players to be named.

Wagner ranks sixth all-time with 385 career saves, and wants to finish out his career as a closer, which is unlikely to happen in Boston.

Santana to have surgery, out for year

Johan Santana needs surgery for bone chips in his left elbow and the star pitcher is out for the season, the latest blow to a New York Mets team battered by injuries.

The team said their 30-year-old ace is expected to be OK for spring training next year.

Santana said he had the same operation after the 2003 season, and came back with a career-high 20 wins and the first of his two Cy Young Awards for Minnesota.

MLB looking into Rockies-umpires feud

A handful of Rockies players exchanged words with the umpiring crew during and after Monday nights’ game, prompting Major League Baseball officials to look into the case.

The Denver Post reported that several players alleged afterward that second base umpire Bill Miller called Yorvit Torrealba a derogatory name while the catcher was a baserunner late in the game. That escalated tensions on a night when both teams complained about ball-and-strike calls of umpire Angel Campos.

Clearing the bases

Aaron Boone is set to rejoin the Houston Astros on Friday, about five months after undergoing open-heart surgery, and will be activated when rosters expand on Sept. 1. … Minnesota Twins third baseman Joe Crede had an MRI on his back Tuesday, but the results were not immediately available. … New York Mets reliever J.J Putz is out for the season after an MRI revealed “some new fraying and a slight tear” in his right forearm. The Mets said he will not need surgery and it is merely a preventative measure. … The Washington Nationals have signed veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez and he will start tonight against the Cubs.