Report: Red Sox Deal For Wagner in ‘Serious Jeopardy’

The warning cries from the Boston bullpen regarding the potential acquisition of Billy Wagner may all be for naught.

The Red Sox' chances of signing the reliever are "in serious jeopardy," according to FoxSports.com.

The report says that the Red Sox denied a clause that would allow Wagner to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. His current contract includes an $8 million team option for 2010.

Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, told the site that Wagner is not interested in becoming a full-time setup man for Jonathan Papelbon (it appears the feeling is mutual).

The Red Sox also reportedly denied a request to not offer Wagner arbitration at the end of the year, so that other teams could sign him without giving up draft picks.

These requests, of course, are coming from a pitcher who's thrown a grand total of one inning in the past 12 months.