Left-handed reliever Billy Wagner comes with more baggage than just old age and a surgically repaired elbow. Teams interested in signing the Type A free agent this offseason will also have to cough up a draft pick in doing so.
But that hasn't scared away other teams from showing interest in the 38-year-old fireballer. According to Foxsports.com, eight teams including the Red Sox have called Wagner's agent Bean Stringfellow to explore the possibility of adding the future Hall of Famer.
"The teams that called are aware that he's a Type A free agent, and they're calling anyway," Stringfellow said.
According to the report, Atlanta, Washington, Houston and Baltimore are four of the seven other teams interested in adding Wagner, with three others choosing to remain anonymous. Boston is the only club willing to offer Wagner a non-closer's role. The report lists the Tigers, Cubs, Mariners, Rangers, White Sox, Rays and Marlins as other teams possibly interested in Wagner's services.
Stringfellow claims that his client's health is well this offseason after he missed the majority of the summer rehabbing from elbow surgery, before being acquired by the Red Sox late in the season.
"This is a normal offseason for him," the agent said. "He's not doing any rehab. He'll begin throwing in earnest at the same time he always did. He feels wonderful now."
