Stringfellow told reporters:

“He wants a ring and he did not do all that rehab just to quit now…”

Stringfellow explained the comments made by Wagner after the Red Sox were swept by the Angels in the ALDS, telling the Boston Herald:

“Those comments probably came right after the Red Sox lost, so I’d bet they were said in the heat of the moment, when he was very frustrated…that’s probably not the best time to take comments like that as gospel.”

The Red Sox agreed to not pick up his option for next year but are expected to offer Wagner arbitration, and Wagner is expected to decline that offer.

Wagner told Puma, when asked about retirement:

“Why wouldn’t I? “I’ve got nothing else to [accomplish].”

Prior to being traded, Wagner indicated that he was interested in closing next season to make a run at reaching 400 saves.

update, 1:45 pm:

Billy Wagner has been traded to the Red Sox for two players to be named later.

The Red Sox agreed to not pick up Wagner’s option for 2010, but still can offer him arbitration, thus compensating Boston if Wagner chooses to sign elsewhere in the off-season, which would be the likely scenario since he wants to close.

Wagner changed his tune as earlier today it was reported a deal would not happen but according to Andrew Marchand of ESPN Radio, he called his agent, Bean Stringfellow, and said “I’m going to throw caution to the wind and I’m going to go to Boston.”

…even though the Mets might not get anyone notable in return for Wagner, this makes all parties happy…It frees the Mets from any future obligation to Billy, it gives Billy the chance to win now, and Boston now has added a power arm to a beleaguered bullpen…

…personally i am sad to see Billy leave – I feel like he was a voice of reason and reality in the Mets clubhouse during good times and bad, and he owned up to his own struggles and you can’t ask anything more from a player…

…that said, there was no place in this bullpen for him – the Mets signed Francisco Rodriguez to replace him…they were not expecting him to come back, but he did and it was great to see that at least for now, he still has life on his fastball…

…good luck Billy…

Original Post:

David Lennon, in a post to Twitter, is reporting that Billy Wagner will soon be traded to the Red sox, and an announcement is coming soon.

…the deadline passes at 1:30 so i’m assuming that the trade is complete and details are being worked out…

Stringfellow told Marchand:

“This is a factor, you can’t overcome…You are not out of the woods until 14 months.”

…i can’t say that Wagner made the wrong decision in not joining Boston if this is the case…if he wishes to pitch effectively beyond this year he is correct in not trying to push things too far and in joining the Boston bullpen, which has staggered as of late, he would be a relied upon source and it isn’t fair to put him in that spot and have him pitch out of his prescribed schedule…

…that said, Wagner hasn’t won a World Championship, and winning is supposed to be everything, right? After all, he was originally opened to joining Boston for that very reason…

To make room for Wagner, the Mets have released Livan Hernandez.

Hernandez was 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA for the Mets in 2009, but posted a 7.33 ERA in July and an 11.30 ERA in August.

“Exactly what day that is, I’m not quite sure yet. But at some point next week, we expect or anticipate him to be part of the team.”

Wagner completed his rehab assignment last night for St. Lucie, tossing twelve pitches and continued his scoreless run.

He last pitched in a Major League game August 2, 2008.

…i am pretty excited to see him come back…i always liked his candid personality and thought it was good for the clubhouse…i wonder if they will be simply showcasing him to try and get some value for him from a contender in a post-deadline move, but at the same time ill be curious to see what effect he has on this current group of Mets…

Earlier this week, assistant GM John Ricco told reporters the team no longer has plans to throw Wagner back-to-back days.

The Daily News wrote on Wednesday that Wagner will be activated by the Mets on Sunday against the Giants.

…i’m happy to see wagner back… i love his work ethic and his attitude about life and baseball… he has a fascinating story, he’s worked hard and been through a lot in his life, and i hope things work out for him in the end…

…it will be interesting to see how the Mets handle him, and whether they trade him, since there will certainly be teams who are interested…

…like i mentioned earlier in the week, Eddie Bajek and MLB Trade Rumors predict wagner will be a Type A free agent, meaning he could net the Mets compensatory draft picks, assuming they offer him salary arbitration, he doesn’t accept it and signs with a new team…

…from what i can gather, the Mets will try to trade him… if they can’t move him, they’ll likely offer him arbitration, because, at minimum, he accepts, and they have an inexpensive left-handed set up guy to replace J.J. Putz… wagner will likely seek a job as a closer, though… if he walks, the Mets get draft picks… in either scenario, it could work out well…

For other players on Mets who are Type A and B free agents, and how the team should approach them, read this post on Amazin Avenue.

Mets assistant GM John Ricco told reporters today in Arizona that Wagner will again pitch Friday, though there is no specific timetable for his return.

…from what i can gather, if all goes well friday, much like the Daily News said this morning, wagner will join the team in New York saturday night, and likely be activated on sunday…

Speaking of injured pitchers…

Mets 19–year-old RHP Jenrry Mejia made his return from the disabled list tonight, allowing three runs and two hits in three innings for Double-A Binghamton.

…wagner will most certainly clear waivers, meaning the Mets should soon be able to trade him to any team… the thing is, Eddie Bajek and MLB Trade Rumors predict wagner will be a Type A free agent… which will post an interesting question here…

…i have no idea what the Mets can get for wagner if they trade him now…

…however, is what they’ll get back in trade going to be worth more than the compensatory draft picks they could get if a) wagner signs with a new team next season, assuming b) the Mets offer him arbitration… the thing is, while the draft picks are enticing given the state of the farm system, wagner could accept arbitration, through which he will probably earn more than he’ll get on the open market… of course, with the Mets, he knows he’ll just be a set-up man for Francisco Rodriguez… whereas he could be a closer for a new team if he walks…

…the safer, easier play would be to trade him now… but, knowing he might be a Type A Free Agent does throw a wrinkle in the plan…

Rubin also details Wagner’s pitching program in the Daily News, while explaining his remaining salary for 2009.

He has not allowed a run in five rehab appearances.

…according to eyewitnesses, wagner hit 92 mph on the radar gun, but had good command, while mixing in some off-speed pitches as well…

…from what i can gather, wagner was supposed to pitch again tomorrow, making for back-to-back appearances… however, that has now been delayed to Wednesday and Thursday…