Wagner Added to sure up Boston Bullpen?

ESPN.com- 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.

The AL wild-card leaders had claimed Wagner on waivers, and the teams worked out a deal that persuaded Wagner to waive his no-trade clause. Wagner's main motivation, according to agent Bean Stringfellow, was his "overwhelming desire to pitch in a pennant race."

"He woke up and decided he wanted to join a team in the middle of a pennant race to have a chance to pitch in October and to have a chance to get a ring, which he's never done," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. "There were some ups and downs and turns in the decision, but in the end he told us he woke up today and really wanted a chance to win a World Series, and came here for all the right reasons."

Boston agreed not to pick up his $8 million option for next season. The Red Sox can still offer salary arbitration to Wagner in the offseason, Stringfellow said, meaning they would be entitled to draft picks as compensation if he signs elsewhere. The 38-year-old Wagner will join the team in Boston on Thursday. (For the rest of this story, go here).

But was it necessary? We have had one of the top bullpens all year and a great lefty in Okajima, why Wagner? Do we really need a reliever over a starter? I don't know but, this one really left me scratching my head. I'm not against the trade, I just don't see the upside to it. And for the downside...

...Just ask Eric Gagne how an unnecessary trade can work out for a team. In 2007, the Sox traded for Gagne despite having the best record in baseball. Many experts believed that the trade happened to keep him out of pinstripes. Well, in 20 games for Boston he had a 2-2 record, 0 saves, 6.75 ERA, and 14 earned runs.

Boston closer, Johnathan Papelbon was also perplexed by the Wagner deal. "What has he done? Has he pitched this year?" Jonathan Papelbon told WEEI.com. "Is he ready to pitch or is he not? ... I think our bullpen is good where we're at right now. Don't get me wrong. But I guess you could always make it better. It's kind of like the [Eric] Gagne thing, I guess."

And his job is not even in jeopardy! See what soft-spoken setup man, Manny Delcarmen thought about the deal. "We loved Gagne coming over here, just the stuff that he had, but it was an awkward situation this late in the season," Delcarmen told WEEI.com. "I think our bullpen is fine right now. It is what it is. If [Wagner] comes and helps us win, that's what we want. But sometimes, shaking things up this late might work out different. We'll see what happens."

Since the deal went final both Papelbon and Delcarmen both have rescinded their thoughts and welcomed him with open arms today. But the damage was already done. We will only have to wait until night fall on Thursday to see if his newly-repaired left elbow will be able to handle the Boston spotlight.

'Til then...In Theo We Trust!