Red Sox Close To Deal With Dan Wheeler

According to WEEI.com, a source familiar with contract talks between the Red Sox and free agent reliever Dan Wheeler is optimistic that the right-hander will sign with Boston. The 33-year-old Rhode Island native has pitched for the Rays since the middle of the 2007 season, posting a 3.35 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 64 appearances last year in Tampa Bay… Wheeler struck out 46 batters in 48.1 innings this past season and held opponents to a .209 batting average. He’s been remarkably consistent over the last 3 years for the Rays. Since 2004 (when he pitched for the Astros), only once has Wheeler’s ERA been over 3 and a half and his WHIP over 1.20. That outlier season came in 2007 when Houston traded him to the Rays for Ty Wigginton. Wheeler made $3.5 million last year in Tampa in the final year of a $10.5 million dollar deal he signed prior to the 2008 season. The Rays declined his $4 million option and didn’t offer him arbitration. The Red Sox certainly couldnR...