Wells Is Set to Rejoin Yankees

Lunch with New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner was enough to persuade David Wells to return to pinstripes.

A few days after Wells was set to sign with the World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks, “The Boss” did everything he could to bring back one of his favorite players.

Wells, 38, has agreed to a $7-million, two-year incentive-laden contract with the Yankees, pending a physical next week, his agent, Gregg Clifton, said Sunday

“It happened at a Christmas lunch. George presented it to [Wells] and he said he wanted to come back to pinstripes and end his career as a Yankee,” Clifton said.

Clifton had said a deal with the Diamondbacks was 85% complete. All Wells needed was a physical to join Arizona.

But Wells returned home to Clearwater, Fla., before taking the physical and met Steinbrenner for lunch for the second time this month. The first time the two met, the Yankees were not interested in reacquiring Wells.

“He always wanted to be a Yankee,” Clifton said. “He thought it was over because when he met with Mr. Steinbrenner a few weeks back he didn’t think there was an opportunity for anything to happen.”

Wells will get a $1-million signing bonus, $2 million in 2002 and $3 million in 2003, according to Clifton. The Yankees will have a $6-million option for 2004 with a $1-million buyout. Wells will have the opportunity to make an additional $4 million a year over the next two seasons based on number of starts.

The Diamondbacks had guaranteed $1 million in salary.

Wells had a 34-14 record with the Yankees in 1997-98, pitching a perfect game and helping the team win a World Series. He was traded to Toronto in the deal for Roger Clemens before the 1999 season.

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Scott Hatteberg agreed to terms with the Oakland Athletics on a one-year deal worth about $1 million and will try to help the Athletics fill the hole at first base left by the departure of Jason Giambi.

Hatteberg spent the last five-plus seasons with the Boston Red Sox, primarily as a catcher.

Hatteberg, a lifetime .267 hitter, was traded by the Red Sox to the Colorado Rockies for Pokey Reese on Dec. 19. A day later, he became a free agent when the Rockies decided not to offer him a contract.

Skiing

Bode Miller, his spot in the Olympic Winter Games already assured by virtue of winning two World Cup races this season, earned a bonus prize by winning the U.S. Ski Team Gold Cup slalom at Snowbasin, Utah.

Miller was timed in 1 minute 33.08 seconds for the two runs. Erik Schlopy, winner of Saturday’s giant slalom, was second in 1:33.15.

Miscellany

Heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis was among several British athletes who earned places on Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s honors list.

Lewis was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE.

He is accorded no title but can put the letters after his name.

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Cammi Granato had a goal and an assist, and the United States Olympic women’s hockey team defeated Dartmouth, 7-1, in the Holiday Tournament at Lake Placid, N.Y.

The U.S. (23-0) concludes the round-robin tournament today against Germany.