by Mike Puma, New York Post

Comment

The free-agent left-hander told The Post Thursday he has been working out near his home in San Diego and believes he could bolster a New York Yankees' rotation suddenly besieged by question marks.

Could Boomer III be in the cards? Consider that Wells has a huge fan monitoring the situation from Tampa. Hank Steinbrenner admitted yesterday that Wells, who recently made appearances on "Best Damn Sports Show Period," has crossed his mind as a possibility for the Yankees' rotation.

"I've thought about it," Steinbrenner told The Post. "I saw him on TV, and I did think about it when I was watching."

But Steinbrenner said he has not discussed Wells' availability with GM Brian Cashman or manager Joe Girardi. That, Steinbrenner indicated, could change depending upon how Darrell Rasner and Kei Igawa fare in the rotation as Phil Hughes sits on the disabled list for at least two months with a rib fracture and Ian Kennedy attempts to return from Triple-A.

"You never know," Steinbrenner said. "(Wells) hasn't come up in conversation, but I've had so much other (bleep) to deal with lately."

Wells finished 9-9 with a 5.43 ERA for the Padres and Dodgers last season, and went unsigned over the winter. He does not consider himself retired, and said his arm feels great and he has been attempting to keep loose by pitching to his son's high-school team.

Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes during spring training last year, Wells has shed 25 pounds and tips the scales around 245.

"I'm in shape, I'd just have to fine-tune a couple of things," Wells said. "I'd need a little bit of time, but not much. Physically I feel fine, real good."

Wells, who has 239 career victories, pitched for the Yankees from 1997-98 and again from 2002-03.