by Ken Rosenthal

Billy Wagner will stay put with the Mets. (Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

He will invoke his no-trade clause rather than accept a deal to the Red Sox, according to a major-league source.

Wagner, through his agent, Bean Stringfellow, communicated to the Red Sox that he only would accept a trade if the team met two conditions.

The Sox agreed to one of those conditions, the source said, promising that they would decline Wagner's $8 million club option for 2010, the source said.

However, the Sox were less willing to guarantee that they would decline to offer Wagner salary arbitration, making him a free agent without draft-pick compensation.

Wagner, coming off Tommy John surgery, also was concerned about his health, a second source said.

"It's not about the option or arbitration. It's about his desire to end the year healthy for the future," the source said.

"He feels he has a better chance lasting a month in a less competitive environment than perhaps two months in a pennant race and playoffs."

Pitchers normally require 12 to 14 months to recover from Tommy John surgery. While Wagner has made two scoreless appearances since rejoining the Mets, he is still less than 12 months removed from the operation.

The Red Sox no doubt would have taken measures to protect Wagner. But the pitcher is known for his competitiveness, and almost certainly would have wanted the ball in pressure situations.

The Sox claimed Wagner on waivers last Friday. They have until early Tuesday afternoon to complete a deal with the Mets. One source said that Wagner was "sleeping" on his decision. The other said that Wagner's position was firm.

Wagner needs 15 saves to reach 400 and 40 to pass John Franco as the left-hander with the most saves in major-league history. He rehabilitated from surgery with the intention of resuming his career as a closer.

The Mets almost certainly will offer Wagner arbitration to ensure that they receive two high draft picks; the pitcher, despite his missed time, currently projects as a Type A free agent.

Wagner almost certainly would decline the Mets' offer; he is unwilling to set up for Francisco Rodriguez next season, just as he is unwilling to set up for the Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon.

The Mets could have saved the nearly $3.5 million remaining on Wagner's contract simply by allowing him to leave for the Red Sox. But Wagner still would have needed to approve such a transaction. His no- trade clause gives him that right.