"Mets reliever Billy Wagner will waive his no-trade clause to join the Red Sox if the team can swing a deal for him by Tuesday, his agent said last night.

Bean Stringfellow, who represents Wagner, said his client's main concern is pitching for a winner this year. After that, the 38-year-old would like to close, because he needs only 15 more saves to become the fifth pitcher ever to reach 400.

However, Stringfellow stopped short of saying Wagner would ask the Sox not to pick up his $8 million option for 2010 as a condition of any trade.

"Certainly, the Red Sox would give him a chance to win a World Series, and this year that's first and foremost," Stringfellow said. "From where we sit, that's all that matters right now. Over the next six weeks he'd have a chance to win, and then we could think about next year."

Speaking to reporters in New York yesterday, Wagner sounded excited about the possibility of coming to Boston.

"What every player wants to do is play on a contender and have a shot to go to the World Series," he told the New York Post.

The left-handed fireballer returned from Tommy John surgery by striking out two and hitting 96 mph during a perfect inning against the Braves on Thursday.

He has reached the playoffs five times, but only once has he advanced to the League Championship Series, losing to the Cardinals in 2006. That's why the 15-year vet is willing to do what it takes to play for a winner.

"Like we all know, I'm not getting any younger and the window's starting to shut," Wagner said. "You want to have that chance, and take it if you get it."

The Mets have until 1 p.m. on Tuesday to deal Wagner, pull him back, or simply give him to the Red Sox in a $1.7 million salary dump. The last option is unlikely, since Wagner projects to be a Type A free agent worthy of two first-round picks as compensation.

The Mets reportedly want one quality prospect for Wagner. They pulled back Gary Sheffield recently when no such offer materialized.

Wake in for Penny

As expected following Friday's superb rehab outing, Tim Wakefield will start for the Red Sox on Wednesday night against the White Sox.

That turn was scheduled to go to Brad Penny, whom manager Terry Francona told to "sit tight." All signs point to Junichi Tazawa getting a start in place of Penny on Thursday, based on Tazawa's six shutout innings in yesterday's 14-1 win over the Yankees.

"(Tazawa's) done nothing to take away from his future in the rotation," said pitching coach John Farrell. "We'll certainly factor in today plus all of his other starts, as well as Brad's. We'll have time to sit down and talk about that as a group."

The Sox have clearly missed Wakefield, who made the All-Star team after going 11-3 in the first half."