Mariners Rumors: Kip Wells on the radar?

Kip Wells has not been good in a long time. But he will still find a home. He is a veteran pitcher and that can be be over-valued by Major League clubs quite often. Such is the case with the Seattle Mariners who are taking a look at signing Wells. Wells threw for the team today, and will continue to talk with them.

Evan Drellich of MLB.com had the early reports of the bullpen session Wells threw.

Veteran righty Kip Wells remains on the market, threw a bullpen for the Mariners today

— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) January 30, 2013

David Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner confirmed the report and said the team was indeed scouting the 35-year old righty.

Mariners scouting Kip Wells, who was last an effective Major League pitcher in 2004.In 2004, Dustin Ackley was a HS sophomore.

— David Cameron (@DCameronFG) January 30, 2013

Cameron's basis for his assertion that Wells was last effective in 2004 is clearly based on WAR. Wells has posted a negative WAR in every season since 2004. In the nine seasons since Wells last posted a positive WAR, he has accounted for -5.8 wins.

More on Mariners' players named Wells: Casper Wells should play more.

Wells pitched for the San Diego Padres last year after being out of the Majors since 2009. He went 2-4 with a 4.58 ERA in seven starts for the team last year. Wells was signed by the Padres as an emergency starter of sorts. The team was running out of options after most of their starting rotation landed on the DL.

The Mariners may look to use Wells out of the bullpen if they don't see him as a fit for their starting rotation. He has been primarily a starter in his career, but in a pinch Seattle could use him as a reliever. Whatever the case may be, it's unlikely that he would receive a Major League contract if the Mariners sign him. He would likely get a minor league contract with an invite to the Major League camp at spring training.