David Wells was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday night amid indications that the Boston Red Sox were close to trading the left-hander to a contender. Wells' locker was nearly empty and four cartons were stacked in front of it before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Reliever Julian Tavarez was picked to start in his place. Wells has been told he's been traded and to wait by the phone. No team was specified, but the primary candidates remain the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.