Billy Wagner: Lefty Specialist and Waterboy

A moment that even Billy Wagner had doubts would ever come to pass finally happened Thursday afternoon in the Fenway Park press room, as he was officially introduced as a member of the Red Sox.

“What’s my reaction? I’m excited,” Wagner said after finally working out an agreement with the Red Sox to approve a trade with the Mets. “Eleven months after Tommy John, somebody wants somebody like me to help them maybe get in the playoffs, I’m pretty excited.”

Then he was asked what role he thought he would serve with his new team.

“Whatever role they want me to — waterboy, towel guy, lefty specialist. I don’t care,” he quipped.

“My biggest concern was: Can I fulfill what they’re asking for? Can I go out there, pitch, and be like I was? Coming off 11 months after Tommy John, a major surgery, the last thing you want to do is go out there and not be able to perform the way you have in the past, not help and not contribute, so that was one of the major factors.”

Naturally, he was asked if he had spoken to Jonathan Papelbon about their verbal volleyball back and forth that occurred when word of a deal was rumored over the weekend.

“Yeah, I’ve talked to him quite a bit. Everything was so blown out (of proportion),” he said. “We’re fine.”

He backed Papelbon for defending the chemistry of the current Red Sox bullpen.

“I understand what he was meaning,” Wagner added. “I understand that he has a lot of close friends. They’ve been doing a great job. They’ve got the best bullpen in the American League. Here you are taking a chance on a 38-year-old man, 11 months after Tommy John (surgery). He wants to win a ring, he wants to be a champion and I admire that.”

Wagner will wear his usual No. 13 after shortstop Alex Gonzalez switched from 13 to 3. Wagner is scheduled to throw a bullpen today and isn’t expected to see game action until tomorrow.

When he does finally make his Red Sox debut, Wagner said that the adjustment to the American League probably won’t be as big a deal as it would be for a starting pitcher.

“Talking to Tito and Theo and these guys, they understood what they were looking for and what I could offer them and they think I can do it,” Wagner said.

“I’m healthy. I don’t think at this point, 11 months (after surgery) they’re going to expect me to pitch back-to-back days. I think they’re going to try and limit me on some of the innings and back-to-back appearances, but other than that, unless I come up sore and need another day, there aren’t any limitations.

The six-time NL All-Star spoke of the obstacles he overcame following surgery.

“I was told my career [was] over,” Wagner said. “I just stuck with [physical therapist] Chris Correnti.

“My fastball has quite a bit of life right now,” added Wagner, who hit 96 mph at Citi Field in a scoreless eighth inning last Thursday. “This Tommy John isn’t looking so bad right now ”

Wagner remains 15 saves away from 400, and said he wants to reach the milestone.

“(Correnti) was there day-in and day-out with me, kind of motivated me and pushing me to keep working,” Wagner said. “He believed I had something left. My family thought I had something left and that I should pursue it and just see how far this thing will take me.

“I’m here in 11 months where it’s normally 14 months. I don’t know what to expect or anything. I’m kind of out here on a limb as much as anybody else.”