Editing David Wells (section)

===Second stint with the New York Yankees (2002–2003)===
After a short season with the White Sox, Wells returned to the Yankees, a deal that was again immersed in controversy as he had already reached an oral agreement to join the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-01-11/sports/18198564_1_toronto-for-roger-clemens-david-wells-yankees | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707202634/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-01-11/sports/18198564_1_toronto-for-roger-clemens-david-wells-yankees | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 7, 2012 | work=Daily News | first=Adam | last=Rubin | title=With Wells, Boss Beefs Up Rotation Deal Over Burgers | date=January 11, 2002}}</ref> Despite having lost some velocity from his [[fastball]], he retained his excellent [[curveball]] and his control, and posted an outstanding 19–7 record in 2002.

Wells was the subject of some controversy prior to the 2003 season, when his [[autobiography]] ''Perfect I'm Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball'', was published. The book upset the Yankees' management, and Wells was fined $100,000 by the team for disparaging comments which appeared in it.<ref name="Curry">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/10/sports/baseball-yankees-and-wells-hope-fine-ends-story.html | work=The New York Times | first=Jack | last=Curry | title=BASEBALL; Yankees And Wells Hope Fine Ends Story | date=March 10, 2003}}</ref> One of them included himself having a hangover when he pitched his [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]].<ref name="Curry"/><ref name="Baxter">{{cite news| url=https://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/31/sports/sp-dodgers31/2 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530171345/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/31/sports/sp-dodgers31/2 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 30, 2012 | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Kevin | last=Baxter | title=The Big Easy | date=August 31, 2007}}</ref> Among the other controversial statements were claims that he strengthened his pitching arm as a youth by throwing rocks at homeless people<ref name="Baxter"/> and that his minor league team, the [[Kinston Blue Jays]], had segregated stands in 1983 despite ample evidence to the contrary. Wells claimed to have been misquoted in the book, which was presumably penned by a [[ghost writer]]. The problems didn't carry over to the field, however. Wells posted a 15–7 record and the Yankees won another pennant.<ref name="B-Ref"/>

On September 28, 2003, the final day of the regular season, Wells earned the 200th win of his career in a game managed by Clemens, who had won his 300th game earlier in the season and was thought to be retiring from baseball (Clemens ended up delaying his retirement). Regular Yankees manager [[Joe Torre]] let Clemens manage the final game of the regular season, and Clemens pulled Wells from the game in the eighth inning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=20030929&id=XA0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BHUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5935,3943126|title=Wells gives Yanks 101st in|newspaper=The Hour|last=Fitzpatrick |first=Mike |date=September 29, 2003}}</ref>

Wells was criticized by some Yankees fans for not being able to pitch during Game 5 of the [[2003 World Series]]. He started the game, but left during the first inning because of a bad backache, which forced Torre to use his bullpen to finish the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinstripealley.com/2009/11/6/1120007/david-wells-calls-joe-torre-a-tool|title=David Wells calls Joe Torre 'such a tool'|website=Pinstripe Alley |date=November 6, 2009}}</ref> The Yankees lost the game and the series to the [[Florida Marlins]] in six games.