The Associated Press

NEW YORK - David Wells' poor pitching has jeopardized his place in the New York Yankees' starting rotation.

A day after pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre criticized Wells for not throwing enough between starts, Yankees manager Joe Torre repeatedly refused to say whether the 40-year-old left-hander would take his next turn, on Monday at Toronto.

"We're going to do some more talking tomorrow," Torre said after Thursday's 7-5 win over the Chicago White Sox.

After the game, the Yankees recalled right-hander Jeff Weaver, who was sent to the minor leagues just two days earlier. Weaver's stay had been scheduled to last until Monday, but a roster spot opened when outfielder David Dellucci sprained his left ankle and went on the disabled list.

Wells (12-5) allowed a season-high 10 runs in Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the White Sox, giving up two homers, three doubles and a triple in a seven-run fourth inning. He went 0-2 in four August starts, allowing 22 runs and 35 hits in 22 1/3 innings, and is winless in six starts since July 19.

"He hasn't been throwing in between starts, and it's showing," Stottlemyre said.

Wells said before Thursday's game that he has thrown more bullpen sessions than in previous years, and wouldn't publicly respond to Stottlemyre.

"When I was here in 1998, I didn't throw very many bullpens," Wells said. "... I'm not going to elaborate on it any more, because then it turns into a war of words."

Wells will throw more between starts, "If it's going to make everybody happy around here."

Torre said before the game that he wanted to talk with Wells, and while the manager, pitching coach and pitcher did have a conversation, it was cut short because Stottlemyre had to go to the bullpen.

"When a guy has pitched this long, you leave it to him to know his body," Torre said. "But after the last couple of outings, we have to talk about it."

GIANTS: Right-hander Dustin Hermanson was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday because of spasms in his upper back. Manager Felipe Alou doesn't expect Hermanson to miss another start.

MARLINS: Reliever Armando Almanza had arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in his left elbow and is finished for the season. He is 4-5 with a 6.08 ERA in 51 games.

TRADE: Utility infielder Lou Merloni returned to Boston in a deal that sent minor league pitcher Rene Miniel to San Diego.

Merloni hit .272 in 151 at-bats for San Diego. Miniel, a right-hander, played with Double-A Portland.

PIRATES: A 6-year-old boy is recovering from a broken jaw after being hit by a foul ball at PNC Park. Logan Nawrocki was sitting with his father and twin brothers about 12 rows behind the visiting dugout Tuesday when a ball hit by Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson in the seventh inning struck him in the jaw.