« Baseball, Hockey Hall-of-Famers Highlight Weekend Autograph Event In Wilmington | Home | Forty-Two File For Free Agency On Day Two; Six Red Sox Have Filed Thus Far »
Red Sox Exercise Option On Wakefield
By Administrator | October 31, 2008
When you throw upwards of two hundred innings, win in double digits and keep you ERA somewhere around 4.00, you make yourself valuable to your ballclub… when you do it and earn a salary of $4 million, you make yourself invaluable.
This afternoon, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein announced that the club has exercised its option for 2009 on knuckleballer Tim Wakefield after the right-hander passed his physical exam earlier this week.
The 42-year-old pitcher has a unique rollover contract that guarantees him an annual salary of $4 million in each year the team picks up his option… and when they exercise the option, the club automatically gets another option for the following season (in this case, 2010).
Wakefield debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and then joined the Red Sox in ‘95… he has
the longest continuous service by a pitcher in team history.
He posted a 10-11, 4.13 record in 30 starts this season. He ranked second on the staff and third in the American League with a .228 opponents batting average against. He was second on the club in starts and innings (181.0) and fourth in strikeouts (117).
With the signing, the front four starters from the Sox 2008 rotation will be back for 2009… Wakefield will fill the No. 4 spot behind Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka. The club also has a number of starters who can compete for the No. 5 spot in thee rotation, including Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson, and Michael Bowden… which suggests that the Sox will not be serious players in the bidding for this winter’s high-priced free agent pitchers (a group that includes CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Derek Lowe).
Speculation abounds that first baseman Mark Teixeira will be the Red Sox’ primary target in free agency this offseason… but that begs the question: what happens to Kevin Youkilis (the 2008 Hank Aaron Award winner fot the AL in 2008) or Mike Lowell (the 2007 World Series MVP).
Topics: SoxTransactions |
