Tim Wakefield is set to undergo surgery on a herniated disc in his back Wednesday, with the possibility of the operation being moved up slightly.

Wakefield has said that doctors told him that the procedure would not hinder his preparation for next season. The disc had pressed on a nerves in the 43-year-old’s back, causing weakness in his right leg. Wakefield managed to pitch four times after making the American League All-Star team, but was left off the Red Sox’ American League Division Series roster. He finished his 17th major league season going 11-5 with a 4.58 ERA in 21 starts.

It is expected if the surgery goes as planned that the Red Sox will pick up the pitcher’s $4 million team option. “Wake is someone that is in our plans and we hope makes starts for us next year and is a member of the rotation,” said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein during his Monday press conference. “We haven’t sat down and finalized anything. Obviously we want to see how the surgery goes and then both sides will sit down and talk.”

In other Red Sox medical news, infielder Nick Green, who battled a slipped disc in his back in the season’s final month, will be examined next week with the possibility of undergoing surgery.

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