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| Wakefield, Sox Agree on New Two-Year Deal | 11.09.09 at 2:23 pm ET |
The Red Sox have chosen not to pick up Tim Wakefield’s $4 million option for the 2010 season; instead, the team and the pitcher have come to terms on a two-year deal. The new contract will pay the 43-year-old a guaranteed $5 million — $3.5 million in ‘10 and $1.5 million in ‘11 — with the opportunity to earn various incentives that could bring the package’s total worth to approximately $10 million over the two years.
It is believed that if Wakefield meets all of his incentives, he would fall approximately $1 million short of matching what he would have made if the options were picked up in each of the next two seasons. Wakefield originally signed a one-year deal with recurring team options of $4 million every season — a one-of-its-kind contract — during the 2005 season, with the deal becoming effective starting for the 2006 season.
Wakefield underwent surgery on a herniated disc in his back last month, but is expected to be ready to be fully ready for spring training.
The new deal could allow Wakefield to accomplish his goal of breaking the record for most wins in a Red Sox uniform by a pitcher (192), which is currently shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. The knuckleballer will enter ‘10 with 175 wins as a member of the Sox. He has also stated a goal of reaching 200 wins, which could be accomplished in the coming season. His current career win total stands at 189.
5 Comments for “Wakefield, Sox Agree on New Two-Year Deal”
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November 9th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
WOOOOO HOOOOOO
November 9th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Guessing that means that Wakefield plans on retiring after the 2 years are up (assuming he becomes #1 in wins). Makes sense.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
He is a credible inning-eater, win or lose. Teams have to manage 9 times 162 or about 1500 innings a year. Your first 3 starters hopefully take 30 games times 6 innings or about 200 each. Or a little more. That’s 600. Another 400 split between 4th and fifth starters. Wake takes his 150-200 more or less. That leaves innings 800-1000 to the fifth starters and developing starters. 500 to your bullpen, probably 50 innings x 10 folks. Wake not being there means you have to carry ineeffective starters or burn your bullpen. Whether Wake wins or loses, you can keep him out there, and he makes the Red Sox more effective as a team. Oh, BTW, this year he won!
November 9th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Wakefield is the best Sox teammate ever. He has survived nearly 15 years with the organization and has done whatever he has been asked to do. Unlike many of his previous teammates he has pushed his talent to the limit without complaining or demanding more. The Red Sox as a team are part of the our community and Tim is the lead dog of that team…congrats to him and the organization!!!!!!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:07 am
While recognizing that we aren’t talking a ton of money, I really don’t get this from the Red Sox standpoint. You guarantee him $5M instead of $4m. You lose the option. (What if he has two awesome years and decides to keep pitching?) If he is bad in 2010, you could have renegotiated 2011 to “correct value” anyway. I really just don’t see what the Red Sox had to gain. Seems like the gained $500K in 2008 to put $1.5M in 2011 at risk and lose the 2012 option, however small the option value is.
Love Wake. Really hope he can get those 18 wins.