Red Sox pick up Wakefield's 2009 option for $4M

[JAYHAWKS34]

ESPN - Boston Red Sox pick up Tim Wakefield's 2009 option for $4 million

 

[JAYHAWKS34]

as usually his life long rolling contract is picked up

 

[WhiskeyBreath]

Sweet. Fantastic value.

 

[jmt57]

I don't know, I really thought it was time to move on. Makes me feel Theo has little faith in either Bucholz stepping up or being able to pick up anybody decent in the off-season. Why the rush; it's not as if anybody else was going to be beating down the door to pick up Wake.

Boston Red Sox - Red Sox trade rumors -- the Buzz - Boston.com

Sox bring back Wakefield - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog

 

[D-Money]

I rather spend the money on the pitching.We will see what Theo's thinking will be.

 

[WhiskeyBreath]

I don't know, I really thought it was time to move on. Makes me feel Theo has little faith in either Bucholz stepping up or being able to pick up anybody decent in the off-season. Why the rush; it's not as if anybody else was going to be beating down the door to pick up Wake.

Boston Red Sox - Red Sox trade rumors -- the Buzz - Boston.com

Sox bring back Wakefield - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog

They have five days from the completion of the World Series to exercise their option.

 

[scout]

Wake was 10-11 with a 4.13 era in 30 starts this season. He had 18 quality starts this season, second only to Lester. It was the fifth time in six seasons in which he's had 30 starts. The guy eats up innings. What's not to like about this guy? Unless you want to compare the Sox staff to the Orioles back when they had four 20 game winners, tho I believe they lost the World Series that year. Nothing wrong with having your fifth starter with a 4.13 era. Do you really want to drop a guy like this in favor of Bucholz or another unproven pitcher.

 

[D-Money]

Wake did ok but he completly sucked the last couple of starts heading into the post-season and in the post-season.

 

[Foley]

He also threw a combine 13 scoreless against NYY and Toronto in September, so its not like he was awful the entire month. He was inconsistent. That's what he has been his entire career.

But if you look at the whole picture and not just a few bad starts, Wakefield was an above average SP in 2008. In fact, going by ERA+, he has been average or better in every season since 2001. A decent utility infielder costs about $4M in this market, so to get quality pitching depth like Wakefield at that price is a no-brainer.

 

[jmt57]

They have five days from the completion of the World Series to exercise their option.

Thanks, sorry I missed that. I should have known it was something like that, given the timing.

 

[Real World]

The option is a no brainer. Every team in the league would love to have Wakefield in the #5 spot for $4 million. Personally, I've felt that Wake has lost a ton of money with his contract's structure. Guys like Jason Marquis make double that, when they aren't any better. Wake has left a lot of money on the table over the last 4-5 years.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Wake was 10-11 with a 4.13 era in 30 starts this season. He had 18 quality starts this season, second only to Lester. It was the fifth time in six seasons in which he's had 30 starts. The guy eats up innings. What's not to like about this guy? Unless you want to compare the Sox staff to the Orioles back when they had four 20 game winners, tho I believe they lost the World Series that year. Nothing wrong with having your fifth starter with a 4.13 era. Do you really want to drop a guy like this in favor of Bucholz or another unproven pitcher.

Wakefield's value, as you seem to be pointing out, goes well beyond his stats. He eats up innings - and although some of those innings are great and some not so great, in turn he helps keep the bullpen fresh over the course of a season - which can pay dividends in October.

Heck - he can even fill in within the bullpen if another starter is so good that they claim a starters role. He's done it before and as a knuckler can bounce back much quicker than any other starting pitcher.

Wake's been such an unsung hero for this team over the years, it woudn't bother me if they actually wanted to give him the C for his uniform. I don't think they will - as he's not an every day player, and might not be here for too many years, but with a Knuckler one never knows, and the fact that he agreed to such an affordable option contract gives him major points as a Captain in my book, putting his desire to play with Boston ahead of everything else.

 

[WhiskeyBreath]

Anyone know the contract status of Cash?

 

[VJCPatriot]

I don't know, I really thought it was time to move on. Makes me feel Theo has little faith in either Bucholz stepping up or being able to pick up anybody decent in the off-season. Why the rush; it's not as if anybody else was going to be beating down the door to pick up Wake.

Boston Red Sox - Red Sox trade rumors -- the Buzz - Boston.com

Sox bring back Wakefield - Extra Bases - Red Sox blog

He eats up 150 ip per year at around a 4-4.5 era. For 4M it's great value. Now is he a frontline starter no? But he's solid for a cheap price.

 

[patsfanofNC12]

No question this is a great move by the Sox, to good a deal to let go. And if we want to complain about Wake sucking this postseason then that is like saying we should get rid of Beckett because he sucked this postseason.

 

[STFarmy]

Love Wakefield, happy to see this. To me, he's the Sox equivalent of Bruschi.