Lee County strengthens its bid to hold the Fort

Lee County - home of Fort Myers, Fla., the Red Sox' spring training base - voted yesterday to approve "the framework to move forward with an agreement," as Sox chief operating officer Mike Dee referred to it in his remarks to the Board of Commissioners. But that doesn't mean the Sox are staying.

In the next week, the Red Sox will make a decision between stadium options in Lee County and Sarasota. With a key vote in Sarasota rescheduled from today until next Tuesday so the commissioners can review a term sheet, the Sox' decision will likely come by that date.

"We've been humbled through this process [with] the interest level from the communities that have stepped forward publicly," Dee said. "They've really provided us with some great choices and great alternatives to weigh. Lee County spoke very loudly today that they want to do what it takes to keep the Red Sox here. They value us as a member of the community."

With an out clause in their contract for City of Palms Park, the Sox have been negotiating with Sarasota and Lee County. Sarasota was offering a split site, with a refurbished stadium and practice fields as a minor league facility and a new stadium at Payne Park for Grapefruit League games. Lee County has a plan for a combined site - one of the criteria the Sox sought - and a 9,999-seat stadium, with room for 12,000, designed to look like Fenway Park.

One issue remains about the Lee County site, which would be built in an area ranging from the airport south toward Naples. It concerns land. Lee County is counting on a landowner donating 80 acres on which to build the stadium, which would be the third in the county, after City of Palms Park and the Twins' Hammond Stadium. Those involved seem confident that won't be a problem.

"I've got to give Fort Myers credit," Sarasota County commissioner Joe Barbetta said. "They stepped up. They obviously appreciate what a good brand they have there with the Red Sox. It's the bottom of the ninth with two outs and Yogi Berra's up. It ain't over yet. We've still got a little bit of breathing room."

Efforts to reach Lee County commissioner Ray Judah were unsuccessful.

Wakefield to return?

It appears likely that the Sox will bring back knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Wakefield, 42, has struggled toward the end of the past two seasons, but has given the Sox 27 wins and 370 innings in that span. He also has a deal that's favorable to the club, with recurring one-year, $4 million options . . . The Red Sox acquired righthanded pitcher Virgil Vasquez on a waiver claim from the Detroit Tigers, bringing their major league roster to its 40-man limit. Vasquez, 26, has made five major league appearances in his career and spent the majority of the past two seasons with Triple A Toledo. The Tigers named him the Toledo Pitcher of the Year in 2007, when he ranked third in the International League with 127 strikeouts to go with a 12-5 record and a 3.48 ERA. Vasquez regressed this year, going 12-12 with a 4.81 ERA. But he threw a pair of shutouts and finished strong, winning his last five starts and compiling a 3.63 ERA over that span. The Sox also announced that infielder Gil Velazquez, a late-season call-up who was briefly activated for the end of the American League Division Series, has opted for free agency. The Sox assigned him outright to Triple A Pawtucket last week.

Adam Kilgore of the Globe staff contributed to this report.