Sox bring back Wakefield

I'm so sick of the Sox continually bringing back this stiff.

perfect reward for the perfect team player..........

I am glad to see that the Boston Red Sox picked up Wakefield's option. He has always done whatever has been needed of him to help this ball club win games. He definatey can eat up innings and always seems to be around the 15 win mark and around 200 innings over the past few years. I for one am glad he is still in a Boston Red Sox uniform!

Timmah!!!!!!!!

I am not an expert in Baseball, but I am wondering if 4MM could get you a younger pitcher with better numbers than his 10-11 record and a 4.13 era.

Thanks.

While Teixeira would be a great addition at first base, I'm still not sure his signing is as pressing as finding a very good 4th outfielder, presuming Coco or Jacoby are not with the club next season. I'm particularly concerned about serviceability of JD Drew. When healthy, he'sbeen an above-average player, yet his physical condition seems to be worsening with each year.

Hmmm,4 million is a bargain for a seriously mediocre pitcher that hasn't got a clue with regard to actually controlling each and every pitch he tosses up there.A 500 hundred pitcher that needs a special reveiver and as inconsistent as any in Red Sox history.Noooo,I can not stand this guy,as a pitcher,nothing to do with him outside of baseball.
Everyone holds their collective breath when this guy strolls out to the mound and all say the same thing,YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THAT KNUCKLE BALL'S GOING TO REACT TONIGHT.Isn't that a relief.Save the 4 million and HARDLY a gargain Chad and apply it towards another catcher,,say Rod Barajas or a younger starter.
Johnny

I dont doubt the report that the sox go after Teixeira, but then what? Youk and Lowell seem locked into thier positions. Just does not seem like a fit if you ask me. Upgrading CF, SS, and the bullpen seem like better options.

THIS IS AN IDIOTIC DECISION THAT SCEWS UP TWO ROSTER SPOTS (backup catcher). Terrible!

Oh, well. Let's flip a coin before each game to see which Tim Wakefield shows up.

How about having him fill in for middle relief instead of starting? Wouldn't that be the better option? Start with a fast-ball pitcher and then go to the knuckleball - batters would love that ;-)

However, at least as a starter the Red Sox have many innings to play catch-up show he blow up in the first 2 innings like he did many times this year. It's tough to play catch-up in the 6th or 7th when Wakefield decides to give up 5 runs.

I am ok with Wake coming back but surely don't trust him or one of the other minor league pitchers to fill the 5th spot---Wake has a little history of not being at the top of his game late in the season....I would like to see them pick up another very good pitcher to shore things up when injuries or one of the youngsters are not ready...derek lowe would be great!

What was Not-Einstein Thinking?

If anything, having Wakefield signed will cloud the issue with young potential starters like Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson, and Michael Bowden and probably cancel any cahnce of an old pro like Lowe returning. Masterson deserves a shot at the #4 spot based on what he's done from the pen this year.

Nice.

Mr. Wakefield has always been a class act and always puts the team ahead of himself; I'm glad he'll be around for another season.

silly....they could have used this money towards a younger, better pitcher.

How many more years will we have to watch Wakefield get batted around like a pinata? Hopefully this will be the last.

Cookie- Happy Halloween, Sox bringing back Wakefield for $4M next year.....Good to see you this week. Have a good weekend.

Peter

Great call Theo!!!!

Why do they keep bringing back this over the hill washed up Wakefield?! The guy stunk up quite a few games and they still hold on to him. If they want him so bad at least stick him in the bullpen and not in the rotation.

He should be in the bullpen

Glad to see Wake back in the saddle

I'm glad they brought him back! Now if the hitters could actually give the guy some support that would be appreciated.

So, the Sox prefer an old knuckleballer to a relatively young stud like C.C.???
Must be a sign that they are saving money for Texiera....

This is a great move. Thanks to Tito and Theo for having vision and class.

Wake's been great but he's done. We need to get rid of the dead weight (Wake, Tek, Timlin and Lugo). How can we even think to contend with Wakefield as a number 4. A spot or long relief maybe.

Dougie's warming up just in case. Wait, Dougie doesn't need to warm up!

what a joke

Smart move, Wake is an innings eater who seems to not benefit from much run support when he pitches.

Knuckle ball works better in warm weather however, which would explain his poor postseason record.

I can't imagine the Sox doing anything but push the price up on Teixeira. Why would any team trade for Lowell coming off the injury? and why would you trade Youkilis to make room for Teixeira, who might be a better bat, but not by much and will cost a lot more.

Asinine move. He's older than Fenway and sucks like a Hoover.

Good move on the Red Sox part. Tim Wakefield is the consummate team mate and Red Sox. There should be more people like him in sports.

We need to consider bringing back #38, based on how he comes through his rehab and if he wants to still pitch of course. The doctors say the surgery should get him back to close to what he was in 2004. If that is true, we need to give him an incentive laced contract and see what he can do. He is still one of the best post-season pitchers ever and we could have used him this year. Sign Tek and get Texiera in here and we will celebrate again in 2009!

NOW i KNOW THE RED SOX ARE NOT INTERESTED IN WINNING NEXT YEAR. THIS DECISION IS AS BAD AS MASS. LEFTIST POLITICS. I HAVE LOST RESPECT FOR TEH SOX DECISION IN THIS CASE. ARE RED SOX FANS GOING TO CONTINUE BUYING SEASON TICKETS FOR THIS SUB-PERFORMER. NICE GUYS COME TO THEIR END, TOO, SO WHY NOT WAKEFIELD? THIS IS A TERRIBLE DECISION. WHAT OTHER FAILURES ARE WE GOING TO RESIGN FOR 09, BESIDES OBAMA?

I consider Wake the "other lefthander" in the rotation (since it doesn't make any difference which side the batter is on with a knuckleballer), on a club that can't seem to find another lefty starter. This is smart baseball by the Sox. The Sox "needs" are up and down the right field line - catcher, first base and right field. Some of this might resolve itself but ..Teixera would be a tremendous asset, no matter what else happens.

For God sakes WHY?????!!!!!

ARGH!!!!

He cannot pitch anymore and he's a huge liability.

This is terrible news...

This was really a no-brainer. How many fourth or fifth starters can you get for $4 million anymore? People are screaming for Wakefield to go because of his start in the ALCS. However, he provided the team with 30 starts last year with an ERA around 4. For some teams, that would make him an ace. The real question is what was Boston's record in games that he started. He was 10-11 but they might have won the other 9 games.

Also, with four parts of the rotation set, this might mean that they would get a guy like Lowe to keep the young arms in the minors for more seasoning.

Twenty-nine more wins and he is the winningest pitcher in Red Sox history.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

I am so sick of OLD Tim Wakefield...He is OK the first half, but every year August - September he is either hurt, or stinks...His post season ERA was the second highest in history..After the bombing he took in game 4 against the Rays, it may be the highest ever...Theo wake up we need a good, solid, non gimick 4th starter to go all the way...The Rays are adding David Price to their rotation with Kazmir Shields and Garza....We need a starter under 100 years old!

Wakefield is ol' reliable. You know what you're going to get from him. His wild fluctuations within a season-- hot for a few weeks, then ice cold-- always evens itself out by the end of the year.

He's as good a #4 or #5 starter as you're going to find.

I wouldn't mind the Sox going after Lowe, though...IF Derek has matured a bit off the field since he left the Sox four years ago. He can still pitch, and could be a solid contributor as a #3 or #4 in that rotation.

"Though Wakefield pitched poorly in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings, he remains one of the best bargains in baseball."

Indeed. And let's face it - Wake was hardly the ONLY Sox starter to have a bad day in the playoffs.

The Sox know full well that it's a long season, and they signed a guy at a reasonable price who can keep them in most games. They know what they have here, and now they can worry about making sure Josh Beckett lays off the ice cream this winter.

Mmmmmmm. Iiiice creeeeeam. Gotta go!

It would come as no surprise if the sox had declined to exercise. The team needs to move on. It'll take 5 good starters to make it in the ALEast. Gone are the days the 4th and 5th merely "give you innings".

I think that the Red Sox could make better use of 4 million dollars by investing it in a good middle relief pitcher. Wakefield has been a good performer over the years, but age has caught up and he is not the pitcher he once was. I feel sorry for those like Wakefield you don't see that it's time to give it up.

More evidence that the Red Sox are a first-class organization - exercising their option for next season on a member of a dying breed - a talented, loyal player who's given almost his entire career to the team, in good times and bad.

I disagree with your conclusion that the Sox will not be suitors for top of the line pitching. Theo has learned that a team never has enough starting pitching. Wasn't Beckett the difference from winning or losing to the Rays? Isn't it possible that he is in the process of breaking down and will not improve next year? They need at least a #4 pitcher such as Lowe or Burnett with Wakefield being the #5 pitcher. I think they will be suitors for starting pitching instead of paying the outlandish bucks for Tex.

Excellent! Every time that Wake has a rough outing or a couple of bad games, there is an outcry (on WEEI or elsewhere) for Tim to be traded or waived or shipped to Siberia. Meanwhile, he has been consistent, a workhorse, versitile, a team player, a non-complainer on the Red Sox, as well as the ultimate community champion. He has been the victim of more blown saves than most but continues to exude positive waves and pure class. Good luck Wake.

Big mistake he is too old for a young mans game.

I'm tired of "bargains" and "eating innings." I thought Theo would do the right
thing and offer Wakefield a position as a scout or coach. Then we could ditch
Cash too. Theo's job is to get the 5 best starters he can acquire via
whatever method so Tito has all the tools to win the division. Wakefield
has had a great career here and we all love Wake. But it is time to go, just
as it is for Timlin. Theo has options other than big money free agency,
like his own minor league pitchers. Maybe this signing means that Bowden,
Bucholz, Bard, et al, are trade chips. It can be the only rational, well thought
out reason to sign Mr. Knuckles. When Wake gets on a "walk" roll, he rolls,

Wake deserves it. He is the consummate team player

Wakefield hurts the team-he takes up two roster spots and is not a real pitcher-we should develop one of our young guys and get more than 10 wins-this knuckleballer is done and everybody in the league knows it too

Great decision. This guy has been so consistent for the team. I'm so pleased.

Sox bring back Wake.....for what? Batting practice?

I'm glad that the Sox are bringing Wakefield back for another season. He is a real team player - he's one of those players who understands that baseball is about the team and NOT about individuals. And yes, he is in the twilight of his carreer - but when he is on, look out! I'm glad he will end his baseball playing days as a Red Sox!