Report: Red Sox, Tim Wakefield Working on Two-Year Deal
Tim Wakefield is near or at the top of every major pitching category in Red Sox history. And it looks like Wakefield will have a chance to become the Red Sox' all-time leader in wins with a new two-year deal, The Boston Globe reports.
After suffering a back injury that kept him sidelined for most of the second half of the season and required offseason surgery, Wakefield and the Red Sox are working on finalizing a deal that will keep the knuckleballer with the club for at least two more years.
Wakefield has been pitching under the regenerating $4 million option, but a restructured deal will prevent the club from investing $4 million into a 43-year-old pitcher who just had disc fragments removed from his back.
According to the Globe, Wakefield's new contract would give him a lower base salary with the chance to earn more money through incentives if he can remain healthy. Last season, Wakefield earned $4 million of base salary and $575,000 through incentives.
Wakefield went 11-5 with a 4.58 ERA in 21 starts for the Red Sox in 2009. He was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his 17-year career.
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About the Author
Neil Keefe is a member of NESN's new media team. A native of Guilford, Conn., Keefe graduated from Suffolk University in Boston, Mass. with a degree in journalism. Prior to working for NESN, he worked for 890 ESPN Radio Boston, the New Haven Register, the Boston Herald and COX Radio.