Tim Wakefield Mulling Retirement
By Editorial Staff
Free agent starting pitcher Tim Wakefield told John A. Torres of Floridatoday.com that, without a contract for the 2012 season, he’s considering retirement. Though Wakefield would like to suit up for the Boston Red Sox for another season, he told Torres that retirement is something he’ll have to discuss with his family. 2012 would be the 45-year-old’s 20th season in the majors.
Wakefield was able to notch his 200th victory last season, but he’s hoping he doesn’t have to stop there. The knuckle-baller told Torres that he believes he can still be a “valuable asset” to the Red Sox or other major league clubs. Though he’d prefer to remain in Boston, Wakefield said, at this point, he’s keeping his options open.
The veteran right-hander has a career ERA and WHIP of 4.41 and 1.350. After maintaining season ERA’s in the 4.00’s for much of the past decade, Wakefield has seen that number inflate to the 5.00 range in 2010-11. Last season Wakefield finished the year with an ERA of 5.12 over his 154 2/3 innings pitched.
Viewing himself as “an insurance policy”, Wakefield said he’d be willing to slide into a fifth or sixth starter role or someone that can step in if another pitcher becomes injured or struggles. Wakefield acknowledges that this has basically been his role for the past two years in Boston and that he doesn’t have a problem continuing to do that.
Wakefield noted that “there have been a number of clubs” that have called him. These teams have expressed interest in signing the veteran free agent, but Wakefield said he is simply weighing his options.
Unfortunately for Wakefield, time is running out. You can tell from the comments that Wakefield is waiting on the Red Sox to make him an offer. However, with pitchers and catchers set to report in less than a month, Wakefield may have to decide whether he wants to pitch elsewhere in 2012 or not at all.