Wake back

RED SOX EXERCISE 2009 CONTRACT OPTION ON RHP TIM WAKEFIELD

BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today exercised the 2009 contract option on righthanded pitcher Tim Wakefield.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein. 

Wakefield posted a 10-11 record and a 4.13 earned run average in 30 starts this season. He ranked second on the staff and third in the American League with a .228 opponents batting average against. The righthander finished second on the club in starts and innings (181.0) and fourth in strikeouts (117).

Wakefield is second in club history with 1,797 career strikeouts, 367 starts and 504 appearances and third with 164 wins and 2,581.2 innings. He is the only Red Sox pitcher ever with at least 500 games and 350 starts in his career and the 23rd hurler in major league history to reach those milestones with the same team. The 42-year-old competed in his 14th season with Boston in 2008, the longest continuous stint as a pitcher in club history."

No surprise there. Good to have him back, in whatever capacity it ends up being.

Fifteenth season. Wow.