Wakefield's future

[Dojji]

I'm not sure if this is the right time to ask the question, but I'm not sure we'll get a different answer for most of us when it IS the right time

 

Wakefield's health has finally caught up with him this year, and he's been struggling with his back for each of the last 3. His perpetual option and pitch of choice suggest that his effectiveness shouldn't suffer if he can play enough next year and get into a rhythm and he might be an option in the pen. The point though, is that you can no longer count on him for 180 innings a season and that robs him of a lot of his value.

 

personally I think that as cheap as he is right now I'd bring him back but I'm not sure it's a slam dunk anymore. So... yeah. Thread.

 

Thoughts?

[CrespoBlows]

He cost $4 million, and gives us about 120 - 180 IP of league average pitching. I think this is a no-brainer. He is a good swingman to have.

[MANNYHOF24]

He cost $4 million' date=' and gives us about 120 - 180 IP of league average pitching. I think this is a no-brainer. He is a good swingman to have.[/quote']

 

This is true, but I bet he retires after this season.

[Cocos Disciples]

What CB said. He's a great value, keep him.

[Quinny]

keep him. Still a good end of the rotation guy who is cheap

[italstallianion]

I definitely think he deserves another year. He may not put up great numbers, but he'll only cost $4 million, he'll go deep into games (within starts) and he usually gives our offense a chance to win. He's definitely worth the money and can contribute something to the team. We could use the depth options.

[Christian Snyder]

Keep him... He doesn't cost much and is a good pitcher.

[Dipre]

Second-half start from here on out.

[SoxSport]

Tough call. He'll be good when he's 50, as long as he's healthy. But he clearly can't be counted on anymore for a full season. Is such a pitcher worth a roster spot? I don't know. If he can pitch the way he did this year in April and May, he's worth keeping for half a season. How they can finagle that is hard to figure.

 

By the way, Wake costs $4mil, but he only pitches for about half a season these days. That makes his effective salary higher--closer to $8 mil.

[RWTP24]

He will be fine.

[Dipre]

Tough call. He'll be good when he's 50, as long as he's healthy. But he clearly can't be counted on anymore for a full season. Is such a pitcher worth a roster spot? I don't know. If he can pitch the way he did this year in April and May, he's worth keeping for half a season. How they can finagle that is hard to figure.

 

By the way, Wake costs $4mil, but he only pitches for about half a season these days. That makes his effective salary higher--closer to $8 mil.

 

No.

 

He costs $4 million in nominal salary.

 

Why try to complicate the simple?

[BSN07]

I think he semi retires. Then comes back in the 2nd half of next season.

[TheKilo]

No.

 

He costs $4 million in nominal salary.

 

Why try to complicate the simple?

 

No, he has a point. The Sox were expecting to get ~180 innings for $4 million and they're going to get 130 or so.

 

I'd like to see them move on from Wakefield this offseason, to be honest. This is what, four seasons in a row he's gotten hurt post-ASB?

 

He has traditionally been terrible when coming back from these injuries as well. Just don't think it's worth it.

[Dipre]

No, he has a point. The Sox were expecting to get ~180 innings for $4 million and they're going to get 130 or so.

 

I'd like to see them move on from Wakefield this offseason, to be honest. This is what, four seasons in a row he's gotten hurt post-ASB?

 

He has traditionally been terrible when coming back from these injuries as well. Just don't think it's worth it.

 

We paid 10 miilions for less than 150 innings of SUCK from Penny and Smoltz.

[jsc1973]

We paid 10 miilions for less than 150 innings of SUCK from Penny and Smoltz.

 

You forgot about the innings of suck from Dice-K, who is even more expensive...

 

But you hit it on the nose. If the Red Sox can pay that kind of money for pitchers who stunk and had to be released, then $4 million for 120 innings of slightly above league average pitching from Tim Wakefield is a steal. Heck, there are Red Sox fans who want Theo to chase after Rich Harden in the off-season, who will get three times that much for anywhere from zero to 150 innings of slightly above league average pitching next season, but who seems to impress people because he throws 96 on those rare occasions when his arm isn't sore.

 

The way Wakefield's contract is structured makes allowances for these things. He gets an extra $50,000 for every start between 11 and 20, and an extra $75,000 for starts over 20, and $50,000 for an All-Star selection. I would add that in spite of this, he has on more than one occasion (not just the '04 ALCS) voluntarily given up a start to help the bullpen.

 

This is a no-brainer. You keep renewing that contract until Tim Wakefield decides he doesn't want to play anymore.

[BSN07]

No, he has a point. The Sox were expecting to get ~180 innings for $4 million and they're going to get 130 or so.

 

I'd like to see them move on from Wakefield this offseason, to be honest. This is what, four seasons in a row he's gotten hurt post-ASB?

 

He has traditionally been terrible when coming back from these injuries as well. Just don't think it's worth it.

 

You make some valid points.

 

BTW love the avatar, one of my favorite movies:thumbsup:

[SoxSport]

We paid 10 miilions for less than 150 innings of SUCK from Penny and Smoltz.

 

Yeah--very true. Wake looks like a bargain at $4mil compared to Theo's discount gambles.

He earned his salary this year, even if he doesn't pitch another inning.

 

The other guys really hurt because they were trotted out there time and again to get bombed--when everybody knew they were going to get bombed. Those last starts against NY should never have happened, in my view, and may have cost the Red Sox the Division title. They let the Yankees create too much distance.

[jacksonianmarch]

I think the sox are content to enter 2010 with 3 rotation slots set (Beckett, Buchholz, Lester) and might look outside the organization for a 4th, while leaving the 5th slot open for DiceK and the kids. I bet the sox would love to have Wakefield back, but I have a feeling he is gonna hang it up this offseason. His back has acted up before, but once it starts acting up to the point where you lose strength in your lower extremities, it is usually enough of a scare to make even the most diehard baseball player want to give it up.

[SoxSport]

If Buchholz becomes a top starter, it will be a real feather in Epstein's cap. He resisted trading that kid, and Clay owes it to him to deliver.

[Mr Crunchy]

Wake is a bargain at 4 Mil, we'd pay 4M to anyone who'd win 11 games in half season.

We need him to be effective or at least eat some innings so our pen isnt toasted before October.

[WhiskeyBreath]

He will be back unless he decides it's time to hang em up.

 

The $4mill option is a no brainer.