Player News
38-year-old veteran Billy Wagner (385 career saves), knowing Boston will not pick up his services next year has a big decision to make: retire or close again for another team for a chance to join the elite 400-save club. According to the New York Post yesterday, he is considering calling it a career but will talk with his agent (Bean Stringfellow) and family first. Consequently, the BoSox will be left with only one veteran lefty reliever, Hideki Okajima. They will surely need a second one for 2010 and beyond in order to sure up the bullpen.
In a bit of good news, Tim Wakefield (11-5) will have surgery to take care of a “loose fragment” in his lower back that has bothered him since July and caused weakness in his left leg. He will be ready for Spring Training next year and by then, as long as there are no complications, GM Theo Epstein will likely have picked up a $4 million option on Wake, just as he’s done in the previous three years.
Note: Dead Red columns will no longer be weekly but instead be intermittent throughout the off-season. They should start up again during next month’s free agency period – or when there’s news regarding Jason Bay’s future in Boston. Til then, enjoy the rest of the postseason!
Article comments
1 - Tony
Nice to see things back to normal. The Yankees finish 8 games ahead of Boston, the Red Sox big players falling apart in the most important situations, and Papelbon with that stupid little scowl on his face.
Every time they showed him with those pursed little lips, glaring in like a parody of Dave Stewart, I just kept thinking about him telling the world about how he, no Rivera, should be closing the All Star game.
In Beckett's defense didn't have like five cortizone shots in his back before the series started?
2 - Tony
By the way Charlie, you've done an excellent job with this column all season. Most Red Sox fans are so insufferable arrogant and annoying but you are none of these things. Really great work.
I don't know what a compliment from me really means, but its given none the less.
3 - Charlie Doherty
First of all, I'll take compliments where I can. Second, I truly do appreciate your kind words and compliments Tony. Being a die-hard Yankee fan, you don't have to read a die-hard Red Sox fan's column like mine but you do.
If I'm writing well enough that Yankee fans care to read my material, I must be doing something right.
So cheers to you, Tony (but not the Yankees, whom I'd love to see lose their third World Series of the decade :)
And to those of you out there who have read DEAD RED over the last 4 1/2 months, thanks to you as well.