Tim Wakefield has agreed to a two-year deal with the Red Sox for a total of $5 million. Wakefield will be paid $3.5 in 2010 and $1.5 in 2011 (with more incentives in the second year).
Tony Massarotti reported that the Sox had "some concerns about exercising the regenerating, $4 million option ... in the wake of surgery to remove disc fragments" from Wakefield's back.
I'm assuming the $5 million is guaranteed. That way, Wakefield gets a bit more dough in case age/injuries limit him to pitching only in 2010 and team gets a discount if Wakefield is able to pitch in 2011. If it's not guaranteed, I'm not sure why Wakefield would agree to a lower salary in 2010, if it could possibly be his final season. I doubt the Red Sox would decline the option over a half-million dollars.
The team picked up the $7.1 option on Victor Martinez, but declined $6 option on Alex Gonzalez. No public decision has been made re Jason Varitek.
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Here is a transcript of an exchange on the NPR's News Quiz Show "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me", from this past weekend.
( Sorry no link, I did this myself
Peter Sagal (host): Here is a quote........
Karl Cassell (scorer, co-host): "you can call us anything you want but you also have to call us world champions"
Peter Sagal : That is a person by javascript:void(0)name Brian Cashman , who was laughing off criticisms of the team he runs. What team is it?
Contestant : The New York Yankees ?
Peter Sagal :yes, the Yankees, won their........ (huge boos from audience)......27th championship. But that pales next to the fact that their general manager just gave permission to call them anything we want we want. so we worked on that. How about....
Karl Cassell : a group of wildly overpaid egotistical mercenaries whose pinstripes are actually artfully lined up steroid needles sewn into their uniforms (laughs.)
Mo Rocaa (panelist): sounds very practical
Peter Sagal : That one or...
Karl Cassell : Those bastards! .........( laughs)
Peter Sagal: Anybody else ?
Adam Felber(panelist) I,.. I as a lifelong yankee fan got nothing to say.
Peter Sagal: The world series was seen as redemption for Alex Rodriguez. He is the highest paid player in the history of US sports and historically has choked on big occasions , but not this time.
Because of the attention on him we heard some great things about him. for example, an ex-girlfriend told US weekly that he has not one but two paintings of himself as a Centaur in his bedroom.
Why does he need two paintings of himself?
Because in one of them he is the horse's front................(very loud laughter)
Mo Rocca(Panelist): so ,is he a switch hitter?
PS: apparently !, He does both sides.
(laughter........)
Alex Speier of WEEI.com has the details of Tim Wakefield's contract:
Base salary: $3.5m in 2010; $1.5m in 2011.
Bonuses in 2010: $50,000 each for starts 11-15; $75,000 each for starts 16-25; $100,000 each for starts 26-30. Maximum: $5 million.
Escalator clause for 2011 base salary: Throwing 130 innings would add $500,000. Throwing 160 innings would add $2 million.
Bonuses in 2011 if base salary is $1.5 million: $100,000 each for starts 11-15; $200,000 each for starts 16-25; $250,000 each for starts 26-30. Maximum: $5.25 million.
Bonuses for 2011 if base salary is $2 million: $75,000 each for starts 11-15; $150,000 each for starts 16-20; $200,000 each for starts 21-30. Maximum: $5.125 million.
Bonuses for 2011 if base salary is $3.5 million: $50,000 each for starts 11-15; $75,000 each for starts 16-25; $100,000 each for starts 26-30. Maximum: $5 million.
Wake: "I'm done after two more. That'll put me at 45."
Wakefield has 175 wins with the Red Sox, 18 away from breaking the franchise record held by Roger Clemens and Cy Young.
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