Boston Red Sox: Andrew Miller Signing May End Tim Wakefield's Time in Boston

The news that left-handed pitcher Andrew Miller has re-signed with the Red Sox is not encouraging for Tim Wakefield, the oldest active player in the majors (he turned 45-years-old back on Aug. 2), and the longest-tenured Red Sox ballplayer. He wants to return to Boston for an 18th season.

Miller was a non-tender candidate whose future would have been uncertain had he been unsigned by the December 12 deadline. The fact that the Red Sox did bring Miller back on a Major League deal leaves one fewer slots for Wakefield.

Indications are that the big southpaw will be viewed as a spot starter and a long man out of the bullpen, exactly what most perceived Wakefield's role would be if he returned.

On December 3, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe quoted Wakefield as saying, “I have a strong desire to pitch one more year for the Red Sox.” 

The problem is that his once-fearsome knuckleball has lost much of its flutter, and American League batters are getting more familiar with his stuff—at least as familiar as a batter can ever get with such an unpredictable pitch.

Complementing his 65 mph knuckleball is a 73 mph fastball (he has usually led the league in slowest average fastball). and a curveball that usually chugs up to the plate at less than 60 mph.

After the 2011 season, Wakefield is the Red Sox career leader in innings pitched and nine other pitching categories–some good, some bad. 

He is also second in games pitched (behind Bob Stanley) and also second in strikeouts to Roger Clemens. He is third in wins, six behind Clemens and Cy Young.

But from a baseball and a business perspective, it may not make sense for the Red Sox to bring him back.

This past season, Wakefield was not a clutch performer. With two outs and runners in scoring position, batters hit .306 against him. In "late and close" situations, batters hit .417 against him. He also posted a second-half ERA of 5.55.

The added stress on the catching staff of corralling his knuckleball (which is clearly not as effective as it used to be) may simply no longer be worth it.

Miller was the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft (Tigers), but he has frustrated every manager and pitching coach he has worked with since. Despite enormous potential, the hard-throwing left-hander has had problems with his mechanics and command at every level.

In six seasons, he has walked 215 batters, or about one of every eight he has faced.

In 2007, the Tigers traded him to the Marlins as part of the Miguel Cabrera/Dontrelle Willis deal.

The Red Sox acquired him as a reclamation project in December 2010. Lurking in the back of everyone’s minds, however, is the belief that he has the potential to be a lights-out reliever if he could throw strikes.

He went 6-3 with a 5.54 ERA in 17 appearances for the Red Sox in 2011. He did have a 45.4% ground ball rate in 65 innings. 

Miller is arbitration eligible, and many questioned whether or not he was worth the $1.5 million or so he was reportedly seeking.

According to  WEEI's Alex Speier, Miller received a non-guaranteed Major League deal worth $1.04 million.

Is there room for both Miller and Wakefield?

I don't think so. While Wake has his storied history, Miller has the upside. He is younger, arguably more talented and could be one of the best in the game if he could get it together.

Wakefield also lost me (and perhaps some of you) with his untimely statement that he should be kept around so that the fans could see him become the winningest pitcher in Red Sox history. I don’t think those fans want to watch the Red Sox lose a dozen extra games trying to achieve that milestone!

It is quite possible that Wakefield could play a year for another team, however, especially in the National League. According to Sean McAdam on ComcastSports Network, Wakefield's agent Barry Meister has done some research. "Knuckleball pitchers that have changed leagues from the American League to the National League, I think it's 13 out of 15 in the last 40 years have lowered their earned run average by a run and a quarter or more," said Meister.

"It's a huge difference, as the league takes a year to adjust. I have no doubt, if that's what he ends up doing, he'll have a geometric success because they'll be seeing a pitch they haven't seen before."

McAdam adds that New York Mets hurler R.A. Dickey also throws a knuckleball, but not as often and at a different speed than does Wakefield.