Apparently deciding that Tim Wakefield’s unique perpetual option (what I call a “gentleman’s option”) was no longer viable, the team has signed the ancient knuckleballer to a base of $5 million over two years.  It’s an edible incentive-laden contract, just in case Wakefield can no longer pitch.  If his chronic back problems become a career-ending issue, the $5 million is essentially a giant gold watch for an underappreciated legend.

As of right now, Wakefield is the default name in the #5 spot of the rotation, but with talks of the team pursuing Roy Halladay, John Lackey, Rich Harden, Felix Hernandez, among others, it’s clear that they would prefer not counting on him to make 20-25 starts in 2010.

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