Posted by Alex Speier

Though a rumor has circulated in major-league circles that Tim Wakefield is dealing with shoulder problems that may lead him to contemplate retirement, it appears that the notion is unfounded. The 42-year-old’s shoulder shows normal wear, but otherwise, his end of year medical examination–performed before the Red Sox decided to pick up his option for next season–was virtually identical to the one at the end of the previous season, and from a medical standpoint, there is no known reason to expect that he cannot match his 2008 contributions next season. Wakefield went 10-11 with a 4.13 ERA in 181 innings during the regular season, before going 0-1 with a 16.88 ERA in his lone postseason appearance.