Tim Wakefield Says Other Teams Have Expressed Interest, But Wants to Pitch One More Year in Boston

Tim Wakefield's role with the Red Sox has been a bit undefined in recent years, although the knuckleballer always seems to find himself in the thick of things once the season grows older. That unpredictability is apparent once again this offseason.

It's still unclear whether Wakefield will return to the Red Sox for another season, but the 45-year-old said he hopes he gets an opportunity to do so.

"I just saw that [Jorge] Posada retired, you know it's something that my wife and I need to talk about," Wakefield told FloridaToday.com. "I'd probably need to talk about it with my kids, too. Ultimately, I would like to obviously play for the Boston Red Sox for one more year and see where it goes."

Wakefield has bounced around between the rotation and bullpen recently, serving in whatever the role the Red Sox need him in most. It's something he's become accustomed to doing throughout his lengthy tenure in Boston, and he'd be more than happy to continue pitching in such a capacity.

"There have been a number of clubs who have called, who have an interest in signing me but I'm kind of just weighing my options right now," he reportedly said. "I think I can be a valuable asset to [the Red Sox] as an insurance policy, you know a fifth or sixth starter or if something doesn't pan out for some of the guys they have already penciled in to the rotation. You know that's kind of been my job these last two years — I don't have a problem doing that."

Wakefield has spent the past 17 seasons in a Red Sox uniform after spending his first two seasons with the Pirates in 1992 and 1993. He's picked up 200 wins in his career — 186 of which have come with Boston.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said earlier this offseason that he couldn't imagine Wakefield and catcher Jason Varitek competing for jobs with Boston this season, but Wakefield reportedly told Valentine that he hopes to play for him in 2012.

For now, though, the knuckleballer is continuing to weigh his options. If he's learned anything throughout his career, it's that you never know what the future will hold.

"Hopefully, it doesn't come down to the last hour," Wakefield said. "But I'm not closing any doors."