Report: Tim Wakefield To Announce Retirement At Red Sox Camp

Tim Wakefield had hoped to continue his major league career in 2012; ideally with the Red Sox, but perhaps with another team. However, via tweet from Red Sox beat writer Pete Abraham, we learn that the 45-year-old's career is over:

Wakefield will announce his retirement at 5 p.m. at Fort Myers.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) February 17, 2012

Wakefield pitched 17 seasons for the Red Sox after making his major league debut in 1992 with the Pirates and pitching for Pittsburgh in the NLCS that year. For Boston, he won 186 games, third in franchise history behind Cy Young and Roger Clemens, who both won 192 for the club.

Wakefield, who relied largely on his knuckleball, pitched in eight postseasons for the Red Sox and was a key contributor for both their 2004 and 2007 World Series title teams; he even filled in as closer for a brief period of the 1999 season. He finishes his major league career with exactly 200 wins, a 4.41 ERA, 33 complete games and 32 Wins Above Replacement.