Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports that Tim Wakefield has decided to retire. He'll officially announce his retirement at a press conference later Friday. Wakefield, 45, played 19 major league seasons and retires with an even 200 wins to go along with a 4.41 ERA and 1.35 WHIP for the Pirates and Red Sox. He wanted to return to the Sox for a 20th season, but they weren't willing to offer him a deal and the knuckleballer has decided to hang up his cleats rather than accept a minor league deal elsewhere.

Tim Wakefield's agent, Barry Meister, told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald on Thursday that the knuckleballer will make a decision within the next few days whether he'll continue his playing career in 2012. "We're discussing the options - and he has some options - and over the next few days, we're going to try to figure it out," said Meister. "These next few days is just a period of introspection, where he's trying to decide what to do, whether to play, who to play for." Wakefield has made it clear that he would like to pitch one more season in Boston, but it doesn't appear as though the interest is mutual. Meister said Wednesday that his client hasn't ruled anything out, including possibly accepting a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The 45-year-old compiled a 5.12 ERA and 93/47 K/BB ratio over 154 2/3 innings last year.

Tim Wakefield told John Torres of FloridaToday.com that retirement is "something that my wife and I need to talk about." "I just saw that (Jorge) Posada retired, you know it's something that my wife and I need to talk about," Wakefield said. "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." It seems like the 45-year-old will only continue playing if the Red Sox give him the opportunity, and at this point it doesn't appear that the team is super anxious to bring him back. Wakefield posted a 5.12 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 93/47 K/BB ratio in 154 2/3 innings last season.

Tim Wakefield recently told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe that he has a "strong desire to pitch one more year for the Red Sox." Wakefield wouldn't rule out a move to the National League, but made it clear that he wants to finish his career with Boston. Considering he's the oldest player in baseball and has a 5.22 ERA over the past two seasons, the interest isn't likely to be mutual. General manager Ben Cherington has been noncommittal when discussing the situation, saying only that the team ''owed it to him to explain exactly what role he could fill next season.''

Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that Tim Wakefield intends to continue his playing career in 2012. The 45-year-old knuckleballer reached the 200-win plateau in 2011 but had a horrendous season, posting a 5.12 ERA over 33 games -- 23 starts. He might have to settle for a non-guaranteed, minor league deal and hope to catch on as a swingman.

Tim Wakefield was horrid again Sunday, giving up five runs -- three earned -- on five hits and five walks over just four innings in a loss to the Yankees. He struck out four and served up a longball to Jorge Posada. Wakefield may have reached the 200-win plateau this season, but he's had an atrocious year, posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 154 2/3 innings. He failed to deliver a quality start in his last nine outings. The knuckleballer will be a free agent this offseason, and it might be time for the 45-year-old to hang it up.

The Red Sox will start Tim Wakefield in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Yankees and John Lackey in the second game. It's what we figured. Lackey was already slotted into one of Sunday's games, and with Friday's rainout, Wakefield is simply pushed back a day. They'll be opposed by A.J. Burnett and Ivan Nova, though it's not clear which Yankees hurler will start which game.

Tim Wakefield's knuckleball failed to knuckle again Sunday, as the Rays touched him up for six runs - four earned - on six hits and a walk over five innings. He likely would have been removed from the game sooner if the Red Sox hadn't needed innings with a doubleheader coming up Monday. Wakefield has now gone eight outings without posting a quality start, watching his ERA go up to 5.20. He's certainly pitched his way into a long relief role for the postseason despite the Red Sox' injury issues in the rotation. The 45-year-old will get the Yankees next weekend.

The Red Sox will skip Tim Wakefield in the starting rotation this week. Andrew Miller, Erik Bedard and John Lackey will start this weekend against the Rangers. Wakefield's quest for 200 wins will have to wait until next week against the Blue Jays.

Tim Wakefield made it 0-for-6 on attempts to pick up his 200th career victory on Friday, allowing eight runs (four earned) on eight hits in four innings of a 15-5 Red Sox loss to the A's. Wakefield got knocked around this evening, allowing two home runs and three doubles. The owner of a 4.97 ERA in 38 innings across six starts since notching career win No. 199 on July 24, Wakefield will get the Yankees at home his next time out.