After 19 seasons in the majors -- 17 of them with the Boston Red Sox -- knuckleballer Tim Wakefield announced his retirement from baseball Friday afternoon.

"This has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do, so it's with a heavy heart that I stand here today," Wakefield said, pausing to regain his composure. "And I'm saddened to say that I have decided to retire from this wonderful game of baseball."

Wakefield's announcement came at a 5 p.m. ET news conference at JetBlue Park, the team's new spring training facility.

"I'm very grateful I've been able to put this uniform on for such a long time and to win two World Series for this great city and I can finally say it's over," the 45-year-old said.


Wakefield walks away with 186 victories with the Red Sox, just six short of the team record shared by Cy Young and Roger Clemens. He recorded his 200th career victory late last season.

Wakefield had said toward the end of last season that he wanted to return for his 18th season with the Red Sox, but as the winter wore on it became clear he was not in Boston's plans.


The team extended him an invitation to spring training but did not guarantee him a roster spot. Had Wakefield accepted, he likely would have competed for the fifth spot in the rotation.

The Red Sox extended a similar invitation to captain Jason Varitek, who has spent the past 15 years with the team. It remains unclear whether the soon-to-be-40-year-old catcher will take them up on the invitation, sign elsewhere or retire. - http://espn.go.com/

CHICAGO (AP)—Four years later, the Chicago White Sox finally signed Kosuke Fukudome—and for a fraction of the price he cost the Cubs.

The outfielder agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract that guarantees $1 million. He will get a $500,000 salary this year, and the White Sox have a $3.5 million option for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout.
Now 34, Fukudome joined the Cubs for the 2008 season with a $48 million, four-year contract.
“We were aggressive,” White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn said. “For reasons that I think he fairly clearly outlined at the time, he decided to go with the opportunity on the North Side over ours.”
With the Cubs, Fukudome could remain in right field. The White Sox had Jermaine Dye in place at the time.
An All-Star in 2008, Fukudome was traded from the Cubs to Cleveland last July 28 for outfielder Abner Abreu and pitcher Carlton Smith. Fukudome hit .262 with eight homers, 27 doubles and 35 RBIs last season. He has a .260 average in the majors with 42 homers and 191 RBIs.
Chicago views Fukudome a left-handed hitter who can play center and right.
“We’re not looking for this guy to come in and completely change his approach,” Hahn said. “We just want him to be the player he’s proven to be over the last four years.” - http://sports.yahoo.com/

NEW YORK -- The wife of New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has filed divorce papers, a day after prosecutors charged a woman with stalking him and extorting money over an extramarital affair.

Her lawyer didn't immediately return a phone message Saturday. A spokesman for Brian Cashman says the family wouldn't have any comment.
On Thursday, 36-year-old Louise Neathway was charged with harassing Cashman and threatening to harm his reputation if he didn't give her thousands of dollars.
Neathway's lawyers deny it and say Cashman turned on her when their relationship ended badly.
A person familiar with the family says Cashman and his wife have been separated and living apart for a year. The person asked not to be named because of the private nature of the matter. - http://espn.go.com/


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