Durable Wakefield is here for duration

Yesterday Wakefield got his "reward" in the form of a one-year contract extension that includes club options from here to eternity. It's an odd little agreement in this day and age. The deal presumes that Wakefield will finish his career with the Red Sox, which would be a very nice thing, but it also smacks of the old reserve clause that Curt Flood fought so hard to eliminate. Basically, the Sox have Wakefield forever, but they can let him go any time they want. Not even Bill Belichick could sell this to one of his robotic gladiators.

There's always been something a little boring about Wakefield. He doesn't say a lot of interesting things and almost never makes news off the field. He throws a trick pitch that could keep him in the big leagues into his mid 40s (Wakefield is 38), but he's never said or done anything to bring attention to himself.

We've had a few athletes like this in our town. If Wakefield were a Patriot, he'd be Steve Grogan. Tough guy. Team guy. Man's man. If Wakefield were a Celtic, he'd be Tom "Satch" Sanders. Quiet. Dignified. Defensive whiz. If he were a Bruin, he'd be Don Sweeney. Steady. Dull. Sidekick to the superstars.

Announcing the signing, general manager Theo Epstein said, "It's a great day for the organization to be able to retain somebody who represents so much of what we want to stand for and somebody who brings honor to the Red Sox uniform."

That's a mouthful. And it's all true. The Sox want a guy like Wakefield to be the face of the organization. Three reasons: pitching, personality, and priorities.