FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield feels healthy entering the season. And that’s a big improvement on how he ended last year.

He made his first All-Star team last year in his 17th major- league season. He became the oldest first-time All-Star at 42.

But he struggled with injuries and had four starts after the break, finishing the season 11-5 with a 4.58 ERA. He wasn’t on the postseason roster and had surgery for a herniated disc in his back after the season.

Appearing to be the odd man out, Wakefield stressed patience this spring. His experience told him that not every pitcher makes it through spring training healthy. He was right. Daisuke Matsuzaka has been slowed by back and neck ailments.

“You always want to end spring training healthy and go into the season ready to go,” Wakefield said.

Wakefield, who turns 44 in August, isn’t surprised by how good he feels now.

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“I knew I’d feel this good,” he said. “Not immediately, but I knew I’d feel this good maybe two to three weeks coming into spring training.”

But feeling good isn’t his only objective.

“I know I’m older and close to the end of my career but I also have goals. I want 200 wins.”

Wakefield is 11 wins from 200 for his career. He’s 21 strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career. He has 175 wins for the Red Sox. Cy Young and Roger Clemens hold the team record with 192.

“I’m not going to say it’s the most important thing but it’s important,” he said. “It would be really awesome.”


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