Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield plans to pitch next season. He underwent surgery on Wednesday to address a herniated disk. "I still feel like I can contribute, I still feel like I can compete at the highest level," Wakefield said in a conference call. "I'm going to continue to play as long as my body lets me and as long as the Red Sox will have me around." The Red Sox hold a $4 million option for 2010 on Wakefield, who said that not returning for a 16th season in Boston "never crossed my mind".