BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox exercised their 2008 options on right-handed pitchers Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez on Friday.

Wakefield matched his career high in wins with a 17-12 record but was not on the rosters for the AL division series and World Series because of inflammation behind his right shoulder.

Boston has an annual option to extend his contract for a year at a time for $4 million for as long as it wants.

The knuckleballer had a 4.76 earned run average this year.

In his career, he is 168-146 in 511 games.

He had decisions in each of his first 26 starts last season.

Tavarez, who was not on any of the postseason rosters, began the year as a starter until Jon Lester was ready to be recalled after being treated for cancer in the offseason.

Lester won the fourth game of the World Series in which Boston completed its sweep of Colorado.

In 34 games this season, Tavarez was 7-11 with a 5.15 earned run average.

The Red Sox also announced that catcher Kevin Cash elected free agency and that they had acquired minor league outfielder Sean Danielson from the St. Louis organization to complete a trade for right-hander Joel Pineiro on July 31.

Cash and Doug Mirabelli, who usually caught only when Wakefield pitched, have filed for free agency.

Cash did that after refusing an assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket where he spent most of the season. In 12 games with Boston, he hit .111 with four RBIs.

He was with the Red Sox during the World Series but was not on any postseason roster.

Danielson was assigned to Double-A Portland after spending the season at Single-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield.