What does Kerry Wood have to do to stay with the Cubs?

[Rusch33]

Win 15 games?

Stay healthy?

 

 

So do you think Wood is gone like dust in the wind after the season?

 

Just curious to get your opinions on this matter.

[srbin84]

I think he'll be let go, but I'd say he'd need to do something like this to get a good contract offer from us:

 

25 GS 16-5 2.80 ERA

[Omar]

Not so much the wins... Because we all know he doesnt get the best run support around... I'll have to say, he'll have to strike out 2/3 of the batters.

[Rob]

Personally, I don't see any way that it happens.

 

It's a 13.5 million dollar mutual option for next season.

 

If he pitches well enough that the Cubs would want to exercise it, he could make more on the market.

 

If he doesn't pitch so well that he could do better on the market, the Cubs wont want to pick up the option.

 

Seems kinda hopeless to me unless Kerry really loves the Cubs more than money. But since his agent isn't Boras, I guess there's a chance of that.

[Jon]

If Maddux and Rusch (hopefully) are both out of the rotation next season and Kerry is healthy pretty much from the time he returns, I don't see them passing on the option. I also don't see talks about a possible contract extension if that's the case until after 2007.

[Jon]

Personally, I don't see any way that it happens.

 

It's a 13.5 million dollar mutual option for next season.

 

If he pitches well enough that the Cubs would want to exercise it, he could make more on the market.

 

If he doesn't pitch so well that he could do better on the market, the Cubs wont want to pick up the option.

 

Seems kinda hopeless to me unless Kerry really loves the Cubs more than money. But since his agent isn't Boras, I guess there's a chance of that.

On the other hand, if he makes $13.5 million in 2007 and is healthy, he could be in line for a much bigger payday. And I still believe he has a strong desire to stay in Chicago. His kid will be less than a year old and it would be tough for them to move away from his wife's family.

 

 

It's a $3 million buyout, by the way. If you take that into account, it's "only" an extra $10.5 million for the Cubs.

[Rob]

Personally, I don't see any way that it happens.

 

It's a 13.5 million dollar mutual option for next season.

 

If he pitches well enough that the Cubs would want to exercise it, he could make more on the market.

 

If he doesn't pitch so well that he could do better on the market, the Cubs wont want to pick up the option.

 

Seems kinda hopeless to me unless Kerry really loves the Cubs more than money. But since his agent isn't Boras, I guess there's a chance of that.

On the other hand, if he makes $13.5 million in 2007 and is healthy, he could be in line for a much bigger payday. And I still believe he has a strong desire to stay in Chicago. His kid will be less than a year old and it would be tough for them to move away from his wife's family.

 

 

It's a $3 million buyout, by the way. If you take that into account, it's "only" an extra $10.5 million for the Cubs.

 

Yeah, I realize all of that, but I'm still just cynical I guess. It seems like everybody is following Gary Sheffield's mercenary system nowadays.

 

I miss guys like Barry Larkin and Tony Gwynn...

[ltb]

i think the option gets declined regardless of how he performs this year.

 

however, if he's healthy, i think he'll get a decent contract offer from the cubs. i really hope he is healthy and is given a chance to stay.

[Andy]

I think the Cubs decline the option unless he absolutely tears up the universe once he comes back. Whether he ends up actually coming back? Who knows. My gut feeling is that if he pitches well enough so that the Cubs will want to make him an offer, he'll have pitched well enough that some pitching-starved club will hideously overpay for him and we'll lose him.

[A New Era]

My gut feeling is that if he pitches well enough so that the Cubs will want to make him an offer, he'll have pitched well enough that some pitching-starved club will hideously overpay for him and we'll lose him.

 

Like US?

[Elrhino]

I think he's going back home to be a Texas Ranger next year. They both need each other.

[A New Era]

I think he's going back home to be a Texas Ranger next year. They both need each other.

 

Just as long as Marshall or Guzman steps up, and we sign someone like Zito. I won't mind.

 

(just an example)

 

Zambrano

Zito

Marshall/Guzman

Miller -or- Prior

Williams or equivilant

 

I won't miss him, the less injury risks in our pitching the better.

[texascub]

I think he's going back home to be a Texas Ranger next year. They both need each other.

 

He's already said that he doesn't want to go to an AL team. Maybe he'd go to the Diamondbacks, but I honestly can't see him leaving Chicago.

[Outshined_One]

If he goes more than 180 IP this season with minimal DL stints, I think the Cubs will consider picking up his option.

 

The odds are that the Cubs decline his option, but make a run at signing him to a reasonable deal. If he'd be open to becoming a reliever, I think the Cubs would make a harder run at him. He'd get more money as a starter, but as a reliever I could see him getting a really nice deal.

[badger1679666666]

In the most heterosexual way possible.....

 

I LOVE Kerry Wood.

[XZero771679666304]

IMO, Wood's contract will be bought out, and he will be re-signed to a low-base, high incentive contract.

[RynoRules]

My answer to the title of this thread:

 

Think Suttcliffe in 84'.

 

In other words, he needs to picth so out of his mind such that management will fear a march on the Tower if they let them him go. We have several young arms waiting to take his spot (Marshall, Guz, Ryu, etc.), and Prior's walk year will be here before we know it.

 

My prediction is that our rotation will look something like this next year:

 

Z

Prior

Marshall

Guzman

Williams or Vet FA Pitcher

[Cubfanintheknow]

IMO, Wood's contract will be bought out, and he will be re-signed to a low-base, high incentive contract.

 

I'm with you. I think the Cubs and Wood agree to throw out that option year and re-negotiate a new deal. But this only happens if Wood stays healthy after his return. Anything less and he's gone.

[RynoRules]

IMO, Wood's contract will be bought out, and he will be re-signed to a low-base, high incentive contract.

 

I'm with you. I think the Cubs and Wood agree to throw out that option year and re-negotiate a new deal. But this only happens if Wood stays healthy after his return. Anything less and he's gone.

 

I see absolutely no point in doing this unless he has makes a minimum 15 starts during which he pitches well above avg. Look, I know we all love Woody, but if he can't be relied on it makes no sense to bring him back. Freeing up 13 mill (or 12 or whatever he makes) so that we could sign another big bat would go a long way towards improving this team.

[XZero771679666304]

IMO, Wood's contract will be bought out, and he will be re-signed to a low-base, high incentive contract.

 

I'm with you. I think the Cubs and Wood agree to throw out that option year and re-negotiate a new deal. But this only happens if Wood stays healthy after his return. Anything less and he's gone.

 

I see absolutely no point in doing this unless he has makes a minimum 15 starts during which he pitches well above avg. Look, I know we all love Woody, but if he can't be relied on it makes no sense to bring him back. Freeing up 13 mill (or 12 or whatever he makes) so that we could sign another big bat would go a long way towards improving this team.

 

I wasn't saying he will make 10+ million next year, but I would be shocked if he isn't still a Cub in 2007. I think they'll buy ouy his option and sign him to a low base, high incentive deal. The market isn't going to be too hot for him after three injury-shortened years. I also think they will sign another starter so there isn't so much riding on Kerry.

[Wheelimus]

I think he comes back. They'll negotiate a lower base salary with incentives that would push him up to the $13.5 million if he stays healthy.

[JWD]

I think he comes back. They'll negotiate a lower base salary with incentives that would push him up to the $13.5 million if he stays healthy.

 

Kerry Wood won't be taking a pay cut as long as;

 

a. Some other team will be willing to pay him more guaranteed.

b. (more importantly) Scott Boras is his agent.

[Wheelimus]

I think he comes back. They'll negotiate a lower base salary with incentives that would push him up to the $13.5 million if he stays healthy.

 

Kerry Wood won't be taking a pay cut as long as;

 

a. Some other team will be willing to pay him more guaranteed.

b. (more importantly) Scott Boras is his agent.

 

All depends on how much he wants to stay with the club and stay in Chicago. And as for B, maybe Z can convince him to do what he did if he thinks that's going to keep the club from wanting to talk :D

[David]

I think he comes back. They'll negotiate a lower base salary with incentives that would push him up to the $13.5 million if he stays healthy.

 

Kerry Wood won't be taking a pay cut as long as;

 

a. Some other team will be willing to pay him more guaranteed.

b. (more importantly) Scott Boras is his agent.

 

Scott Boras is his agent?

[XZero771679666304]

I think he comes back. They'll negotiate a lower base salary with incentives that would push him up to the $13.5 million if he stays healthy.

 

Kerry Wood won't be taking a pay cut as long as;

 

a. Some other team will be willing to pay him more guaranteed.

b. (more importantly) Scott Boras is his agent.

 

Scott Boras is his agent?

 

Not that I'm aware of.

 

I thought the Hendricks brothers represented Kerry.