Wood: No surgury; Wants to return next year as a reliever

[UMFan83]

According to this article, Wood's days as a starter may be over at least temporarily. He spoke after the game today:

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-060802cubs,1,2809011.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

What a sad fall from grace.

 

Hopefully he can prosper.

[otis89]

Can you imagine Kerry Wood the closer? That would be nasty.

[texascub]

I think it's great that he's finally embracing the reliever role. I wouldn't expect something Smoltz-like from him but with his stuff in the late innings it could be nasty for opponents.

[Laura]

Good luck, Kerry.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Sounds like he definitely wants to return to the Cubs. I think Hendry will get something worked out to bring him back cheaply next year, maybe with an option for 2008.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, my guess is Hendry and Wood's people will sit down soon and discuss an extension. Depending on how accomodating Wood wants to be, something might happen.

[Jon]

At what cost, though? He has a $3 million buyout for next season. Hendry can't afford to spend much more on the bullpen. Heck, he probably can't afford to spend anything on the bullpen next season.

 

I don't want to see him go, though.

[cubsjunky95]

Can you imagine Kerry Wood the closer? That would be nasty.

 

Yeah but like every one says will he be able to pitch 3 maybe 4 nights in a row and will he be able to warm up in the bullpen quick enough. I've heard it takes him a long time to warm up. If he can do those to things he would be an awesome set-up man for Demp.

[jtownie]

Can you imagine Kerry Wood the closer? That would be nasty.

 

Yeah but like every one says will he be able to pitch 3 maybe 4 nights in a row and will he be able to warm up in the bullpen quick enough. I've heard it takes him a long time to warm up. If he can do those to things he would be an awesome set-up man for Demp.

 

Or Demp would be an awesome set-up man for him. Depending on the cost I see no reason not to take a chance. Hendry's MO has always been that you can never have enough pitching and this is a high-risk/high-reward scenario. In fact it might not be high-risk if he signs a very heavily incentive-laden contract.

 

I think the reason it took him so long to get warm this year was that he was recovering from surgery and this winter he can condition himself into more of a reliever role than starter.

[Flames24Rulz]

I've been on the Wood for closer bandwgn ever since this latest setback...glad to see that he wants to go to the pen next season. Can you imagine a pen with Wood as the closer, and with Dempster/Eyre/Howry as the setup men? That's a pretty sweet looking pen.

[WindyCity]

I really hope Hendry and Wood's agent can come up with a creative deal to keep in a Cubs uniform. I've always liked Kerry and I want to see him succeed again and hopefully that success is with the Cubs.

[CubsBullsBears]

One problem: Hendry will rely on Kid Rx, he'll be injured and we'll be screwed in the pen.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

One problem: Hendry will rely on Kid Rx, he'll be injured and we'll be screwed in the pen.

 

Why, what's going to happen to Dempster, Eyre, Howry and Wuertz?

[Brian]

At what cost, though? He has a $3 million buyout for next season. Hendry can't afford to spend much more on the bullpen. Heck, he probably can't afford to spend anything on the bullpen next season.

 

I don't want to see him go, though.

 

Is it possible to work out an extension in the next couple of weeks where the buyout/option is negated. If it's possilbe a 2-3 year incentive laden deal would be great.

[WrigleyField 22]

At what cost, though? He has a $3 million buyout for next season. Hendry can't afford to spend much more on the bullpen. Heck, he probably can't afford to spend anything on the bullpen next season.

 

I don't want to see him go, though.

 

I thought it has been confirmed before that buyouts are actually budgeted in for the previous year and don't count against that years budget. So its not like we have to worry about it being a 5mil contract, it would be 2mil (or whatever you work out)

[chuckywang]

Can you imagine Kerry Wood the closer? That would be nasty.

 

YES YES YES!!! He would make an awesome closer. As far as I'm concerned, I think Wood owes this club one more good season after all the money the Cubs wasted on him.

[DivineBovine]

We should keep him as a reliever. I always loved the idea, and if he's willing to do it, then he's probably willing to take a pay cut.

 

He was unstoppable as a reliever last year. It would make me sick if he because an ace reliever for another team.

[jjgman21]

At what cost, though? He has a $3 million buyout for next season. Hendry can't afford to spend much more on the bullpen. Heck, he probably can't afford to spend anything on the bullpen next season.

 

I don't want to see him go, though.

 

I thought it has been confirmed before that buyouts are actually budgeted in for the previous year and don't count against that years budget. So its not like we have to worry about it being a 5mil contract, it would be 2mil (or whatever you work out)

 

I was going to say the same thing. I think that's what they said during some recent buyout. maybe Alou?

[Laura]

At what cost, though? He has a $3 million buyout for next season. Hendry can't afford to spend much more on the bullpen. Heck, he probably can't afford to spend anything on the bullpen next season.

 

I don't want to see him go, though.

 

I thought it has been confirmed before that buyouts are actually budgeted in for the previous year and don't count against that years budget. So its not like we have to worry about it being a 5mil contract, it would be 2mil (or whatever you work out)

 

I was going to say the same thing. I think that's what they said during some recent buyout. maybe Alou?

 

But even regardless of the $3M buyout and when it applies, there are a lot of holes on the team for next year. If you plug Wood into one of them, you have to be prepared for the Trib to subtract that money from another position.

[badger1679666666]

Yea but would the bum Kerry Wood who Bilked the cubs out of money on purpose so that he could earn his paycheck and not pitch really take an incentive laden deal? Wouldn't that go against his goal of bilking the team out of as much money as possible on purpose, since he isn't a competitor nor does he care about winning?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(sarcasm for Cubbie Rich)

[C.C.]

I hope he signs a 1 year deal to stay with the Cubs in the 'Pen. I think he can be nasty in the pen! I can't help it I'll always be a Wood fan. The guy bleeds Cubbie Blue and he gives you everything he has (including his arm) every time he takes the mound. He's the one pitcher in the league that you pay whatever it takes to watch...When he's healthy!

 

The pen would be alright by me next year...

[Balsa]

:( :( :( :(

 

How low this story gets...

 

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[C.C.]

:( :( :( :(

 

How low this story gets...

 

:cry: :cry: :cry:

 

What's so low about it? There is no shame with the Pen. Just ask smoltz.

[Derwood]

How about whatever money we owe him for next year is what he gets to be a reliever for the next four....

[Balsa]

:( :( :( :(

 

How low this story gets...

 

:cry: :cry: :cry:

 

What's so low about it? There is no shame with the Pen. Just ask smoltz.

There's no shame with the 'Pen. But it's a shame that's what it has come to.

 

I dunno, I just get sad looking at that SI cover from Spring of 2004 with Woody on the front that's on my wall. So much promise....