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

[treebird]

it sure is going to be awesome next year when we're spending 25 million dollars on relief pitchers

[jmajew]

If Wood works out great next year in the Pen it would make Dempster available and we all know how valuable closers are in this league so we could probably get something pretty sweet back in return. At least some top prospect.

[Banedon]

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.

 

I think Wood would only be asked back to the Cubs at a serious discount, and probably with mucho incentives. If he wants to come back that badly, I'm all for it. He doesn't hurt this team as much if he's planned as a reliever IMO. I just want 5 healthy starters....I know I know...I ask a lot.

[Cubzfan64]

I'm heartened by the fact that Kerry seems quite open to the idea of being a reliver - I think part of the make-up for a set up guy or closer is the mindset that it's what they want to do, so he's hopefully got that going for him.

 

From a physical standpoint I just don't know if he can do it, but I'll echo other people's comments that for the right amount of $ I'd give it a try. The things I'm worried about are:

 

1) Can his arm hold up to warming up quickly and/or possibly days where he has to warm up but doesn't get into the game?

 

2) Can he have enough command when he comes in on short notice - as a starter, it seemed to me that he often had a bit of trouble in the first inning.

 

Those issues said, I have no problem giving him a shot next year. I agree that it's kinda sad to see a talent like we saw in Kerry when he first come up fall to this level, but there's certainly a chance here for him to ressurect his career in the pen and even a shot that he could become a dominant closer if all goes well.

 

I say give it a shot

[C.C.]

If Wood works out great next year in the Pen it would make Dempster available and we all know how valuable closers are in this league so we could probably get something pretty sweet back in return. At least some top prospect.

 

No, no, no...Never count on Wood being healthy. I'd rather have too much pitching then not enough. If Wood proves healthy then someone can be traded at the Allstar Break...

Edited August 3, 2006 by C.C.

[C.C.]

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.

 

I think Wood would only be asked back to the Cubs at a serious discount, and probably with mucho incentives. If he wants to come back that badly, I'm all for it. He doesn't hurt this team as much if he's planned as a reliever IMO. I just want 5 healthy starters....I know I know...I ask a lot.

 

I agree. Offer him 1 million with incentives to make more...If he turns it down then it's no loss to us...

[C.C.]

it sure is going to be awesome next year when we're spending 25 million dollars on relief pitchers

 

Whatever it takes!

[E.J.]

it sure is going to be awesome next year when we're spending 25 million dollars on relief pitchers

 

We know the offense is probably going to be terrible next year. Might as well shoot for the most dominant pitching staff possible.

[Backtobanks]

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.

 

I think Wood would only be asked back to the Cubs at a serious discount, and probably with mucho incentives. If he wants to come back that badly, I'm all for it. He doesn't hurt this team as much if he's planned as a reliever IMO. I just want 5 healthy starters....I know I know...I ask a lot.

 

I agree. Offer him 1 million with incentives to make more...If he turns it down then it's no loss to us...

 

One million with incentives based on the number of appearances.

[UK1679666180]

The decision to decide on whether to come out of the pen or start should be secondary to whether or not he'll have surgery.

 

I'm more surprised he did not have surgery.

[wastra]

We should have enough depth in the pen to absorb a Wood injury if it occurs (again).

 

The issue here won't be whether they WANT him back, it's whether he'll come back at a price that isn't out of line with expectations. My worry is that some team will offer far more as a Flier on him than we will. So this should come down to how much he WANTS to be a Cub.

 

If he's willing to take a low-base, high-incentive contract, there shouldn't be any hand wringing overh is presence in the pen. it's relying on him as a starter that we simply can't do under any circumstance.

[C.C.]

The decision to decide on whether to come out of the pen or start should be secondary to whether or not he'll have surgery.

 

I'm more surprised he did not have surgery.

 

I guess he talked to doctors and other players with similar injuries and not having sugery worked for them...

[C.C.]

We should have enough depth in the pen to absorb a Wood injury if it occurs (again).

 

The issue here won't be whether they WANT him back, it's whether he'll come back at a price that isn't out of line with expectations. My worry is that some team will offer far more as a Flier on him than we will. So this should come down to how much he WANTS to be a Cub.

 

If he's willing to take a low-base, high-incentive contract, there shouldn't be any hand wringing overh is presence in the pen. it's relying on him as a starter that we simply can't do under any circumstance.

 

I think he's willing. He loves Chicago and his wife is from Chicago. If the Cubs offered him 1 million plus incentives I bet he stays...

[davearm]

Let him play next year for the $3M he's due to buy out his 2007 option.

 

Seems fair to me. The Cubs already owe him that money. And if Wood is as true blue as he says he is, he'll take that offer knowing that he hasn't exactly earned the last several million the Cubs have paid him.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I saw give him a contract. LEt him work out of the pen if hes willing. let him build his arm back up that way, to a closer, or maybe eventually back to being a starter. I still have hope he could pull a John Smoltz. I dont know if Kerry will ever be Cooperstown material, but I do think he can still lead this team, even if its from the closer tole.

 

 

And so we have an overloaded bullpen. Cant we make a trade (Demp, Wuertz, Howry) to dring in a strong mnor league bat?

[Caryatid]

You have to make a 1 year $2 million dollar incentive based deal (or 2 for $4 mil) with this guy. If he fails, you're no worse off than you were this year in the pen (which will still be a strength). If he succeeds, you have arguably the best bullpen in baseball and will ask less of the starters, who, presumably will have at least two second year players in the rotation. Essentially, you're asking your starter to go 5 innings and hand it over to the combination of Wood, Dempster, Eyre, Howry, and Wuertz.

 

Just the possibility of that is worthwhile.

[kente777]

From the article:

 

Do the Cubs owe it to Wood to give him another chance, or will it be a business decision

 

The Cubs don't owe Wood a dang thing. Wood owes the Cubs. Regardless of what offers Wood gets from other clubs, he should decline all of them and come back with the Cubs for at least one year - maybe 2 (if a low base salary, incentive-laden contract can be mutually agreed upon). He owes the fans at least another try to get some production from him.

 

I like Kerry Wood, but the idea that the Cubs owe him is ridiculous. With all the money we've invested in Wood and the disappointment he has been most of the time while in a Cubs uniform, his attitude should be one of owing the club and the fans and not seek some ridiculous salary (not that many teams would take a chance with a long-term contract).

 

To Jim Hendry: Sign Wood for at least a one year, low base, incentive-laden contract as a reliever.

 

Ken

Edited August 3, 2006 by kente777

[goonys evil twin]

You have to make a 1 year $2 million dollar incentive based deal (or 2 for $4 mil) with this guy. If he fails, you're no worse off than you were this year in the pen (which will still be a strength). If he succeeds, you have arguably the best bullpen in baseball and will ask less of the starters, who, presumably will have at least two second year players in the rotation. Essentially, you're asking your starter to go 5 innings and hand it over to the combination of Wood, Dempster, Eyre, Howry, and Wuertz.

 

Just the possibility of that is worthwhile.

 

I'm with you. 1yr/$2m, another $2m in incentives if he appears in X amount of games (which would put him up there with the top set-up men). Then maybe a $5m team option with $500k buyout, that could get bumped to $15m if he throws 200 innings, or $8m if he "finishes" Y amount of games (so he'd get more if he becomes a closer).

[goonys evil twin]

From the article:

 

Do the Cubs owe it to Wood to give him another chance, or will it be a business decision

 

The Cubs don't owe Wood a dang thing. Wood owes the Cubs. Regardless of what offers Wood gets from other clubs, he should decline all of them and come back with the Cubs for at least one year - maybe 2 (if a low base salary, incentive-laden contract can be mutually agreed upon). He owes the fans at least another try to get some production from him.

 

I like Kerry Wood, but the idea that the Cubs owe him is ridiculous. With all the money we've invested in Wood and the disappointment he has been most of the time while in a Cubs uniform, his attitude should be one of owing the club and the fans and not seek some ridiculous salary (not that many teams would take a chance with a long-term contract).

 

To Jim Hendry: Sign Wood for at least a one year, low base, incentive-laden contract as a reliever.

 

Ken

 

I think "owe him a chance" is a questionable choice of words. No, they don't owe him anything. But they should give him another chance at the right price as a reliever.

[kente777]

From the article:

 

Do the Cubs owe it to Wood to give him another chance, or will it be a business decision

 

The Cubs don't owe Wood a dang thing. Wood owes the Cubs. Regardless of what offers Wood gets from other clubs, he should decline all of them and come back with the Cubs for at least one year - maybe 2 (if a low base salary, incentive-laden contract can be mutually agreed upon). He owes the fans at least another try to get some production from him.

 

I like Kerry Wood, but the idea that the Cubs owe him is ridiculous. With all the money we've invested in Wood and the disappointment he has been most of the time while in a Cubs uniform, his attitude should be one of owing the club and the fans and not seek some ridiculous salary (not that many teams would take a chance with a long-term contract).

 

To Jim Hendry: Sign Wood for at least a one year, low base, incentive-laden contract as a reliever.

 

Ken

 

I think "owe him a chance" is a questionable choice of words. No, they don't owe him anything. But they should give him another chance at the right price as a reliever.

 

Yes, they should give him another chance because he did give us a glimmer of hope that he could be a very effective reliever and the fact that we've invested big bucks in him for very little return

[cubfan1955]

I know a couple of million dollars is a lot of money but to think Kerry Wood is going to come back to the Cubs for a $1 - $2 million a year contract is pretty unrealistic. Think of your own job. Would you stay if they offered you a 80% - 90% paycut? There is probably even some rule in the player association against it.

 

And this crap that Kerry owes the Cubs or their fans something is BS too. He tried. He pitched hurt last year out of the pen when Hendry and Dusty were still fantazing about jumping over several teams at the end and winning the wildcard. The Cubs have made a heck of a lot more money off of the Kerry Wood phenomenon than they've paid to him.

 

Some team will take a flyer on Wood for $5 - $6 million along with incentives for a couple of million more and if the Cubs don't offer that much you can say goodbye to Kerry. He's going to do what is best for him and his family. He's been pretty loyal to the Cubs but that only goes so far and understandably so.

[goonys evil twin]

I know a couple of million dollars is a lot of money but to think Kerry Wood is going to come back to the Cubs for a $1 - $2 million a year contract is pretty unrealistic. Think of your own job. Would you stay if they offered you a 80% - 90% paycut? There is probably even some rule in the player association against it.

 

And this crap that Kerry owes the Cubs or their fans something is BS too. He tried. He pitched hurt last year out of the pen when Hendry and Dusty were still fantazing about jumping over several teams at the end and winning the wildcard. The Cubs have made a heck of a lot more money off of the Kerry Wood phenomenon than they've paid to him.

 

Some team will take a flyer on Wood for $5 - $6 million along with incentives for a couple of million more and if the Cubs don't offer that much you can say goodbye to Kerry. He's going to do what is best for him and his family. He's been pretty loyal to the Cubs but that only goes so far and understandably so.

 

There isn't a rule against accepting less to stay. It's not going to happen via arbitration, but could through normal negotiations. Kerry seems pretty adament that he will not be a starter next year, and probably not for at least a couple years, if ever. I do not think many teams would be at all interested in guaranteeing him $5-6m as an experiment. The Cubs have been one of the most aggressive "experiment" teams, in terms of signing risky injured guys to low guarantees/high incentive contracts. Boston tried and failed with Wade Miller. The Yankees did it with Jon Lieber, but the Cubs seem to do it with somebody every year. I could see a team offering more than the Cubs, but I could also see him staying with the Cubs for a little less, out of some sort of duty. $1m is probably not going to do it. $2m guaranteed with $2-4m more in incentives (and even higher incentives for throwing "starter" innings), plus some sort of option/buyout for the following year could get it done.

[CubsBullsBears]

If you're going to bring Kid Rx back in any form, DON'T COUNT ON HIM BEING HEALTHY!!! If he is, great we're overloaded. If not, fine, we're prepared. Same goes for his glass doll twin, Prior.

[cubfan1955]

There isn't a rule against accepting less to stay. It's not going to happen via arbitration, but could through normal negotiations. Kerry seems pretty adament that he will not be a starter next year, and probably not for at least a couple years, if ever. I do not think many teams would be at all interested in guaranteeing him $5-6m as an experiment. The Cubs have been one of the most aggressive "experiment" teams, in terms of signing risky injured guys to low guarantees/high incentive contracts. Boston tried and failed with Wade Miller. The Yankees did it with Jon Lieber, but the Cubs seem to do it with somebody every year. I could see a team offering more than the Cubs, but I could also see him staying with the Cubs for a little less, out of some sort of duty. $1m is probably not going to do it. $2m guaranteed with $2-4m more in incentives (and even higher incentives for throwing "starter" innings), plus some sort of option/buyout for the following year could get it done.

Not that I think it's a great idea to do it, I just think there is a GM out there that will give it a go at those dollars. And if that team makes him a closer and he's great then that guy is going to look like a genius. If it doesn't work out, oh well, he just has to say "we tried". I think Ned Colletti would do just to stick it to the Cubs again. He seems to enjoy that.

[baseball7897]

Wood probably has the biggest stones on the Cubs. Only I guy I know who would come back not 100%, and knowing that he could get re-injury his shoulder, for the sake of helping the cubs. Wood has been a Cub longer than anyone on the roster. I would love to see him as Cubs closer next year. He has 3 dominating pitches, and would excell in the closer role.