Kerry Wood to Red Sox?

[Derwood]

Per Paul Sullivan, so take it FWIW:

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-071120cubsbits,1,1272697.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

 

Several teams have courted Wood, including Boston, which wants him to be the primary right-handed setup man for closer Jonathan Papelbon.

 

General manager Jim Hendry said he has spoken with Wood's agent frequently, but couldn't say whether returning to the Cubs is Wood's priority, as Wood said it was last winter when he became a free agent.

 

"Kerry is getting a lot of action around the industry," Hendry said. "We're hopeful he'll want to remain a Cub. I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings [Dec. 3], this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out."

 

The Cubs convinced Wood to take an incentive-laden one-year deal last November. But with so much interest on the market, they now will have to decide whether he's worth the risk of a multiyear deal at around $5 million per year.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

.

I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings [Dec. 3], this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out."

 

Maybe ya been too busy chasing Matsui ya dope!

[Derwood]

.

I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings [Dec. 3], this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out."

 

Maybe ya been too busy chasing Matsui ya dope!

 

that's also mentioned in the article along with this nightmarish idea: Theriot in CF

[waffle]

AND he'd have a solid, injury free year

AND the sox will win the series again

AND they will go on and on about how WISE the R. Sox were to sign him

AND Kerry will say polite, but disparaging things about his old team. Make that patronizing

AND I just can't take it anymore

[ChiCubsFan]

I'll be pissed if Kerry leaves. He owes it to this organization to stay,

[UK1679666180]

Why? He's pitched his heart out for the Cubs. He was likely more by others teams but he choose to be a Cub, he's been extremely loyal to the Cubs despite more losing seasons than winning ones.

[Post Count Padder]

.

I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings [Dec. 3], this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out."

 

Maybe ya been too busy chasing Matsui ya dope!

 

that's also mentioned in the article along with this nightmarish idea: Theriot in CF

Ugh

[shnsajax]

If he leaves I want to see him go to the Red Sox. I hope he gets a ring before he retires/arm explodes.

[bhogg]

I'll be pissed if Kerry leaves. He owes it to this organization to stay,

 

I don't think he owes the Cubs a thing.

[Yanksfan1523]

Kerry should remain a Cub. I have never heard he doesn't want to stay. However if he owes it to the organization to stay, doesn't the organization owe it to him to make a fair offer? Kerry should never have been allowed to negotiate with other teams. This should have been done before the Nov.12 deadline. I definately don't want to see Wood with the Red Sox!

[SouthSideRyan]

.

I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings [Dec. 3], this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out."

 

Maybe ya been too busy chasing Matsui ya dope!

 

that's also mentioned in the article along with this nightmarish idea: Theriot in CF

 

Infante SS, Matsui 2B, Theriot CF, DeRosa RF.

[Irrelevant Dude]

.

I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings [Dec. 3], this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out."

 

Maybe ya been too busy chasing Matsui ya dope!

 

that's also mentioned in the article along with this nightmarish idea: Theriot in CF

 

Infante SS, Matsui 2B, Theriot CF, DeRosa RF.

Murderer's Row, Part 2.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Kerry should remain a Cub. I have never heard he doesn't want to stay. However if he owes it to the organization to stay, doesn't the organization owe it to him to make a fair offer?

Exactly. I think Hendry relies too heavily on his own players taking hometown discounts, yet he's not afraid to go out and break the bank on another team's free agent. I would be extremely disappointed to see Wood in a different uniform next year, but I can't blame him for leaving if he's not getting top value from the Cubs.

[CuseCubFan69]

Kerry should remain a Cub. I have never heard he doesn't want to stay. However if he owes it to the organization to stay, doesn't the organization owe it to him to make a fair offer?

Exactly. I think Hendry relies too heavily on his own players taking hometown discounts, yet he's not afraid to go out and break the bank on another team's free agent. I would be extremely disappointed to see Wood in a different uniform next year, but I can't blame him for leaving if he's not getting top value from the Cubs.

 

But by breaking the bank isn't that how you get teams to sometimes leave their teams that they may still want to stay with?

[shnsajax]

.

I believe, probably before we get to the winter meetings [Dec. 3], this will be brought to a conclusion. We certainly would like to have him back, and hopefully it'll work out."

 

Maybe ya been too busy chasing Matsui ya dope!

 

that's also mentioned in the article along with this nightmarish idea: Theriot in CF

 

Infante SS, Matsui 2B, Theriot CF, DeRosa RF.

Murderer's Row, Part 2.

 

As in what the fan's will be doing to each other having to watch that over the course of an entire summer. Except for Derosa, he is still cool.

[Bote McBoteface]

Derosa is cool at 2nd base. In RF, he is lacking quite a bit.

[sporrer17]

Kerry's been my favorite player since his rookie year when I was just 10 years old. I really don't want to see him go, but if he can get more money and a better shot at winning somewhere else (aka Boston), I would not blame him a bit. I would blame the Cubs for not offering him what he wants though...we can give Neifi Perez and Hank Blanco two+ year deals, but won't do it for Kerry? That's insulting...

[NCCubFan]

Murderer's Row, Part 2.

And it's the Cubs' offense that would be the murder victims.

[badnews]

I don't think that's accurate. Hendry more or less broke the bank for Zambrano, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez. How many free agents have we lost in the past few years that we've really wanted to keep?

 

As for this hometown discounts bit, if you look at what Mike Lowell, Tim Wakefield, and Curt Schilling gave to the Red Sox, David Wright and Reyes for the Mets, Brandon Webb for the Diamondbacks, for the most part we're not getting huge hometown discounts. You didn't see Trevor Hoffman gouging the Padres.

 

I haven't seen him do anything particularly remarkable as a reliever.

 

And what about this quote from Kerry Wood:

 

""I know I haven't given this organization or the fans or this team what they paid for two, three years ago," Wood said in an interview with WGN-AM (720). "As a player, you feel -- you don't want to say 'guilty' -- but you [don't ] feel like you've done your job and earned your money and gone out and done what you're supposed to do. There's an obligation there, absolutely.

 

"This organization has given me everything I've got ...

 

9/28/06 Sun-Times"

 

Hey, I'd have more respect for him if he flat out acted like a mercenary. I don't like him playing up all those fuzzy Cub nostalgia feelings, and I have to wonder why he should get a bigger contract than any other relief rehab project like Dotel or Percival. Even Gagne only got a 1 year deal. He seems like he's talking out both sides of his mouth to me.

[rocket]

before we sign him to more than 1 year and more than 1 million dollars, let's rememeber that just last year wood missed the first 4 months of the season after slipping in a hot tub. 24 innings of pretty good relief work doesn't justify a big contract.

[CuseCubFan69]

I think Hendry should offer him a fair contract with a lot of incentives and if Wood leaves then fine, Hendry did his job correctly.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think Hendry should offer him a fair contract with a lot of incentives and if Wood leaves then fine, Hendry did his job correctly.

 

All well and good, unless, or until, Jim goes out and spends more on another reliever.

[CubColtPacer]

I think Hendry should offer him a fair contract with a lot of incentives and if Wood leaves then fine, Hendry did his job correctly.

 

All well and good, unless, or until, Jim goes out and spends more on another reliever.

 

It would be a mistake to give any reliever in this market a 5 million dollar per year deal for multiple years. It would be a big mistake (as far as percentages, not saying it couldn't work out) to do it for Wood. So if Hendry went out and signed another reliever instead of Wood for 2/10, he would have done his job wrong but not made the big mistake.

 

I agree with Cuse. You offer him a deal, but it has to be heavily incentive laden.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think Hendry should offer him a fair contract with a lot of incentives and if Wood leaves then fine, Hendry did his job correctly.

 

All well and good, unless, or until, Jim goes out and spends more on another reliever.

 

It would be a mistake to give any reliever in this market a 5 million dollar per year deal for multiple years. It would be a big mistake (as far as percentages, not saying it couldn't work out) to do it for Wood. So if Hendry went out and signed another reliever instead of Wood for 2/10, he would have done his job wrong but not made the big mistake.

 

I agree with Cuse. You offer him a deal, but it has to be heavily incentive laden.

 

I disagree. The mistake is the years, moreso than the money. 4/19 is stupid, mostly because it's 4 years. 1 year is ideal, but unrealistic. Getting a guy for 2/10 is pretty reasonable. Wood's health is the only thing that makes it a risk, and it's a significant risk. But I'd rather spend a little more per, and only go 2 years, then end up with somebody else for 3/15 or higher.

 

I don't get why people are pretending Wood is just another reliever. Wood is quite different from most guys signing for middle relief money, in that he actually stands a chance of being dominant. Most available middle relievers are at their best, pretty good. But few ever flirt with dominance. If you are going to take risks, take ones that actually come with a possibility for reward. You can have all the healthy Alfonsecas in the world, I'd still rather take my chance on a guy with Wood's ability.

[USSoccer]

 

I don't get why people are pretending Wood is just another reliever. Wood is quite different from most guys signing for middle relief money, in that he actually stands a chance of being dominant. Most available middle relievers are at their best, pretty good. But few ever flirt with dominance. If you are going to take risks, take ones that actually come with a possibility for reward. You can have all the healthy Alfonsecas in the world, I'd still rather take my chance on a guy with Wood's ability.

 

This is correct. The upside is worth the guaranteed money.

 

I'd not hesitate to give him 2/$10m.