Kerry Wood to Red Sox?

[jersey cubs fan]

 

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.

 

I'd hesitate, but I'd probably do it.

 

Any other reliever who is going to be getting 2/10 in this market is going to have his own injury worries, or just not be any good. Decent middle relief is going to get 3+ years, and "established" closers are going to get 4/40 type deals. 2/10 is a risk, no doubt, because of Wood's health. But the only thing keeping the offers from being 5/55 is that health. There isn't a comparable reliever on the market.

 

If Jim lets Wood walk, and then decides to go in-house for relief help, I'll respect his decision. If he just goes out looking for more expensive help elsewhere, or similarly priced but much less potentially effective, it'll be a huge waste.

[USSoccer]

 

If Jim lets Wood walk, and then decides to go in-house for relief help, I'll respect his decision. If he just goes out looking for more expensive help elsewhere, or similarly priced but much less potentially effective, it'll be a huge waste.

 

With Hendry, you know the latter is what is going to happen. Has there been an offseason with him in charge where he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever? Kerry is just as good an investment as anyone else is out there, and bringing him back for 2 years opens up a lot of flexibility for Hendry.

[CubColtPacer]

 

If Jim lets Wood walk, and then decides to go in-house for relief help, I'll respect his decision. If he just goes out looking for more expensive help elsewhere, or similarly priced but much less potentially effective, it'll be a huge waste.

 

With Hendry, you know the latter is what is going to happen. Has there been an offseason with him in charge where he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever? Kerry is just as good an investment as anyone else is out there, and bringing him back for 2 years opens up a lot of flexibility for Hendry.

 

Last offseason he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever.

 

I don't see Hendry signing a huge deal for another reliever without Wood. One, by the time Wood would walk many of the higher priced relievers on the market will be gone. Two, the bullpen hasn't been mentioned as a concern once by Hendry in the last couple months (at least that I've heard), and that wasn't the case in some prior offseasons in which he handed out multi-year deals like candy. I do see him maybe paying a little too much for a left-handed reliever if Wood falls through, but that deal will almost certainly be less than 5 million a year. His budget sounds to be such that after possibly signing Matsui and Fukudome that he wouldn't have enough money to sign too much of a high priced reliever.

[USSoccer]

 

If Jim lets Wood walk, and then decides to go in-house for relief help, I'll respect his decision. If he just goes out looking for more expensive help elsewhere, or similarly priced but much less potentially effective, it'll be a huge waste.

 

With Hendry, you know the latter is what is going to happen. Has there been an offseason with him in charge where he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever? Kerry is just as good an investment as anyone else is out there, and bringing him back for 2 years opens up a lot of flexibility for Hendry.

 

Last offseason he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever.

 

When was Ryan Dempster extended?

[CubColtPacer]

 

If Jim lets Wood walk, and then decides to go in-house for relief help, I'll respect his decision. If he just goes out looking for more expensive help elsewhere, or similarly priced but much less potentially effective, it'll be a huge waste.

 

With Hendry, you know the latter is what is going to happen. Has there been an offseason with him in charge where he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever? Kerry is just as good an investment as anyone else is out there, and bringing him back for 2 years opens up a lot of flexibility for Hendry.

 

Last offseason he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever.

 

When was Ryan Dempster extended?

 

Dempster got a 3 year deal before the 2006 season, the same year Howry and Eyre were signed (all 3 come off the books after this year). The only reliever Hendry signed last year was Wood for 1 year 1.5 million.

[jersey cubs fan]

Dempster got a 3 year deal before the 2006 season, the same year Howry and Eyre were signed (all 3 come off the books after this year). The only reliever Hendry signed last year was Wood for 1 year 1.5 million.

 

They just moved their closer to starter. Howry and Eyre may be gone after this season. If Wood is gone, I would be shocked if he didn't go out and get relief help. Happy, but shocked.

[Post Count Padder]

Dempster got a 3 year deal before the 2006 season, the same year Howry and Eyre were signed (all 3 come off the books after this year). The only reliever Hendry signed last year was Wood for 1 year 1.5 million.

 

They just moved their closer to starter. Howry and Eyre may be gone after this season. If Wood is gone, I would be shocked if he didn't go out and get relief help. Happy, but shocked.

Eyre will probably be gone after the season, but I can see Howry getting an extension if he has another good year. I wouldn't want mroe than a two year deal for him though.

[DivineBovine]

If Kerry becomes a 2003 Gagne, and its with another team, I'll be sick to my stomach. They'd better re-sign him just to avoid any possibility of such pain.

[Backtobanks]

If Kerry becomes a 2003 Gagne, and its with another team, I'll be sick to my stomach. They'd better re-sign him just to avoid any possibility of such pain.

 

I'm a big KW fan, but you can't sign players because there's a possibility they will be good with another team. If you did that we would spend a ton of money on Wood, Prior, Corey Patterson, etc. I want him back, but make him a decent offer and move on if he doesn't accept it.

[CuseCubFan69]

 

If Jim lets Wood walk, and then decides to go in-house for relief help, I'll respect his decision. If he just goes out looking for more expensive help elsewhere, or similarly priced but much less potentially effective, it'll be a huge waste.

 

With Hendry, you know the latter is what is going to happen. Has there been an offseason with him in charge where he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever? Kerry is just as good an investment as anyone else is out there, and bringing him back for 2 years opens up a lot of flexibility for Hendry.

 

Last offseason he didn't throw a 3 year deal at a reliever.

 

I don't see Hendry signing a huge deal for another reliever without Wood. One, by the time Wood would walk many of the higher priced relievers on the market will be gone. Two, the bullpen hasn't been mentioned as a concern once by Hendry in the last couple months (at least that I've heard), and that wasn't the case in some prior offseasons in which he handed out multi-year deals like candy. I do see him maybe paying a little too much for a left-handed reliever if Wood falls through, but that deal will almost certainly be less than 5 million a year. His budget sounds to be such that after possibly signing Matsui and Fukudome that he wouldn't have enough money to sign too much of a high priced reliever.

 

I think a lot of the 1 or 2 year deal thought process will be how much has Wood worked to keep himself in shape and off the DL? Has he been doing the right exercises and continues to do them or is he right back to doing the same things he did when he had all those injuries. I'd up the offer to 2 if he has been doing his stretches and lifting but if he's back to his same mechanics I'd go incentive big time. Let somebody else pay him to be on the DL.

[JeffH]

Kerry Wood seems unlikely to re-sign with the Cubs, who then would pursue a proven reliever to replace him.

[CuseCubFan69]

Kerry Wood seems unlikely to re-sign with the Cubs, who then would pursue a proven reliever to replace him.

 

So that means Wood will be a Cub.

[Lefty]

Kerry Wood seems unlikely to re-sign with the Cubs, who then would pursue a proven reliever to replace him.

 

That's pretty scary. A "proven reliever" having proven that he is not a good enough pitcher to start and had that year with a randomly low-ERA that Hendry covets.

[USSoccer]

See, now that's stupid. A 2 year deal to Wood or a Linebrink like contract to some random reliever?

[CuseCubFan69]

See, now that's stupid. A 2 year deal to Wood or a Linebrink like contract to some random reliever?

 

Is Rogers usually right because I thought he wasn't?

[WindyCity]

Count me among the very happy to see Wood return. It would have been painful to see him in a Red Sox uni -- I am really starting to have hate (read: jealousy) for all Boston teams.

[Derwood]

lock this one up, boys

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

ha.take that Red Sox.

[CUBZ99]

Kerry Wood seems unlikely to re-sign with the Cubs, who then would pursue a proven reliever to replace him.

 

So that means Wood will be a Cub.

 

good call

[brinoch]

And Phil Rogers is right as usual... and this thread is locked.