Kerry Wood re-signs with Cubs

[frostwyrm]

CHICAGO -- Kerry Wood, who made the switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, agreed Monday to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses. He had a $1.75 million salary this year.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

If I'm reading this correctly he has a $4.2M base salary and $3.45M in potential bonuses? Doesn't that seem kinda steep for a reliever who's a really bad health risk? Assuming the bonuses are for saves and games finished he should get $7.65M if he can grab the closer slot and stay healthy. Still seems pricy to me. I know he had a nice finish last year but there seems to be a pervasive excess of optimism regarding Kerry's health situation.

 

If he earns the bonuses them it probably means that he was healhty for the most part in 2008.

 

I don't much like to see big money spent on a closer, even the "proven" ones. Kerry is not proven.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

CHICAGO -- Kerry Wood, who made the switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, agreed Monday to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses. He had a $1.75 million salary this year.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

If I'm reading this correctly he has a $4.2M base salary and $3.45M in potential bonuses? Doesn't that seem kinda steep for a reliever who's a really bad health risk? Assuming the bonuses are for saves and games finished he should get $7.65M if he can grab the closer slot and stay healthy. Still seems pricy to me. I know he had a nice finish last year but there seems to be a pervasive excess of optimism regarding Kerry's health situation.

 

If he earns the bonuses them it probably means that he was healhty for the most part in 2008.

 

 

 

I don't much like to see big money spent on a closer, even the "proven" ones. Kerry is not proven.

 

He has proven the he can be a dominant pitcher when healhty. It will only be big money if he is healhty. Him as a "closer" is irrevlant.

[CUBZ99]

I'm not against incentive laden deals, especially when you are dealing with someone with a history of injuries such as Wood. However, I am going out on a limb and assuming that the majority of the incentives will only be realized if Wood is very successful as the closer or a starter. $7MM+ for a middle reliever would be absurd.

[abuck1220]

CHICAGO -- Kerry Wood, who made the switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, agreed Monday to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses. He had a $1.75 million salary this year.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

If I'm reading this correctly he has a $4.2M base salary and $3.45M in potential bonuses? Doesn't that seem kinda steep for a reliever who's a really bad health risk? Assuming the bonuses are for saves and games finished he should get $7.65M if he can grab the closer slot and stay healthy. Still seems pricy to me. I know he had a nice finish last year but there seems to be a pervasive excess of optimism regarding Kerry's health situation.

 

you think it's too much to spend on a guy with health risks even though i'm sure his incentives are related to him staying healthy. then you say if he stays healthy and closes games effectively it's too much to spend for a guy who isn't healthy. even though in your hypothetical, he's healthy.

 

i don't get it.

[CubColtPacer]

Remember also with a 1 year deal the amount of money means less than if it were a multi-year deal. Not overpaying on multi-year deals is very important because it's so hard to project needs and payroll a year or two down the line, and you never know when you might need an extra 5-10 million lying around to make a big move on a productive player. If the deal doesn't work out also then you have an unproductive player on your roster that you don't want to cut because you will have dead money on your payroll for multiple years.

 

With a 1 year deal, there's very little forecasting. They know what needs they're trying to fill this offseason, and they presumably kept enough money back to fill those needs (it doesn't matter if that money could have gone to a legit SS if they weren't going to try to find one anyway). When you're looking at 1 year deals then, the usage of the roster spot and the production is more important than the money spent. There probably won't be many if any better relievers than Kerry Wood that sign for 1 year, and so this is a good deal.

 

If there was any evidence that unspent payroll this year would roll over into increased funds for next year's budget (as with a family's personal budget) then money for a 1 year deal would also become important. However, there is no real sign that this goes on in major league front offices.

[Derwood]

if he stays healthy all year, someone will pony big bucks for him to start next year.

[frostwyrm]

CHICAGO -- Kerry Wood, who made the switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, agreed Monday to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses. He had a $1.75 million salary this year.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

If I'm reading this correctly he has a $4.2M base salary and $3.45M in potential bonuses? Doesn't that seem kinda steep for a reliever who's a really bad health risk? Assuming the bonuses are for saves and games finished he should get $7.65M if he can grab the closer slot and stay healthy. Still seems pricy to me. I know he had a nice finish last year but there seems to be a pervasive excess of optimism regarding Kerry's health situation.

 

you think it's too much to spend on a guy with health risks even though i'm sure his incentives are related to him staying healthy. then you say if he stays healthy and closes games effectively it's too much to spend for a guy who isn't healthy. even though in your hypothetical, he's healthy.

 

i don't get it.

 

His base salary is too high for my taste. He could end up not pitching an inning and still get $4.2M. Also, just a hunch, but I really doubt the terms of the contract will make the performance bonuses hard to achieve if he can stay healthy. I'm guessing he'll just need to pitch enough to get like 25 saves. Thing is, I'm expecting him to have his share of bad games too. He could easily end up getting the whole $7.65M and still not be much of an upgrade over what Dempster, Marmol, or Howry would have been in the closer slot.

[craig]

I don't much like to see big money spent on a closer, even the "proven" ones. Kerry is not proven.

 

$45/3 for Mariano, or $44/4 or whatever for Cordero, that is "big money". $4.2, that's not big money. When you have a $115 roster, and around ten guys who will be <$1 each, that leaves you with around $105 for 15 salaried guys. So the average salary for the salaried guys is around $7. $4 for a free agent is well below average. It's not "big money". It's the cost of doing business.

 

Sure, I wish we'd have gotten him at $1 base, with a club option on year two that would cost $2.5 or $0.2 to buyout. But that's not the market.

[abuck1220]

 

His base salary is too high for my taste. He could end up not pitching an inning and still get $4.2M.

 

more money has been wasted on guys that don't have near wood's upside.

[jersey cubs fan]

CHICAGO -- Kerry Wood, who made the switch to the bullpen last season after a swift recovery from shoulder problems, agreed Monday to a $4.2 million, one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses. He had a $1.75 million salary this year.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

If I'm reading this correctly he has a $4.2M base salary and $3.45M in potential bonuses? Doesn't that seem kinda steep for a reliever who's a really bad health risk? Assuming the bonuses are for saves and games finished he should get $7.65M if he can grab the closer slot and stay healthy. Still seems pricy to me. I know he had a nice finish last year but there seems to be a pervasive excess of optimism regarding Kerry's health situation.

 

you think it's too much to spend on a guy with health risks even though i'm sure his incentives are related to him staying healthy. then you say if he stays healthy and closes games effectively it's too much to spend for a guy who isn't healthy. even though in your hypothetical, he's healthy.

 

i don't get it.

 

His base salary is too high for my taste. He could end up not pitching an inning and still get $4.2M. Also, just a hunch, but I really doubt the terms of the contract will make the performance bonuses hard to achieve if he can stay healthy. I'm guessing he'll just need to pitch enough to get like 25 saves. Thing is, I'm expecting him to have his share of bad games too. He could easily end up getting the whole $7.65M and still not be much of an upgrade over what Dempster, Marmol, or Howry would have been in the closer slot.

 

All relievers have their share of bad games. That's what happens when one run allowed can ruin an outing. It's very doubtful that Wood will be healthy enough to pitch and also pitch poorly. He's probably either going to pitch and dominate, or be hurt and not pitch. At that point, it's $4.2m wasted. It's not that much, considering it's 1 year.

 

You also have to remember it was almost a certainty that if Hendry didn't resign Wood, he would have gone out and spent on another reliever. Howry and Wood are basically making the same guaranteed money in 2008, and Demspter, the worst of the bunch, is making more than both.

[Guest]

This is good news. It's only one year so if he gets seriously injured again, the Cubs aren't stuck paying him next year also. And if the Cubs are going to give Dempster $5M per year and Howry and Eyre $4M per year each, might as well give Woody his money also.

[frostwyrm]

I don't much like to see big money spent on a closer, even the "proven" ones. Kerry is not proven.

 

$45/3 for Mariano, or $44/4 or whatever for Cordero, that is "big money". $4.2, that's not big money. When you have a $115 roster, and around ten guys who will be <$1 each, that leaves you with around $105 for 15 salaried guys. So the average salary for the salaried guys is around $7. $4 for a free agent is well below average. It's not "big money". It's the cost of doing business.

 

Sure, I wish we'd have gotten him at $1 base, with a club option on year two that would cost $2.5 or $0.2 to buyout. But that's not the market.

 

45/3 and and 44/4 aren't big money. That's insane money. Kerry will get $7.65M if he's able to close for the whole 2008 season. That's still a lot of money for about 70 innings of work, much of it in undemanding situations. I also don't think it's realistic to expect him not to get lit up every now and then. He's not Mariano Rivera.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

Great news about Woody, now do whatever you can to sign Prior. Maybe Kerry should talk to Mark about loyalty.

[XZero771679666304]

I don't much like to see big money spent on a closer, even the "proven" ones. Kerry is not proven.

 

$45/3 for Mariano, or $44/4 or whatever for Cordero, that is "big money". $4.2, that's not big money. When you have a $115 roster, and around ten guys who will be <$1 each, that leaves you with around $105 for 15 salaried guys. So the average salary for the salaried guys is around $7. $4 for a free agent is well below average. It's not "big money". It's the cost of doing business.

 

Sure, I wish we'd have gotten him at $1 base, with a club option on year two that would cost $2.5 or $0.2 to buyout. But that's not the market.

 

45/3 and and 44/4 aren't big money. That's insane money. Kerry will get $7.65M if he's able to close for the whole 2008 season. That's still a lot of money for about 70 innings of work, much of it in undemanding situations. I also don't think it's realistic to expect him not to get lit up every now and then. He's not Mariano Rivera.

 

If Kerry maxes out his incentives that means the following:

 

A) He's closing

 

B) He's very effective

 

7.65 is not a lot of money for a good closer.

 

I have no qualms with this deal.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't much like to see big money spent on a closer, even the "proven" ones. Kerry is not proven.

 

$45/3 for Mariano, or $44/4 or whatever for Cordero, that is "big money". $4.2, that's not big money. When you have a $115 roster, and around ten guys who will be <$1 each, that leaves you with around $105 for 15 salaried guys. So the average salary for the salaried guys is around $7. $4 for a free agent is well below average. It's not "big money". It's the cost of doing business.

 

Sure, I wish we'd have gotten him at $1 base, with a club option on year two that would cost $2.5 or $0.2 to buyout. But that's not the market.

 

45/3 and and 44/4 aren't big money. That's insane money. Kerry will get $7.65M if he's able to close for the whole 2008 season. That's still a lot of money for about 70 innings of work, much of it in undemanding situations. I also don't think it's realistic to expect him not to get lit up every now and then. He's not Mariano Rivera.

 

I think you are seriously nit-picking here. Wood's money is going to a good cause, that is, somebody who can be extremely good at his job. It's better than spending $2.5m on a mediocre utility player. And you are underestimating the value of it only being a 1 year deal. Relievers get paid a fairly wide range of money. Obviously you'd love to pay them all $350,000 and get Marmol and Joba like effectiveness. But you can't fill out an entire bullpen that way. If the Cubs had a $70m payroll, I'd be furious about gambling like that on Wood. But at $115m-120m, it's not a bad bet at all.

[frostwyrm]

None of us know the contract clauses regarding the bonuses yet, but I get the feeling I'm the only one here who suspects that the terms won't demand a particularly impressive season. I strongly suspect that the terms, in a nutshell, will require that Kerry

 

A) serves as closer

 

B) stays healthy

 

C) doesn't suck

 

 

I think we could get this from Marmol.

[Mizzou]

Excellent news!

 

Kerry is a true Chicago Cub.

[CuseCubFan69]

None of us know the contract clauses regarding the bonuses yet, but I get the feeling I'm the only one here who suspects that the terms won't demand a particularly impressive season. I strongly suspect that the terms, in a nutshell, will require that Kerry

 

A) serves as closer

 

B) stays healthy

 

C) doesn't suck

 

 

I think we could get this from Marmol.

 

Possible but it could be a heck of a 1-2 punch.

[Coach C]

None of us know the contract clauses regarding the bonuses yet, but I get the feeling I'm the only one here who suspects that the terms won't demand a particularly impressive season. I strongly suspect that the terms, in a nutshell, will require that Kerry

 

A) serves as closer

 

B) stays healthy

 

C) doesn't suck

 

 

I think we could get this from Marmol.

 

Sure, but it's always nice to have a insurance policy if (God forbid) something happens to Marmol, or that Marmol is comfortable being the set-up guy and Wood being the closer. Or the other way around.

 

Either way, that, on paper, looks very good.

[blufftonbuck]

I love you, Mr. Wood.

 

That's what she said \:D/

[Sammy Sofa]

Marmol is wasted as the closer if he even sniffs how well he pitched this past season.

[nilodnayr]

Marmol is wasted as the closer if he even sniffs how well he pitched this past season.

 

Although, didn't he face batters with the same OPS as Dempster?

[nilodnayr]

Marmol is wasted as the closer if he even sniffs how well he pitched this past season.

 

Although, didn't he face batters with the same OPS as Dempster?

 

Marmol---761

Dempster---762

[fiver]

None of us know the contract clauses regarding the bonuses yet, but I get the feeling I'm the only one here who suspects that the terms won't demand a particularly impressive season. I strongly suspect that the terms, in a nutshell, will require that Kerry

 

A) serves as closer

 

B) stays healthy

 

C) doesn't suck

 

 

I think we could get this from Marmol.

 

I don't believe this has been discussed yet but the terms of the bonuses were mentioned in the AP article. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280

 

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses based largely on games finished from 20 to 55

 

If he finishes 55 games, I am willing to bet that he has performed at a level higher than Dempster did this past season. That's a fairly large incentive, and I'm hoping the Cubs only allow him to realize it if he is significantly better than mediocre.

[nilodnayr]

None of us know the contract clauses regarding the bonuses yet, but I get the feeling I'm the only one here who suspects that the terms won't demand a particularly impressive season. I strongly suspect that the terms, in a nutshell, will require that Kerry

 

A) serves as closer

 

B) stays healthy

 

C) doesn't suck

 

 

I think we could get this from Marmol.

 

I don't believe this has been discussed yet but the terms of the bonuses were mentioned in the AP article. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3128280

 

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year, can make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses based largely on games finished from 20 to 55

 

If he finishes 55 games, I am willing to bet that he has performed at a level higher than Dempster did this past season. That's a fairly large incentive, and I'm hoping the Cubs only allow him to realize it if he is significantly better than mediocre.

 

Dempster finished 58 games last year and 64 the year before.