Kerry Wood

[Vanilla Ice]

Will he give us a big hometown discount?

 

How much money is he worth?

 

What compensation picks would we get if we let him walk?

 

Are those picks worth letting him leave?

[CoolHandLuke]

Kerry Wood is the one player for whom I would throw good judgment and sound analysis out the window. I love him and I don't care how much money it takes. I want him signed.

[shnsajax]

With the talks of Samardzija moving to the rotation or at least testing it out I think you have to resign Wood. We can't replace 2/3 of our 7th, 8th, and 9th inning bullpen. Not to mention getting a little more rest for Marmol throughout next season.

[nolanwood]

Kerry Wood is the one player for whom I would throw good judgment and sound analysis out the window. I love him and I don't care how much money it takes. I want him signed.

 

 

I couldn't have said it better myself! :good: =D>

[Dallas Green]

With the talks of Samardzija moving to the rotation or at least testing it out I think you have to resign Wood. We can't replace 2/3 of our 7th, 8th, and 9th inning bullpen. Not to mention getting a little more rest for Marmol throughout next season.

 

 

Very good point. Even if you were able to replace Wood with Marmol, replacing Marmol would be very difficult. No?

[SaorsaDaonnan]

Even if you were able to replace Wood with Marmol, replacing Marmol would be very difficult. No?

 

 

for 2009 this is probably correct. we do have interesting relief prospects at lower levels in the minors --Ceda,

Cashner, perhaps Veal if we're really lucky-- but no one who seems ready to play a major role in next year's

pen.

 

internal options for 2009:

 

Gaudin------------- outside chance he's in the rotation

Samardzija---------- could very well be starting at AA

Guzman------------- hasn't had period of sustained health in ages

Hart---------------- should be solid, but Lou hasn't been eager to use him in tight spots

Wuertz-------------- Cubs don't seem to have any confidence in him

Marshall------------- outside chance he's in the rotation, good chance he'll be misused as a loogy

 

Cotts and maybe another lefty could be in the pen too, but aren't even remotely setup candidates

[Cubswin11]

I know this could be a little of topic but I think it's pretty clear we need to bring in at least one new arm for the pen this offseason regardless if Wood stays or leaves. As has been stated Samardzija may be starting and he showed signs of not being completely ready for a major bullpen role towards the end of the season he had problems with command and consistently throwing a quality secondary pitch. We can't depend on one of our young guys to be able to step in a take a spot (Ceda, Ascanio, Cashner, Hart, Veal, Guzman), and some of the leftovers from last year Wuertz, Gaudin, and Cotts all struggled at times. The guy I would look at would be Tyler Walker, his numbers up front aren't great looking but if you look at his splits he might be a good signing for us. VS. righthanders he had a 2.89 era and only gave up 24 hits in 37.1 innings. He also was a much better pitcher away than at home, his era was 4.3 points lower on the road than at home in more innings, he pitched 29.1 innings away and 24 at home. Thoughts?

[SaorsaDaonnan]

I know this could be a little of topic but I think it's pretty clear we need to bring in at least one new arm for the pen this offseason regardless if Wood stays or leaves. As has been stated Samardzija may be starting and he showed signs of not being completely ready for a major bullpen role towards the end of the season he had problems with command and consistently throwing a quality secondary pitch. We can't depend on one of our young guys to be able to step in a take a spot (Ceda, Ascanio, Cashner, Hart, Veal, Guzman), and some of the leftovers from last year Wuertz, Gaudin, and Cotts all struggled at times. The guy I would look at would be Tyler Walker, his numbers up front aren't great looking but if you look at his splits he might be a good signing for us. VS. righthanders he had a 2.89 era and only gave up 24 hits in 37.1 innings. He also was a much better pitcher away than at home, his era was 4.3 points lower on the road than at home in more innings, he pitched 29.1 innings away and 24 at home. Thoughts?

 

 

Walker? scary to think about what his HR/9 would look like if he went from playing half his games in SF to playing

half his games in Wrigley. combine that with imperfect control and there are serious problems...

 

as for the general thought that we need to bring in another pitcher besides Wood, I think it depends on what we do

with the rotation. if we resign Dempster, we'll have five acceptable starters in Z, Harden, Lilly, Dempster, and Marquis,

with Gaudin and Marshall throwing out of the pen and acting as sixth and seventh starters in the event of injury or

a Marquis implosion. assuming we also resign Wood, that's already four of seven bullpen slots filled (Wood, Marmol,

Gaudin, Marshall). we know they're also going to carry a loogy in the fifth spot, leaving just two slots to be filled by

the other candidates, probably two of Guzman, Hart, and Wuertz...and if Shark isn't going to start, put him at the top

of that list. two of those guys should be just fine

 

in the unlikely event that we a) don't resign Dempster and b) don't bring in a new SP, however, we might very well

need to think about signing an FA reliever, or making a trade for one. with either Marshall or Gaudin in the rotation,

we'd have to rely on three guys from that pool, or from contributions from guys like Wells or Petrick, who we'd be

better off not counting on. and, perish the thought, if Z or Harden went down, we'd have essentially no room for

error, requiring everyone to be both healthy and effective all season. none of this seems very likely, though, as it

would make much more sense for the Cubs to find an SP

[SouthSideRyan]

If we spend actual money on a bullpen arm that isn't Kerry Wood I'm gonna be really pissed.

[Roast]

Samardzija---------- could very well be starting at AA

Really, now?

[treebird]

Samardzija---------- could very well be starting at AA

Really, now?

 

if he's not a reliever, it's probable that he'll start the season in the minors. whether he does that at AA or AAA will just depend on the Cubs' discretion and mindset, it hardly makes a difference.

[Guest]

I can't possibly see the Cubs starting a healthy Samardzija at AA after he performed well in nearly 40 AAA innings and held his own in 25 big league relief innings.

[CubbieBum]

I can't possibly see the Cubs starting a healthy Samardzija at AA after he performed well in nearly 40 AAA innings and held his own in 25 big league relief innings.

 

If he starts he will start in the majors if he isn't good enough he will be in the bullpen. We just aren't simply going to throw a very good relief pitcher to the minors just so he can be a starter.

[Rob]

2 years / 15 mil. 10 mil more in incentives, with a vesting option for a 3rd year.

[CubbieBum]

2 years / 15 mil. 10 mil more in incentives, with a vesting option for a 3rd year.

 

It's going to have to be at least 10 mil per year I would think. I would say a 3/30 contract with 2 mil in incentives each year is what it will be around. So he can make at most 12 mil if he's really good otherwise will make 10 mil which is what an above average closer makes.

[CubinNY]

I can't possibly see the Cubs starting a healthy Samardzija at AA after he performed well in nearly 40 AAA innings and held his own in 25 big league relief innings.

 

If he starts he will start in the majors if he isn't good enough he will be in the bullpen. We just aren't simply going to throw a very good relief pitcher to the minors just so he can be a starter.

A good starting pitcher>>>>> A mediocre starting pitcher>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Middle relief=A bad starting pitcher.

 

He has much more value as a starter. Whether he can start and maintain his "stuff" is an open question. If the Cubs think he can start they will put him in AAA.

 

I don't know what Wood will ask for but I'm guessing the Cubs will pay it. I think it will be described as a "fair" deal.

[CubbieBum]

I can't possibly see the Cubs starting a healthy Samardzija at AA after he performed well in nearly 40 AAA innings and held his own in 25 big league relief innings.

 

If he starts he will start in the majors if he isn't good enough he will be in the bullpen. We just aren't simply going to throw a very good relief pitcher to the minors just so he can be a starter.

A good starting pitcher>>>>> A mediocre starting pitcher>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Middle relief=A bad starting pitcher.

 

He has much more value as a starter. Whether he can start and maintain his "stuff" is an open question. If the Cubs think he can start they will put him in AAA.

 

I don't know what Wood will ask for but I'm guessing the Cubs will pay it. I think it will be described as a "fair" deal.

 

You got to think like Piniella. Do you throw one of your best bullpen guys in the minors for the simple reason you want him to start? Or do you give him a shot to start in the majors if he isn't there yet keep him as a RP because he is one of your best. I highly doubt the Cubs are going to be willing to go without one of their best RP because he is in the minors starting. We called him up from the minors last year when he was starting and doing well I see no reason to think we will let him sit in the minors again next year.

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't possibly see the Cubs starting a healthy Samardzija at AA after he performed well in nearly 40 AAA innings and held his own in 25 big league relief innings.

 

If he starts he will start in the majors if he isn't good enough he will be in the bullpen. We just aren't simply going to throw a very good relief pitcher to the minors just so he can be a starter.

A good starting pitcher>>>>> A mediocre starting pitcher>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Middle relief=A bad starting pitcher.

 

He has much more value as a starter. Whether he can start and maintain his "stuff" is an open question. If the Cubs think he can start they will put him in AAA.

 

I don't know what Wood will ask for but I'm guessing the Cubs will pay it. I think it will be described as a "fair" deal.

 

You got to think like Piniella. Do you throw one of your best bullpen guys in the minors for the simple reason you want him to start? Or do you give him a shot to start in the majors if he isn't there yet keep him as a RP because he is one of your best. I highly doubt the Cubs are going to be willing to go without one of their best RP because he is in the minors starting. We called him up from the minors last year when he was starting and doing well I see no reason to think we will let him sit in the minors again next year.

 

It's not a "simple reason" it's the most important part of the equation. Samardzija had mixed results in fairly limited bullpen duty this year. He's no lock to be a shutdown reliever. He had a hot start but ended with a 1.40 WHIP. His September ERA was over 5 and opponents had a 113 OPS+ against him.

 

It's not a matter of letting him sit in the minors, it would be trying to get the most out of your asset, and starters are far more valuable than relievers.

[mul21]

I can't possibly see the Cubs starting a healthy Samardzija at AA after he performed well in nearly 40 AAA innings and held his own in 25 big league relief innings.

 

If he starts he will start in the majors if he isn't good enough he will be in the bullpen. We just aren't simply going to throw a very good relief pitcher to the minors just so he can be a starter.

A good starting pitcher>>>>> A mediocre starting pitcher>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Middle relief=A bad starting pitcher.

 

He has much more value as a starter. Whether he can start and maintain his "stuff" is an open question. If the Cubs think he can start they will put him in AAA.

 

I don't know what Wood will ask for but I'm guessing the Cubs will pay it. I think it will be described as a "fair" deal.

 

You got to think like Piniella. Do you throw one of your best bullpen guys in the minors for the simple reason you want him to start? Or do you give him a shot to start in the majors if he isn't there yet keep him as a RP because he is one of your best. I highly doubt the Cubs are going to be willing to go without one of their best RP because he is in the minors starting. We called him up from the minors last year when he was starting and doing well I see no reason to think we will let him sit in the minors again next year.

 

Um, yeah, no club has ever given a young pitcher an audition as a reliever before returning him to starting duty the next year. He has so much more value as a starter in the future that it would be idiotic to just say, well, he did a good job relieving, let's just leave him there. You get him more experience in the minors to develop his secondary pitchers and then you have a guy who can give you 200+ effective innings a year instead of 80.

 

Yes, they did it with Marmol, but he's a guy with a funky delivery who may be a huge injury risk. He also doesn't have the repertoire that Shark does.