Tribune: Wood Signs Deal with Cleveland (p. 29)

[David]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

[illiniguy]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

Defend not offering him arbitration.

[erik316wttn]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

 

 

What does he have to gain by lying? He won't be back no matter what.

[erik316wttn]

This tears it. The Harden, Lee, Aram, and Nomar deals aside, Hendry is terrible. Aram and Lee fell into his lap, and he probably got lucky on Harden and Nomar. He needs to go, and he needs to go NOW. The Cubs will not win anything with this fat sack of crap at the helm.

 

This is all ridiculous. All of it.

 

Thanks. It's nice to know I have fans.

 

If you're a Hendry fan, please tell me why he deserves to stay.

[David]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

 

 

What does he have to gain by lying? He won't be back no matter what.

 

I would imagine that leaving a favorable impression behind on the town that loved him for 10 years has some worth to him.

[XZero771679666304]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

 

 

What does he have to gain by lying? He won't be back no matter what.

 

Keeping himself endeared to Cubs fans, possibly.

[CubColtPacer]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

Defend not offering him arbitration.

 

There is no defense for that. But there has been no indication that they won't offer him arbitration either.

 

It will likely be a moot point anyway. Wood will likely sign before December 1st, and so the Cubs offering arbitration will be a formality.

[David]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

Defend not offering him arbitration.

 

That wouldn't make much sense and I'll criticize the Cubs for not doing it if they don't.

[jersey cubs fan]

I want to see independent confirmation of this first...but...if true...

 

no words will express

 

I have no idea if this part is true. Maybe Wood threw this out there to make the fans think he was willing to play the good guy again. But it goes back to the very odd way that Hendry spoke about essentially wanting Kerry Wood to leave. He didn't talk like a GM that wanted Wood back on team friendly terms, he explicitly said he wanted him to play for another team even if he couched it in friendly PC words.

 

While I completely understand not wanting to go 4/50 on Wood, effectively closing the door to any potential one year, or one year plus performance options type deal is nonsensical. Never in his time with the Cubs has Hendry been one to be coy. He's up front and honest. When he said he wanted Kerry gone, it didn't appear to be a negotiating ploy. Jim is a guy who says, "we want player X back if we can fit it in our plans". He doesn't say, "we don't want you" and then come back 2 months later and say, "okay we'll give you one year".

[jersey cubs fan]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

 

I don't care if he's a closer or not, he's a very effective pitcher on a team with a very large payroll and very minimal top talent in line to replace people. Yes it is a no brainer.

[SouthSideRyan]

This tears it. The Harden, Lee, Aram, and Nomar deals aside, Hendry is terrible. Aram and Lee fell into his lap, and he probably got lucky on Harden and Nomar. He needs to go, and he needs to go NOW. The Cubs will not win anything with this fat sack of crap at the helm.

 

This is all ridiculous. All of it.

 

Thanks. It's nice to know I have fans.

 

If you're a Hendry fan, please tell me why he deserves to stay.

 

For F's sake, I've been ripping him a new one over this all thread. To qualify a statement with "besides those 4 good to incredible trades he pulled off this guy sucks. Oh and he probably got lucky on the incredible ones. Joe Gariagiola won a world series under similar circumstances to Hendry(bloated payroll allowing him to outspend his competitiors) and he was functionally [expletive]. To say the Cubs can't win with Hendry and engage in the hyperbole you did in your rant draws attention away from the awful move at hand and creates a nice little straw man to beat up on regarding Hendry.

[fromthestretch]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

 

If he was honest about how he "would have done anything" to remain a Cub, then it's not a stretch to think that they could have signed him for less than $10 million.

 

They damn well better offer him arbitration. Part of me hopes he'll accept it.

[erik316wttn]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

But, like SSR said, just because Wood says it now, doesn't mean it is necessarily true (his willingness to take a one year deal here instead of a multi-year somewhere else).

 

 

What does he have to gain by lying? He won't be back no matter what.

 

I would imagine that leaving a favorable impression behind on the town that loved him for 10 years has some worth to him.

 

I don't think that if he wanted to sign a multi-year deal and the Cubs just couldn't afford it, that anyone would hold anything against him for seeking employment elsewhere. He's been loyal to this team through and through, even signing for below market value here just to "prove himself" and because he felt he owed us something. Not many athletes would do that.

[erik316wttn]

This tears it. The Harden, Lee, Aram, and Nomar deals aside, Hendry is terrible. Aram and Lee fell into his lap, and he probably got lucky on Harden and Nomar. He needs to go, and he needs to go NOW. The Cubs will not win anything with this fat sack of crap at the helm.

 

This is all ridiculous. All of it.

 

Thanks. It's nice to know I have fans.

 

If you're a Hendry fan, please tell me why he deserves to stay.

 

For F's sake, I've been ripping him a new one over this all thread. To qualify a statement with "besides those 4 good to incredible trades he pulled off this guy sucks. Oh and he probably got lucky on the incredible ones. Joe Gariagiola won a world series under similar circumstances to Hendry(bloated payroll allowing him to outspend his competitiors) and he was functionally [expletive]. To say the Cubs can't win with Hendry and engage in the hyperbole you did in your rant draws attention away from the awful move at hand and creates a nice little straw man to beat up on regarding Hendry.

 

Hendry has still done this team more harm than good.

[David]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

 

I don't care if he's a closer or not, he's a very effective pitcher on a team with a very large payroll and very minimal top talent in line to replace people. Yes it is a no brainer.

 

Paying $10M to a guy who is virtually assured of being used pretty much exclusively in situations with a lead in the 9th inning, often of 2 and 3 runs and almost always coming in with nobody on base is not my idea of a smart decision, and definitely not a no brainer.

 

It doesn't matter how effective he generally is as a pitcher if his abilities are going to be put to use in situations in which almost any (LaTroy aside) decent relief pitcher can do the job.

[SouthSideRyan]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

 

I don't care if he's a closer or not, he's a very effective pitcher on a team with a very large payroll and very minimal top talent in line to replace people. Yes it is a no brainer.

 

Paying $10M to a guy who is virtually assured of being used pretty much exclusively in situations with a lead in the 9th inning, often of 2 and 3 runs and almost always coming in with nobody on base is not my idea of a smart decision, and definitely not a no brainer.

 

It doesn't matter how effective he generally is as a pitcher if his abilities are going to be put to use in situations in which almost any (LaTroy aside) decent relief pitcher can do the job.

 

Then why were you defending giving up resources for Kevin Gregg?

[Guest]

Not sure if this was posted yet http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/11/wood-leaving-cu.html

 

While Wood was understanding about the Cubs' decision, which Hendry said was made in the best interests of Wood and his family, he did say he would've been amenable to staying and "would have done anything" to stay a Cub. The Cubs told him to go get a three- or four-year deal for more money, but Wood said he would've agreed to a one-year deal to stay.

 

I really hope that's false.

[Guest]

For Christ's sake, a closer at likely $10+M a year, even on one year, is not a GD no brainer.

 

 

I don't care if he's a closer or not, he's a very effective pitcher on a team with a very large payroll and very minimal top talent in line to replace people. Yes it is a no brainer.

 

Paying $10M to a guy who is virtually assured of being used pretty much exclusively in situations with a lead in the 9th inning, often of 2 and 3 runs and almost always coming in with nobody on base is not my idea of a smart decision, and definitely not a no brainer.

 

It doesn't matter how effective he generally is as a pitcher if his abilities are going to be put to use in situations in which almost any (LaTroy aside) decent relief pitcher can do the job.

 

Then why are you a fan of the Kevin Gregg trade?

 

ETA: Damn you SSR.

[David]

In terms of Gregg, I think my argument has been more that A - he is not terrible, as some people were trying to suggest (someone said he pitched like "howry" in the word filter sense) and B - I don't think Ceda had that much value.

 

I don't necessarily defend trading Ceda for him when you can get that type of pitcher off the heap, usually. I just don't think Ceda's value was necessarily much greater than that.

 

 

If that made any sense, whatsoever.

[David]

It's actually the reason I'm OK with having Gregg. I think he can adequately do the job as our closer (without the Cubs really being questioned that much) and allow us to leave Marmol in the role he's most valuable in.

 

I'm not necessarily a fan of how we got Gregg, but I'm fine with using him as our closer.

[mhuber92211]

So if he accepts a 1 year deal this year and we are in the same place next year. When would it be OK for Wood to leave? It sounds like Hendry is trying his best to secure a future for Wood elsewhere. This is a situation that needs to be resolved eventually so why not this year?

[jersey cubs fan]

It's actually the reason I'm OK with having Gregg. I think he can adequately do the job as our closer (without the Cubs really being questioned that much) and allow us to leave Marmol in the role he's most valuable in.

 

I'm not necessarily a fan of how we got Gregg, but I'm fine with using him as our closer.

 

Except Hendry made it clear Marmol to closer is a very likely scenario. So, this series of unfortunate events is going to leave the Cubs without their 2nd best reliever, with their best reliever in less meanginful situations, and a very forgetable reliever taking over the important role.

 

 

Sweet. All we need now is Melky and the offseason is looking brilliant.

[jersey cubs fan]

So if he accepts a 1 year deal this year and we are in the same place next year. When would it be OK for Wood to leave? It sounds like Hendry is trying his best to secure a future for Wood elsewhere. This is a situation that needs to be resolved eventually so why not this year?

 

What? What in the world are you trying to say? The situation should be resolved by the Cubs no longer employing him when he's not good, not by forcing him out the door for no good reason when he is still very clearly a good pitcher.

[Derwood]

If there were a "Hall of Fame for Bad GMs", Jim Hendry would be an inner-circle, pantheon member.

 

I take it you weren't a Cubs fan during the Lynch/MacPhail years

[SouthSideRyan]

So if he accepts a 1 year deal this year and we are in the same place next year. When would it be OK for Wood to leave? It sounds like Hendry is trying his best to secure a future for Wood elsewhere. This is a situation that needs to be resolved eventually so why not this year?

 

Signing serieses of 1 year deals with any player is ideal. You take on minimal risk from it. I'd be delighted to keep re-signing Kerry to 1 year deals until his arm crapped out.