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

[Old Style]

My friend with the Rangers said he heard Woody is looking for 4 years $50 million.

[jersey cubs fan]

Has anyone mentioned how stupid it is to come out on November 13th and say we're done with you? I mean what's the point to this?

 

The only benefit would be to basically tell other teams don't bother getting into a bidding war with us, we aren't going to offer anything longterm. These comments effectively lower Wood's value on the market. Teams probably assumed they had to offer X more than the Cubs to get him to move. Now the possibility remains that nobody will feel the need to offer Wood a big contract to get it, and maybe he'll stay on the market and eventually resign for a one year deal.

 

 

However, I completely agree with you and have no idea what benefit there could be to show him the door rather than letting him walk if he doesn't want to sign.

 

The bottom line is the Cubs are worse right now than they were at the end of the season.

[Old Style]

The bottom line is the Cubs are worse right now than they were at the end of the season.

I guess it's a good thing that we're still months away from the start of the 2009 season, huh?

[Guest]

Has anyone mentioned how stupid it is to come out on November 13th and say we're done with you? I mean what's the point to this?

 

The only benefit would be to basically tell other teams don't bother getting into a bidding war with us, we aren't going to offer anything longterm. These comments effectively lower Wood's value on the market. Teams probably assumed they had to offer X more than the Cubs to get him to move. Now the possibility remains that nobody will feel the need to offer Wood a big contract to get it, and maybe he'll stay on the market and eventually resign for a one year deal.

 

 

However, I completely agree with you and have no idea what benefit there could be to show him the door rather than letting him walk if he doesn't want to sign.

 

The bottom line is the Cubs are worse right now than they were at the end of the season.

Here's the benefit:

 

If you're still hoping to sign Wood at some point, the most power you can get in that negotiation is to show a willingness to walk away. In fact, that's really the only power you ever have in a negotiation. If the Cubs perceive that Wood wants to return, but is using the market as leverage against them (again, showing his willingness to walk away) then this was a way to significantly increase their bargaining power.

 

It's not much different from a player making a public statement of intentions by filing for free agency, really. It's not like this is binding in any way.

[Soul]

The bottom line is the Cubs are worse right now than they were at the end of the season.

I guess it's a good thing that we're still months away from the start of the 2009 season, huh?

 

True, but it's hard to count on moves not yet made. And it kind of looks like Gregg was the answer to Wood being let go -- i.e. I'm not sure there are really plans to upgrade further in that area, especially since we continue to have concerns in other areas.

 

We'll see what happens. You're right, it's only the beginning of the offseason.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

True, but it's hard to count on moves not yet made.

 

Do you have even a little belief that this is the last/biggest move of the offseason?

 

And it kind of looks like Gregg was the answer to Wood being let go -- i.e. I'm not sure there are really plans to upgrade further in that area, especially since we continue to have concerns in other areas.

 

Why would you think that, because they happened on the same day?

[jersey cubs fan]

Here's the benefit:

 

If you're still hoping to sign Wood at some point, the most power you can get in that negotiation is to show a willingness to walk away. In fact, that's really the only power you ever have in a negotiation. If the Cubs perceive that Wood wants to return, but is using the market as leverage against them (again, showing his willingness to walk away) then this was a way to significantly increase their bargaining power.

 

It's not much different from a player making a public statement of intentions by filing for free agency, really. It's not like this is binding in any way.

 

No, not really. It's much different from a player making a public statement. Teams don't say we're not going to be offering him a contract. Teams don't say we want him to get a contract somewhere else. That may sound like a good way to do negotiations in the real world, but baseball isn't the real world. The Cubs just told Wood to leave.

[SouthSideRyan]

True, but it's hard to count on moves not yet made.

 

Do you have even a little belief that this is the last/biggest move of the offseason?

 

And it kind of looks like Gregg was the answer to Wood being let go -- i.e. I'm not sure there are really plans to upgrade further in that area, especially since we continue to have concerns in other areas.

 

Why would you think that, because they happened on the same day?

 

I don't see how you can't think Gregg is the answer to Wood being let go. Unless you're in the Padres crave a 5M mediocre closer camp.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

And it kind of looks like Gregg was the answer to Wood being let go -- i.e. I'm not sure there are really plans to upgrade further in that area, especially since we continue to have concerns in other areas.

 

Why would you think that, because they happened on the same day?

 

I don't see how you can't think Gregg is the answer to Wood being let go. Unless you're in the Padres crave a 5M mediocre closer camp.

 

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

 

The scary thing is it probably doesn't. Instead of paying $10m to one great relief arm they will probably spend $12-15m on a bunch of mediocre arms.

[Cynosure]

Really weird to see him go, but Gregg is awesome and I'm glad we just got younger.

 

Best of luck to him and this family.

[Soul]

And it kind of looks like Gregg was the answer to Wood being let go -- i.e. I'm not sure there are really plans to upgrade further in that area, especially since we continue to have concerns in other areas.

 

Why would you think that, because they happened on the same day?

 

I don't see how you can't think Gregg is the answer to Wood being let go. Unless you're in the Padres crave a 5M mediocre closer camp.

 

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

Hendry will only make so many moves. It's one thing to think they might add some riff raff. It's another thing to expect another big splash in the bullpen when there are other significant moves on the table.

 

If he does it then fine. I don't see how you can try to divorce Gregg from the Wood move though. It's pretty obvious this is at least the *initial* answer to Wood being let go, if not the final answer.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

 

The scary thing is it probably doesn't. Instead of paying $10m to one great relief arm they will probably spend $12-15m on a bunch of mediocre arms.

 

Or maybe they sign someone good like Cruz or Affeldt and are better off with the same or similar money alotted, plus possibly having 4 picks if it's Affeldt.

[jersey cubs fan]

Really weird to see him go, but Gregg is awesome and I'm glad we just got younger.

 

He's nowhere close to awesome and he's only a year younger.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

 

The scary thing is it probably doesn't. Instead of paying $10m to one great relief arm they will probably spend $12-15m on a bunch of mediocre arms.

 

Or maybe they sign someone good like Cruz or Affeldt and are better off with the same or similar money alotted, plus possibly having 4 picks if it's Affeldt.

 

You don't know Hendry.

People keep talking about Cruz being some secret cheap option, but he's listed as the secret cheap option everywhere. If he doesn't get a big contract his agent is incompetent. There are teams much more desperate for bullpen help than the Cubs.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

 

The scary thing is it probably doesn't. Instead of paying $10m to one great relief arm they will probably spend $12-15m on a bunch of mediocre arms.

 

Or maybe they sign someone good like Cruz or Affeldt and are better off with the same or similar money alotted, plus possibly having 4 picks if it's Affeldt.

 

You don't know Hendry.

People keep talking about Cruz being some secret cheap option, but he's listed as the secret cheap option everywhere. If he doesn't get a big contract his agent is incompetent. There are teams much more desperate for bullpen help than the Cubs.

 

Where did I say he'd be cheap?

[SouthSideRyan]

And it kind of looks like Gregg was the answer to Wood being let go -- i.e. I'm not sure there are really plans to upgrade further in that area, especially since we continue to have concerns in other areas.

 

Why would you think that, because they happened on the same day?

 

I don't see how you can't think Gregg is the answer to Wood being let go. Unless you're in the Padres crave a 5M mediocre closer camp.

 

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

 

God, I hope we are.

[CubinNY]

The Cubs are trapped. Either they pay Wood, they let some of the younger guys take the ball, or they trade a middling prospect for the likes of Gregg.

 

All and all, I'd try to keep wood, but not for 4 years. However, THE very last thing I'd do is trade for Gregg. He's going to push Marmol to the 9th eventually b/c he's going to blow too many save chances.

Edited November 14, 2008 by CubinNY

[danonwaveland]

i'd rather win with Ryan Braun, Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel with Ozzie Guillen as manager than lose with Kerry Wood

 

Braun? Yeah. Pujols? Yeah. Ankiel? Yeah. Guillen? Well. . . if that were the only way to win, I guess so. . . maybe. . . yeah. . .

 

______________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

[illiniguy]

i'd rather win with Ryan Braun, Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel with Ozzie Guillen as manager than lose with Kerry Wood

 

Braun? Yeah. Pujols? Yeah. Ankiel? Yeah. Guillen? Well. . . if that were the only way to win, I guess so. . . maybe. . . yeah. . .

 

______________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

I love that Woody is the reason we have been losing the past ten years now. Not inept management. Kerry Wood is the big reason we have won a single playoff series the last 100 years.

[SouthSideRyan]

i'd rather win with Ryan Braun, Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel with Ozzie Guillen as manager than lose with Kerry Wood

 

Braun? Yeah. Pujols? Yeah. Ankiel? Yeah. Guillen? Well. . . if that were the only way to win, I guess so. . . maybe. . . yeah. . .

 

______________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

I love that Woody is the reason we have been losing the past ten years now. Not inept management. Kerry Wood is the big reason we have won a single playoff series the last 100 years.

 

Either you misquoted, or you got the totally wrong idea from those posts.

[illiniguy]

i'd rather win with Ryan Braun, Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel with Ozzie Guillen as manager than lose with Kerry Wood

 

Braun? Yeah. Pujols? Yeah. Ankiel? Yeah. Guillen? Well. . . if that were the only way to win, I guess so. . . maybe. . . yeah. . .

 

______________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

I love that Woody is the reason we have been losing the past ten years now. Not inept management. Kerry Wood is the big reason we have won a single playoff series the last 100 years.

 

Either you misquoted, or you got the totally wrong idea from those posts.

I might have got the wrong idea, but it seems a couple of people have said that we haven't won with Wood so we might as well move on. Which is just crazy. Wood hasn't been the reason we have yet to win it all.

[badger1679666666]

I'm even more depressed today than I was yesterday.

 

:bye: :cry:

 

My attachment with Kerry is certainly unhealthy, but I hope he goes somewhere else and wins a World Series. He will always be my favorite Cub.

 

I can't wait to see the reception he gets when he comes back to Wrigley.

[erik316wttn]

Has anyone mentioned how stupid it is to come out on November 13th and say we're done with you? I mean what's the point to this?

 

The only benefit would be to basically tell other teams don't bother getting into a bidding war with us, we aren't going to offer anything longterm. These comments effectively lower Wood's value on the market. Teams probably assumed they had to offer X more than the Cubs to get him to move. Now the possibility remains that nobody will feel the need to offer Wood a big contract to get it, and maybe he'll stay on the market and eventually resign for a one year deal.

 

 

However, I completely agree with you and have no idea what benefit there could be to show him the door rather than letting him walk if he doesn't want to sign.

 

The bottom line is the Cubs are worse right now than they were at the end of the season.

Here's the benefit:

 

If you're still hoping to sign Wood at some point, the most power you can get in that negotiation is to show a willingness to walk away. In fact, that's really the only power you ever have in a negotiation. If the Cubs perceive that Wood wants to return, but is using the market as leverage against them (again, showing his willingness to walk away) then this was a way to significantly increase their bargaining power.

 

It's not much different from a player making a public statement of intentions by filing for free agency, really. It's not like this is binding in any way.

 

It is different, though.

 

A player filing for free agency isn't necessarily coming right out and saying "I'm not coming back here." Hendry coming out in the media and saying "Kerry Wood will not be a Cub in 2009" is a little different. We're closing that door already. Wood filing for FA wouldn't necessarily make a return to the Cubs impossible. This pretty much does.

[RedFlash]

And it kind of looks like Gregg was the answer to Wood being let go -- i.e. I'm not sure there are really plans to upgrade further in that area, especially since we continue to have concerns in other areas.

 

Why would you think that, because they happened on the same day?

 

I don't see how you can't think Gregg is the answer to Wood being let go. Unless you're in the Padres crave a 5M mediocre closer camp.

 

I don't see how this means "we're done with the bullpen this offseason".

 

God, I hope we are.

 

SSR, I take it you don't have faith in Hendry building a bullpen?