Cubs Sign Wood to 1 year, $1.5 Million Contract (p. 5)

[hawkeyecub]

It was inevitable that Hendry was going to spend too much on a reliever we didn't need. It might as well be on Kerry. And echoing other thoughts, now when I go to games I can wear the only Cubs jersey I've ever owned.

[davell]

While it's probable now that Cashner gets his chance to be a starter, which is great, does this mean we're done with the offseason? Or does it mean we now need to trade one of Gorzelanny/Wells/Silva in order to go get a Garza or a Webb?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm still trying to figure out who this guy is standing next to Dempster. I wish I could wake up one day, shave and look 10 years younger.

 

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/ap/2f/fullj.1fcd6b53b299a7aceef9aef20ab83f94/ap-cb2bd92a3e2f40428e266d5160915af9.jpg

 

You have an interesting notion of who looks young.

[NCCubFan]

Given that we're not going anywhere in 2011.....

That is NOT given. The Cubs are in a crappy division; there's no reason they can't compete.

[davell]

Given that we're not going anywhere in 2011.....

That is NOT given. The Cubs are in a crappy division; there's no reason they can't compete.

 

While true, I'd still put us 3rd behind the Cards and Reds. I hope we're not done with the offseason at this stage though, maybe we could close the gap a little more.

[NCCubFan]

Given that we're not going anywhere in 2011.....

That is NOT given. The Cubs are in a crappy division; there's no reason they can't compete.

 

While true, I'd still put us 3rd behind the Cards and Reds. I hope we're not done with the offseason at this stage though, maybe we could close the gap a little more.

No dispute there. I'm not saying the Cubs would be the favorites, but it gets a bit annoying when people repeatedly say the Cubs are going nowhere in 2011 as if it were indisputable fact. It's far from that.

[daske17]

Given that we're not going anywhere in 2011.....

That is NOT given. The Cubs are in a crappy division; there's no reason they can't compete.

 

While true, I'd still put us 3rd behind the Cards and Reds. I hope we're not done with the offseason at this stage though, maybe we could close the gap a little more.

No dispute there. I'm not saying the Cubs would be the favorites, but it gets a bit annoying when people repeatedly say the Cubs are going nowhere in 2011 as if it were indisputable fact. It's far from that.

 

You're right. It's not an indisputable fact. It just seems like a real reach, and given that, I'm okay with them signing a fan favorite for the sake of seeing him play in a Cubs uniform again.

[dew1679666265]

No dispute there. I'm not saying the Cubs would be the favorites, but it gets a bit annoying when people repeatedly say the Cubs are going nowhere in 2011 as if it were indisputable fact. It's far from that.

 

Yeah, there's no way this team has no chance at winning – in this division or any other. However, I think it's a very wide range this team could finish in. There are so many injury-prone guys and guys we need to bounce back that we could be a 65-win team or a 95-win team depending on how injuries and bounce backs go.

 

I tend to think we need too much to go right to make the playoffs, but I wouldn't completely write this team off either.

[davell]

With this exact roster(assuming we do sign Kerry) this is what I think we'd need to have happen to make the playoffs.....

 

Get the same type seasons we did last year from Byrd, Fukudome, Soto, and Soriano.

 

Have Ramirez bounce back to pre-2010 form and stay relatively healthy as well. At least 130ish games minimum. Pena needs to have a decent season, 30+ homers, lots of walks, and get his BA back up somewhere near .225 anyway.(if so, his OPS should be solid enough).

 

It'd be nice to see DeWitt/Baker turn into a solid platoon offensively, but I don't think that's an absolute must. But, Castro AND Colvin need to show improvement from year 1 to year 2 in terms of their development. Feel much more confident in Castro than I do with Colvin as far as that goes.

 

Pitching-wise, Z and Dempster need to have solid and healthy seasons obviously. After those 2, I'm not positive that anyone is currently a lock to make the rotation myself(although most will probably say Wells is). At the least though, we'll need 2 guys out of Wells, Silva, Gorzelanny, and Coleman to wind up as solid 4-5 guys in the rotation. I don't think of any of these guys as anything more than that myself. But, for us to contend(and probably make the playoffs), I think we'll need one of Cashner or Archer to make serious waves as a starter in 2011. Turn themselves into a solid upper rotation type over the course of the season. I know it's asking alot, but for us to make the playoffs, I think this(or one of the other 4) needs to take this step.

 

As far as the pen goes, we need Marmol and Marshall to stay healthy and continue as they have done. Woody needs to be decent and we need a couple of the other guys(either the ones who don't make the rotation or some of our big group of arms who have SOME major league experience anyway) to step up and be relatively average anyway. If Guzman could come back, that would be huge, but I'm not counting on that, by any stretch.

[UK1679666180]

You know it's a bad move when the best part of it that makes it somewhat worthwhile is the secondary outcome. Spending 5 mil on one of the shoulder reclamation projects and having Cashner bounce between the pen at AAA and Chicago is a worse long-term outcome than spending huge money on a questionable set-up guy for a team hopeful for 80 wins.

[dew1679666265]

You know it's a bad move when the best part of it that makes it somewhat worthwhile is the secondary outcome. Spending 5 mil on one of the shoulder reclamation projects and having Cashner bounce between the pen at AAA and Chicago is a worse long-term outcome than spending huge money on a questionable set-up guy for a team hopeful for 80 wins.

 

The reports have all said that Cashner is likely to move to the rotation (either AAA or Chicago) if we sign a veteran reliever. I don't think he'll bounce between the AAA and Chicago pens.

[UK1679666180]

Given the Cubs poor history of jerking around top prospects, I'm skeptical of how they'd handle Cashner regardless of their current situation. With Wood, the marketing aspect needs to recognized.

[dew1679666265]

Given the Cubs poor history of jerking around top prospects, I'm skeptical of how they'd handle Cashner regardless of their current situation. With Wood, the marketing aspect needs to recognized.

 

So you think the reports saying they'll likely move him back to the rotation after acquiring a veteran reliever are wrong?

[jersey cubs fan]

Given the Cubs poor history of jerking around top prospects, I'm skeptical of how they'd handle Cashner regardless of their current situation. With Wood, the marketing aspect needs to recognized.

 

So you think the reports saying they'll likely move him back to the rotation after acquiring a veteran reliever are wrong?

 

A couple things. I think UK originally wrote that signing a starting pitcher and keeping Cashner in the pen would result in Cashner going between AAA and Chicago's bullpen, and that would be worse than signing a questionabl set-up man (Wood) and moving Cashner back to the rotation.

 

At the same time, a reliever probably bumps Cashner to the pen, but if that reliever isn't healthy enough to start the season, or misses time midseason, Cashner is probably first option to go back to bullpen and fill-in.

[dew1679666265]

A couple things. I think UK originally wrote that signing a starting pitcher and keeping Cashner in the pen would result in Cashner going between AAA and Chicago's bullpen, and that would be worse than signing a questionabl set-up man (Wood) and moving Cashner back to the rotation.

 

At the same time, a reliever probably bumps Cashner to the pen, but if that reliever isn't healthy enough to start the season, or misses time midseason, Cashner is probably first option to go back to bullpen and fill-in.

 

Ah, I misread his original post. I thought he was referring to signing Wood as making Cashner bounce between the AAA and Chicago bullpens. You're right that with an injury, Cashner may be the first option to go back to the pen unless he wins the fifth starter job in Chicago and pitches very well early – that might be enough to keep him in the rotation even with a bullpen injury.

 

Sorry about that UK.

[Keener98]

1 year deal according to WSCR no money amount released.

[dew1679666265]

1 year deal according to WSCR no money amount released.

 

I like that a whole lot more than a 2 year deal, regardless of money.

[JeffH]

Maybe Jim gave him the "Carlos Peña Special"!!!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

is that similar to a Dirty Sanchez?

[Electron Blue]

1 year deal according to WSCR no money amount released.

 

If I knew it was gonna be a 1 year deal with no money released, I woulda been supporting the deal long ago!

[jersey cubs fan]

Even after signing Wood, it appears the team will have the function of being able to add more pitching because of the assumption that Wood's deal will be manageable in terms of the Cubs' budget, according to a source.

 

If this is $2m or under, I really don't have any problem with it. 2/$12m would be absurd, and 1/$6m would also be an unnecessary risk. But a deal that allows for flexibility to bring in more pitching should be kind of low.

[Radar3454]

Wood probably asked for 2/12 and Hendry said he could only do a 1 yr deal and offered 12 mil

[Southpaw191679666239]

1yr/$1.5M

 

:shock:

 

Surprised Hendry didn't overspend.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2881713-419/wood-cubs-million-closer-season.html

[davell]

My guess is there is more deferred money coming. But, I like the fact that this is a one year deal.

 

EDIT: JUST SAW THE MONEY. WOW.

[mookie]

If that is the total, I actually feel a little bad for Kerry. He should have at least received a 3 million contract in light of the Bobby Jenks signing with the Red Sox.

 

However, I am actually quite glad Wood is back in Cub Blue.