Is Kid K Coming Back?

Dave Kaplan, fresh off his own new contract, is reporting that the Cubs and Kerry Wood are close to finalizing a deal.

That's my reaction to the news.

Tags: 
Cubs Roster Moves
Kerry Wood
Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:21am
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Comments

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:25am

Love it. Mine too.

(Although, is this a bad time to start talking about BABIP, other RH relievers for less money, money wasted on the bullpen, etc.?? You f'n know it's coming, here and elsewhere)

I'll save my defense of the signing for when it happens.

On a side note, I'll be up late doing papers all night, and watching Twitter for news on this very important front.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:28am

Also from Kaplan on Twitter, in response to a fan?

"thekapman David Kaplan
@
@mac_of_all_macs Trust me....He is going to end up a Cub. It may take a little time but he will be pitching for the Cubs."

That almost sounds a little too sure for comfort....

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:39am

Okay, all night was a stretch, gotta take a nap before work in the am.

Hopefully I'll see good news on here in 4 hrs or so....

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:25am

Robothal agrees

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Chicago-Cu...

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:29am

Yeah, but it all looks like just Kaplan for now....

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:30am

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/st...

Levine agrees as well and as you'd expect, should be more than a one-year deal.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:01am

Fucken' A. I don't give a damn if it's money not well-spent, after all the $$ the Cubs waste on losers year in and year out? Kerry Wood is this generation's Ron Santo, he's a goddamn Cub and I love him.

BTW, Wood is no longer a kid, there's no long-term career to protect anymore. Which raises an obvious question: could he be a starting pitcher again? He's got 3 plus-plus pitches, and he knows how to use them (tho not always for strikes). Trade Zambrano and replace him in the rotation with Wood? Hell yeah, I'm on board for that.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 9:58am

When he signed the deal with Cleveland I thought that it could be a potential steal for them, if he pulled a Smoltz and moved back into the rotation, but he just hasn't been healthy enough. If he makes it through a season in the bullpen relatively healthy, and some of the Cubs minor league arms step up, maybe it's something to look at for 2012, but the Cubs need a light's out 8th inning guy right now more than they do a starter.

Remember this is a team that finished 2nd in the majors in quality starts last year.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 10:13am

Cubs had good starting pitching last year.

Just need to find a replacement for Lilly and the first half performance of Silva.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 10:49am

Weren't they really good down the stretch without either?

As long as we're not counting on Coleman that is.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 10:53am

Z had a good second half
Dempster steady

Wells and Gorzy?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:14am

I dunno, but they went 18-11 with a 2.95 ERA or something under Quade the Messiah.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:19pm

Ha.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:20am

imagine it'd be in the 3/16m to 3/20m area...wonder how it'll be backloaded or broken down, though.

if he's healthy i'd consider it a good deal at either price.

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:24am

I smell a hometown discount, considering he robbed the Cubs between 2004 and 2007

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:26am

yeah, he was supposedly looking 6m/yr...just taking a wild guess.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:33am

2/12M was the early rumor, imagine it will add up to that with some incentives and maybe a vesting option

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:14pm

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:33am.
2/12M was the early rumor, imagine it will add up to that with some incentives and maybe a vesting option

==============================

ROB G: There's going to have to be at least $2M in performance bonuses each year based on GF in case something happens to Marmol and Wood ends up having to be the #1 closer for a while.

Otherwise, I could see a base 2/$12M ($4M-$8M) two-year deal, or maybe even 2/$12M ($2M-$8M-$2M) with the "third year" money paid in January 2013 deferred from the first year (similar to the Carlos Pena deal).

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:34am

marshall(L)/wood/marmol for the core...

grabow(L)/cashner/russell(L)/maine(L)/diamond/caridad/m.mateo

TB might be able to take either russell or maine from the cubs in a garza pacakage....

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:38am

Garza was starting to sound unlikely. Although, should they just sell low now, and eat it and dump Grablow if possible? Or was it really a knee issue?

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:43am

i was chalking grabes up as unmovable.

TB just has has a slot for a LH reliever and the cubs have excess. it's not like they can't stash russell or maine back down in AAA, but they're both a bit "over" AAA.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:45am

...i think this is the deal i would have rather seen, though...

"MLB.com's Peter Gammons reports that the White Sox have reached a three-year, $13 million deal with free agent reliever Jesse Crain."

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 5:56am

Here's the old cub fans fantasy scenerio...

Kerry Wood re-signs for two jobs. Innings 1-6, color commentator with Pat Hughes

...bottom 6th he takes the catwalk tour heading down to the bullpen as the fans in the top rows of the grandstand go nuts

Inning 7 or 8...

KKK

Then they re-mike him from the dugout for the 9th. Makes the post game interview a piece of cake.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:21am

You might just be the smartest person on the planet.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 7:41am

It's been reported that the Cubs are looking for a starter and a reliever. Now with Wood in the pen, does that make Cashner the sought-after starter?

I already see a team with Z, Dempster, Wells, Gorz, Silva, and Coleman on the depth chart, and if you throw Cashner in there, I don't think they'd even have room to audition another guy, let alone sign or trade for someone.

Submitted by Newport
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:22am

Wells, Gorz, Silva, and Coleman are all BLAH. It can't hurt to add another guy to the mix.

Submitted by Little Nate Lewis
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:35am

My guess is that we could still see a Webb or Garza deal. I'd be surprised if we are in play for any veteran #4-type innings eater.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:37am

I don't care if K doesn't get one guy out. For saying what he said about not being able to put on a White Sox uniform, he can serve up 100 gopher balls and I won't boo him.

Submitted by therealwt
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:39am

Put me down in the camp of please God let this happen as Wood should be a Cub and maybe Santo is pulling the strings on this. Best news in a while. And he'll be Kid K until he's 70 and shaking hands at the Cubs Convention.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:59am

Nady to D'Backs for 1/1.75M and $1M in incentives

D-Lee liked by the Nats, Rosenthal says Orioles, Padres also interested along with LaRoche. Rangers, Rays, Blue Jays also lurking.

Aardsma on the block.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 9:52am

What the hell? Nady is a starting calibre player. He had 85 RBI's one year!

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:49am

FWIW, Jose Pena actually has a higher career OBP and OPS than Nady: 351/841 vs 331/775. Pena's OPS with RISP is also quite a bit higher .936 vs .799 over the last three years, although Nady does have a higher BA over those three years with RISP

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:12pm

Cool... but who's Jose Pena?

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:30pm

It's the brain fart version of Carlos Pena

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 9:27am

According to RobG favorite news source-
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/ya...

IMO you will see him in the bullpen alot, coming out of it---not so much.

Submitted by carmenfanzone
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:28am

Love Kid K. If they did keep Z, I can't see him messing with the kid. Kind of like having a pit boss in the club house...

However, if they are able to convince Z to accept the deal, I would consider including Marlon Byrd in the deal in an attempt to get Brett Gardner. Not sure the Yanks would do that, but Gardner would be the leadoff man we need. I'm also assuming the Cubs would want Joba in the deal...

As far as the Garza rumors go, if you look at the Rays' roster, they clearly need help at short and in the pen. If I'm them, I would want Barney and Carpenter instead of J. Jackson and Lee.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:36am

I agree that he's more Barney's more "big league ready", but it would make more sense to get Lee and sign Izturis for a year at $1 million, than to get Barney and then still have to get a starting shorstop. Barney is a defensive replacement, who's probably better served playing in the NL where he can get in on double switches.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:39am

isn't Brignac their shortstop?

could use a back-up, but I think they believe in him. They believed in Bartlett when everyone thought he was a back-up and he worked out just fine.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:38am

did u just offer Byrd and Z for Gardner?

Submitted by carmenfanzone
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:50am

and joba

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:21pm

is joba going back to the rotation in this scenario or is there another rotation plan you have in mind?

Submitted by carmenfanzone
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:26pm

I think Joba could compete for either. Of course, I'm still of the belief that Marshall should be a starter, especially if we trade Gorz. Aside from a loogy, is a lefty to pitch in the 7th or 8th a necessity?

Interesting article a couple of weeks ago by Joe Posanski of SI. Sorry I don't have the link, but the gist is how much more the 8th inning plays into the winning pct than the closer. Might explain why the set-up guys are getting all the love this year.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:35pm

must have borrowed the article from his good friend Bill James about 25 years back....

oh to bring back the relief ace and Bruce Sutter's of the world.

All of this is Tony LaRussa's fault.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:08pm

I think anyone who watched the Cubs in 2007-08 knows setup men can be much more important than closers. It was such a luxury to have Marmol come in when the other team had bases loaded / no outs only to go K-K-K.

I understand why he wants to be the closer (payday), but for the team it seems much more valuable to have your reliever with the unbelievable K rate available for the highest leverage situations rather than just the 9th inning.

Without Marmol pitching out of all those jams, there wouldn't have been nearly as many save opportunities.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:33pm

Agreed, and that's the guy (at least last year) Marshall has become/is becoming

Submitted by George Altman
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:45pm

Exactly why I have no interest in Marshall returning to the rotation. As long as he provides more value as a reliever (which he has for the last 2 years) than as a starter, I can't see why the organization would move him out of the bullpen......other than, this is the Cubs.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:41pm

Yup. I don't have #s in front of me, but he's consistently pitched better in relief, so I don't know...... leave him there??

Submitted by George Altman
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 8:30pm

I would.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:42pm

I hate Joba. Anyone who doesn't know how to wear a hat is a fucking retard.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:34pm

That was my stance as well, but for whatever reason, James Russell doesn't bother me with it..... weird. He's like the first person that that somehow looks ok on.

Submitted by Sweet Lou
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:46am

Here's an interesting article about Zack Grienke:

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/12/16/being-t...

I would love to see the Cubs get Grienke and build their staff around him for the future. However, I'm concerned about how comfortable he would be in Chicago because of his social anxiety disorder. The article indicates that maybe I shouldn't be so concerned.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:59am

I'd sure love to have Greinke and happy to give them B. Jackson for it, but it's up to the scouts and colleagues to try and figure out if he could handle Chicago.

I would guess it would take about 2 days before he hated Paul Sullivan.

He did have a down year last year, but he truly seemed disinterested in the season and the team, not that coming to the Cubs will necessarily make that better.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:07pm

What's the worst that can happen?

Cubs and Wrigley bring the best out of players.

~sigh~

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:13pm

Imagine if he loses track of the outs in an inning!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:19pm

he does have the advantage of being white though....

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:41pm

Cracker Lover!

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:36pm

if only we could find a highly-regarded, players' manager...

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:48pm

An excellent point. You would think that players who sign to play here (or manage here) know "what the deal is".

But time and time again, most just cannot handle having a microscope placed above them with everything Cubs.

Whereas in Chicago Cub Land everything is weighted - or referenced towards epic failure constantly, in New York or Boston, everything is weighted towards success.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:38pm

while I agree, I don't think Bos was like that pre-2004. I think they got their success started by just not giving a darn about that stuff, and having fun.

You can argue both sides of 'team chemistry', but let's be honest, when was the last time it seemed like the Cubs were 'having fun'? I can think of a)2003 and b)the last month and a half last year.

Submitted by Stevens
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:35pm

2 days? I can hate Paul Sullivan in 2 paragraphs.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 11:48am

Boy Cubs fan love their shinny objects!!!!!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:03pm

I just like rooting for Kerry Wood.

I make no apologies for it.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:09pm

You couldn't root for him in Cleveland?

It pisses me off that Jim Hendry didn't even offer arbitration and take the free draft picks. Only to turn around and offer him multiple years coming off of 2 subpar, injury plagued years. Its the height of incompetence.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:15pm

Had Hendry offered him arbitration and he accepted it... the Cubs wouldn't have won in 2009 or 2010, so what difference does it make? Kerry may have flat-out told him "if you offer me arbitration, I will accept it".

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:17pm

well I'd obviously rather root for him as a Cub.

the arb thing was dumb, Hendry obviously felt like he would accept it.

let's see what the deal is, non-closer relievers are getting $5M a year in this market right now.

Also, he apparently picked up Mariano's cutter pretty quickly as a Yankee, so see if that 26 innings is for real last year. I assume 0.69 ERA isn't sustainable, but hopefully the HR's stay down.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:27pm

That .235 BABIP and a little situational luck probably best explains his Yankees success, he had an X-FIP of 4.20 (all my caveats and reservations about FIP aknowledged).

He's likely to pitch about as well as he did in 2009 for the Indians, but I am still happy he's with the team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:35pm

fwiw, Rivera's BABIP is .273 for his career with a lot of .230, .250, .270 seasons in there (and one unfortunate .335 season).

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid...

I'm obviously inclined to believe it was mostly dumb luck, but the reports were that he really learned how to control his cutter finally after working a bit with Rivera.

blind optimism I'm sure, but what else we got with the Cubs in 2011

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:49pm

I heard about it as well, but if I had to bet money I think the series of events was:

1. Hey, Wood has a really good ERA
2. What's up with that Kerry? Oh, I learned Rivera's cutter
3. You can see that Kerry is really controlling the cutter. I am a smart sportswriter.

His control was awful with the Yankees.

He wasn't throwing as hard in the playoffs as he was with us in '08, but I am all for him putting up 70 innings of 2.50 ERA ball next year, and wouldn't be shocked if he did.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:58pm

fwiw, and I screwed it up myself earlier as well, he says he's been throwing a cutter for awhile and just claims he's controlling it better and there were some good old fashioned anonymous scouts with the same observation of how much better the pitch looked as a Yankee.

It could all be BS and doesn't mean he's doing any better with his regular FB or curve.

Fangraphs does show an uptick in how much he threw the cutter with the Yankees (standard disclaimers).

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:28pm

"kerry wood wanted to go to his beloved cubbies, other teams sensed. like with cliff, it wasn't all about $ with him"

http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/154462...

let's see how much he "sacrificed"...
.
Magglio back to Tigres...

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:33pm

Most likely to get dropped from the 40-man roster if the Cubs do sign Kerry Wood;

1. John Gaub
2. Jeff Stevens

BTW, neither Gaub nor Stevens can be a minor league free-agent (yet) if outrighted, so if either one was to clear waivers the Cubs would be able to keep him in the organization and extend an NRI to ST.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:44pm

AZ PHIL: Honestly, neither of these pitchers strike fear in the hearts of opponents in my opinion.

Maybe one of them will end up as a journeyman pitcher on bad teams (like the Cubs), perennial call-up, or 4th person in a trade.

A big "meh".

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:07pm

I nominate Berg.

His K/BB with the Cubs last year in 40 innings was 0.7.

On the final day of the I-Cubs season, ready to clinch a playoff berth, they gave the ball to Berg with a man on in the 7th inning of a 6-3 game. Three outs later, 6-6.

Stevens was 8 for 8 in save opportunities with the I-Cubs in the stretch run. Gaub will get snapped up quickly.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:39pm

I can second that. One pitch, even if you want to grade it at a 70, doesn't make a major league pitcher.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:41pm

Now all we need is to sign Kenny Lofton to lead off

{{ducks}}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsCyC1dZiN8

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 12:42pm

Sammy can come back for Right Field!!!!!

Submitted by Seamhead
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:10pm

With Pena and Wood, looks like Hendry is not only filling some holes, but providing his rookie manager with some veteran, high integrity leadership to help control the asylum.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:38pm

That's a good point, but Wood isn't going to be in the dugout during the games.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:41pm

True, but he's still on the team, and he will be in the bullpen, which also needs leadership of its own.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:44pm

Absolutely agree, am thinking it must be someone's idea other than Hendry, it's like he's making anti-last-few-years decisions, and heaven forbid, decent ones.

Admittedly, Wood is a shaky sign from a pure baseball standpoint, but that all depends on the money (which I read is lower than we thought but haven't got that far in the comments yet), just like trading DeRo may have been the right baseball call at the time (it was) but good personalities are hard to replace in the clubhouse.

Woody was a leader on the North Side before he left, and I think the team will benefit from having him back.

Can they translate that into wins?? That's the big question, and I have no f'n idea, but I can hope....

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:54pm

well, they still have to go into the clubhouse.

when wood was still here he called player meetings and players showed up.

his work ethic helps back up the stuff that comes out of his mouth, too.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:44pm

Sounds more like PR drivel to sell expensive seating for a 75 win team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:45pm

PR drive would mean Sandberg was the manager....

not like the Cubs weren't looking for a RH set-up guy from the very start, maybe not the one you wanted, but he fits the offseason plan.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:37pm

Why didn't they just sign Adam Dunn for the RH BP spot? :)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:47pm

I don't believe it unless they bring back Mark DeRosa, heard he negotiated a treaty between North and South Korea just the other day.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:45pm

nice.

Submitted by dcf
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:19pm

Forget it. Mr Fabulous is the top Matre 'd at the Chez Paul. He's pulling down six bills a week.

You'll never get Matt and Mr Fabulous outta them high paying gigs.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:23pm

+1000 for that reference

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:33pm

Blues Brother'd!!!!!!!

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:00pm

Awesome!!

You win!!

"Ya see, me and the lord we have an understanding."

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 11:05pm

Aha! Cubster with yet another fantastic & relevant YouTube drop-in.

Haven't thought about Tull for awhile. Thanks!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:17pm

Willingham to A's for 2 minor leaguers (I be baffled by the Nats strategy this offseason)

magglio's deal is 1/10M from Tigres

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 1:32pm

Boy, the A's are Giants AL. Without the starting staff...

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:38pm

The A's have a damn good pitching staff though, and arguably pretty close to SF's. One of the best in baseball last year.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:02pm

One for AZ Phil... too lazy to get the link, but MLBTraderumors has a line about the minimum salary going up to $414K next year according to an AP report.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:04pm

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/15/...

As part of the collective bargaining agreement the minimum salary rises at the same rate as the increase in the Consumer Price Index-Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.

Minor leaguers also receive a bump in pay, with the minimum salary for non-big leaguers on the 40-man roster rising from $65,000 to $67,300.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:32pm

That is horrific.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:43pm

Submitted by The Real Neal on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:02pm.
One for AZ Phil... too lazy to get the link, but MLBTraderumors has a line about the minimum salary going up to $414K next year according to an AP report.

===============================================

REAL NEAL: I have re-calculated the right sidebar to reflect the increase in the MLB minimum salary.

I am presently estimating the Cubs 2011 payroll (actual payroll, not inccluding pro-rated signing bonuses not paid in 2011) at $123M.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:05pm

Jenks gets 2/12M from Red Sox

3 closers now or Papelbon can be trade bait

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:10pm

Over under 2/12 for KW and his "Discount"?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:15pm

me guesses Wood gets less in guaranteed money, possibly more with incentives...

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:17pm

EPat traded by Bosox to Padres.

All we need is an article on Cherry-Pie and the gang's all here.

...well maybe Matt Clement's beard

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:45pm

http://twitter.com/TheCCO/status/155028856179...

Chris Archer honored for his 10K game over Cuba by USA baseball with the International Performance of the year or something like that.

Adam LaRoche to O's chatter is building...

Submitted by Craig A.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 2:52pm

Carrie has more than 140 characters on that:
http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/12/12...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:11pm

USA baseball is a wonderful organization...too bad they don't have they olympics anymore.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:13pm

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/press_releas...

AFFILIATE	                MANAGER	         PITCHING COACH	       HITTING COACH	
Iowa (AAA)	        Bill Dancy	         Mike Mason	               Von Joshua	
Tennessee (AA)      	Brian Harper	         Marty Mason	        Mariano Duncan	
Daytona (A)	        Buddy Bailey	        Tom Pratt	                Barbaro Garbey	
Peoria (A)	        Casey Kopitzke	     Jeff Fassero	        Ricardo Medina	
Boise (Short A)	        Mark Johnson	     David Rosario	                 Desi Wilson	
Mesa (Rookie)	        Juan Cabreja	      Rick Tronerud/Frank Castillo	Jason Dubois	
Dominican-1 (Rookie)	Manuel Callado	      Leo Hernandez	                Alberto Garcia	
Dominican-2 (Rookie)	Yudith Ozorio	      Anderson Tavares	        Leo Perez/Franklin Blanco

bwahahahahaha Jason Dubois!!!!

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:18pm

good for the dub.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:21pm

well we know Bobby Scales will have a job offer waiting for him somewhere in the organization

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:24pm

major league cleanup hitter followed by major league manager followed by GM, i imagine...full trip to GM completed by 2016 at the latest.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:35pm

Clinging on for no apparent reason Coach.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:29pm

Dubbie dubbie doo

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:23pm

I'm sure I just missed this somewhere, but did Jody Davis steal Hendry's donuts or something?

if anyone cares, Brian Harper was the Hi-A San Jose Giants coach last year and they won their league. Former major league catcher...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:26pm

i think he's been in the doghouse since he pulled that stunt forfeiting a game by pulling the entire team off the field.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:30pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bu10Qu1ytQ&

go internet go.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:32pm

thanks, forgot about that

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:55pm

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 3:23pm.
I'm sure I just missed this somewhere, but did Jody Davis steal Hendry's donuts or something?

if anyone cares, Brian Harper was the Hi-A San Jose Giants coach last year and they won their league. Former major league catcher

=================================================

ROB G: Jody Davis fate with the Cubs was sealed when he forfeited a Northwest League game in August because he felt the field was not playable. Jo-Dee was fined and suspended by the league and the Cubs werern't real happy about it, either.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:06pm

So the Cubs want their prospects to risk injury for $1200 in extra revenue for a short-season A ball affiliate? I cannot figure out why we never win a World Series.

Submitted by Craig A.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:53pm

Seems like Davis was trying to do the right thing by his players. I don't know why the Cubs couldn't cut him some slack on this.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:25pm

from the brief part that I read just now, the gist of the anger was that he wasn't following orders and needed to respect umps decision and that the field wasn't that bad.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:50pm

Agreed, and there's nothing about him on the interwebs, I'm just wondering which level he'll be managing in Philly's system

*ducks*

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:33pm

That's great news about Wood!

Side note: isn't Mariano Duncan crazy?

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:20pm

No Booze
Even if you have a ticket, you may not get in

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/...

"There will be no encore!!"

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:22pm

Chris De Luca is saying that the Cubs have signed Wood for 1 yr/$1.5M.

http://twitter.com/ChrisDeLuca/status/1552988...

If that is true... that is great!

UPDATE: And the corresponding Sun Times article: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2881713-419/wo...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:23pm

o_O

wuuuuuuuuuuuuut?

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:34pm

Love to see the incentives and clauses on that one.

Makes it to the mound without tripping- $ 1,000.00

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:36pm

"An announcement of Wood's signing could come as early as Friday after the pitcher takes his physical, and after the Players Association and Major League Baseball sign off on the agreement, the source said."

This seems to imply there is more to the contract than a straigh 1 yr/$1.5M.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/st...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:39pm

it's so far under market the player's assoc. would want to look at it.

he supposedly walked away from a 1yr/3.5m as it is.

damn. what a deal.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:50pm

I bet it's like $1.5 guaranteed and $500K for every 10 appearances, with a $5 mil 2012 option that vests at 60 appearances.

Submitted by Stevens
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 5:58pm

Has to be. Something like that. We must just be getting the headline now. No way he's just a straight-up $1.5 mil.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:04pm

I love K, but where was the players assoc when K was sitting for a year.

If K wants to pitch for free, the PA should have no say about it, unless of course there's some tiny print legalese in the CBA. That's an amazing deal. You gotta wonder if K is hoping Hendry will use the extra money to beef up the team more. I think i'd be okay with a Webb crapshoot.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 11:50am

I love K, but where was the players assoc when K was sitting for a year.

Huh? The MLBPA was supposed to say something about Wood being hurt?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 12:38pm

The point is that when players get injured and don't perform at all, they get paid 100% of their salary. Baseball is the only industry I can think of that has that deal going on, though maybe the UAW or one of the dockworkers associations does.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:02pm

Any pro athlete with a contract gets paid their salary in a given year if they're hurt, don't they? Of course, NFL contracts aren't guaranteed from year to year, but NBA contracts are. I assume NHL's are, too.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:26pm

I don't think NHL are, but you're right on MBA (Just ask the poor Houston Rockets). So we have 900 people in America who get this protection. It must be nice!

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:45pm

the mlb player's association is only there to protect the players and their money (as a whole).

when someone takes 1.5m over 3.5m (less than 1/2) the player's association generally wants to know why.

it's usually a very un-intrusive formality, though.

baseball does have a rather recent history of both owners trying to blackmail players and owner collusion.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 6:37pm

NHL contracts are guaranteed for the entire length of the deal, however, a team can release a player and buyout the contract early at a reduced rate, depending on the service time of a player.

One example is player x has been in the league so many years and qualifies for a 60% buyout. I'm not sure if the player has to take the buyout, but if they do, there is an odd hit to the salary cap. Say the player had 10 million left on his deal over 5 years. The team pays the 60% buyout, so $6 million, but for salary cap purposed the $6 million is spread out over twice the length of the contract, so 10 years, in this example. That's a $600k hit per year for 10 years.

It's goofy, with lots of wiggle room, like the Blackhawks sending goalie Cristobal Huet to a team in Switzerland and getting his contract off the books (while paying the entire amount).

Imagine the Cubs sending Soriano to play in Japan and footing the entire bill, but having his money removed from the salary cap. But the NHL has a hard cap in that it's a real cap in that sense. There is no luxury tax in the NHL.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 7:13pm

Don Fehr was just named director of the NHL Players Association.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/12/...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 7:23pm

It's actually dependent on the age of the player.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:22pm

Sun Times Chris Deluca tweets that Kerry Wood signs a one yr deal at $1.5M with Cubs

...somehow I think a decimal has been misplaced

Its on mlbtr too

Submitted by carmenfanzone
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 4:54pm

Regardless of the incentives, you have to ackowledge the sales ability of Jim Hendry.

I've been as down on Jim as the rest of you but I must say, he's selling the Cubby kool-aid this year.

Maybe Hendry was like Dunston-he just needed about 10 years to develop!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:16pm

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/4991

Miles is the first to mention that it will include incentives, believes this means Cashner will get to compete for a starting spot in spring training.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 6:52pm

KERRY WOOOD!!!!!!!!!

(sorry, I'm better now...)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:30pm

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball...

naturally there was food involved in getting the deal done...

In what may be remembered as the Pizza Summit, Kerry Wood and Cubs general manager Jim Hendry huddled Friday night in a cramped hallway at D'Agostino's restaurant in Wrigleyville.

The two had spoken earlier that day at Ron Santo's funeral, but their second meeting at the pizza joint during a charity function for the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Foundation, was Wood's chance to make his pitch.

also mentions incentives based on games finished

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 10:47pm

Games finished?

The other good thing about the deal: if they film the new Spider Man movie in Chicago, Kerry can film the scenes with Tombstone during off-days.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/77/11827...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:35pm

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/201...

*sniff, sniff*

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 8:59pm

retired,back,hurt,crazy,retired

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 9:38pm

lol... nice.

And would it be alright with Cubdom if we rename Kerry Wood "Kid OK"? Because anymore he's just OK.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Thu, 12/16/2010 - 9:42pm

Man, that ain't EVEN right....

Submitted by Stevens
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 12:05am

Love that pic--especially how the wimpiest looking one was the pitching god. Can Maddux seriously not cross his arms and look bad-ass for a second? Or was he just saying "give me a break..."

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 12:12am

about as bad-ass as you'll ever see Maddux

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ltD21rYWVw

"Hey! We got Cy Young winners over here"

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:42am

My then 76 year old father and I went to see spring practices at Fitch park in 2004.

The pitchers were running around the bases, and as you can see they are all about 6'3" in height with a little guy bringing up the rear.

My dad says to me "why is the bat boy running with the pitchers?"

I said "because that bat boy has nearly 300 wins."

dad- "OHHH! That's Maddux???!!!"

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 12:53pm

haha. awesome.

Submitted by Tony S.
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 6:45pm

Love it

Submitted by John Beasley
on Fri, 12/17/2010 - 3:02am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znrjbo9QRLk

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 2:04pm

The article in Friday's NY Times mentions a personal-services contract as an aspect of the Cubs' offer to Wood.

Later in the week, Wood said no to the Yankees, the Chicago White Sox and at least one other team to sign with the Cubs for one year and a $1.5 million base salary as a setup man, with the promise of future employment under a personal-services contract with the team once his playing days are over.

That's probably why Wood met with Ricketts before the deal was finalized.

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