Kerry Wood for bullpen help?

Jitpal · Post #1 » by **Jitpal** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 3:36 pm

It's a very low risk/high reward type move. He is healthy right now and getting him for bullpen could help a lot. He pitched 24.1 out of the Cubs bullpen last year with pretty good numbers. Not the best numbers out there but pretty damn good if you want to put him into a setup or 7th inning role. 24Ks and 13BB with 0HRs. I say we offer him a 2 year, 8 million dollar deal with incentives of innings pitched. Somewhat like the deal we gave Dotel except unlike Dotel he is healthy now and we wouldn't have to wait. He isn't even a type B free agent so no picks lost in the process.

Wood's fastball was clocked as high as 98 m.p.h. toward the end of the season, and he was unscored on in 18 of 22 appearances. Now, with 4 1/2 more months of rest for his rehabbed shoulder, Wood's arm strength might give him the option of starting or relieving in '08.

Name recognition alone could make Wood a hot commodity, and with old friend Joe Girardi now managing the New York Yankees, the chances of Wood wearing dark blue pinstripes are probably decent if he bolts the Cubs. Other teams that figure to be interested include Texas, Houston, Arizona, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston and Cincinnati, which is now managed by his former Cubs skipper, Dusty Baker.

Link

I think it's worth picking him up and he would cost a lot less than Linebrink or Cordero in terms of money and picks. -Jitpal

Starksfor3 · Post #2 » by **Starksfor3** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 4:19 pm

Yes. But the Cubs fans still love him and he might feel like he owes them something for sticking with him through his injuries.

swisscheeseD · Post #3 » by **swisscheeseD** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 4:24 pm

im fine without another injury-prone former cubbie in the back of my bullpen....

kyle farnsworth anybody???

although i like farny's stuff....hes too inconsistent

Post #4 » by **PR07** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 5:07 pm

Wood has some overpowering and nasty stuff to be a setup guy.

VinnyTheMick · Post #5 » by **VinnyTheMick** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 5:10 pm

I wouldn't hate the deal.

Fury · Post #6 » by **Fury** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 6:16 pm

As long as we don't over pay. Wood won't cost us any draft picks, and if all goes well he can be our setup guy.

#1knickfan · Post #7 » by **#1knickfan** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 8:31 pm

Fury wrote:As long as we don't over pay. Wood won't cost us any draft picks, and if all goes well he can be our setup guy.

With the free agent market the way it is the fact that he can still rifle it will mean we will have to overpay. To me....its worth the risk.

TKF · Post #8 » by **TKF** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 8:41 pm

before all the injuries, woods and pryor along with zambrano was a nasty as hell looking trio!!!!!

cmaff051 · Post #9 » by **cmaff051** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 8:53 pm

TKF wrote:before all the injuries, woods and pryor along with zambrano was a nasty as hell looking trio!!!!!

What could have been..... they could have been the next Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux... they were that good.

As for this thread, I'd definitely take a chance on Kerry Wood. All he'll cost is money.

Wade2k6 · Post #10 » by **Wade2k6** » Thu Nov 1, 2007 9:58 pm

I think it would be a relitively good move by the Yanks. A low risk/very high reward guy for the situation in the bullpen. It would probably be a pretty good position for him to come into too, setting up for Mo and having Joba leave for the rotation would leave the spot for Woods taking. I could see him as a guy that could really help this bullpen.

Lconte17 · Post #11 » by **Lconte17** » Fri Nov 2, 2007 12:06 am

Im game with a kerry wood signing. maybe like a 3 year 14 mil contract with incentives?

Post #12 » by **moocow007** » Fri Nov 2, 2007 1:37 am

Yeah I'd be fine with that.

I don't think there were every any issues about Wood's mental toughness. It's always been about physical durability. If the Yankees want to take a chance they'd want to make sure that the guy's at least mentally strong.

TKF · Post #13 » by **TKF** » Fri Nov 2, 2007 3:11 am

cmaff051 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

What could have been..... they could have been the next Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux... they were that good.

As for this thread, I'd definitely take a chance on Kerry Wood. All he'll cost is money.

It just goes to show how great those yankee teams were, we beat that braves team, with those great pitching staffs, twice in the world series.... and did it with relative ease after losing the first two games of the 96 WS. We beat them 8 in a row after that... Now that is great. wow.... but I respect those braves teams, living in atlanta during their run, it was crazy!!

Post #14 » by **PR07** » Fri Nov 2, 2007 5:24 am

If he can stay healthy, Wood has that electric stuff out of the bullpen almost like Joba does. He'd be a really good acquisition I think, Girardi would have to be a little careful with him though.

#1knickfan · Post #15 » by **#1knickfan** » Fri Nov 2, 2007 2:22 pm

PacersRule07 wrote:If he can stay healthy, Wood has that electric stuff out of the bullpen almost like Joba does. He'd be a really good acquisition I think, Girardi would have to be a little careful with him though.

I agree that Girardi would need to be careful with him but I think he'll manage the bullpen more effectively. Torre's a great coach but he only pitches guys he is 100% comfortable with and puts a lot of wear and tear on our best relievers. I think Girardi will handle the bullpen better.