Cubs sign Wood for shot at closing

Links (7)

Chicago Has Wood Again
Published 11/26/2007 by Sooze at Babes Love Baseball
... apparently, other clubs were interested in the papier-mache pitcher. We're talking multi-year offers here, people. The 30-year-old righty may make an additional $3.45 million in performance bonuses, rounding out the hind-end of the bullpen. So, Chicago is Wood's home, it's where he's pitched for his entire career, blah blah blah... what's important is the over/under on his return lasting 10 starts before he (inevitably) hurts himself. I'll take the under. [Chicago Sun-Times] | [The Curse of Wrigley Field] | [MLB Trade ...

Tuesday Morning Headlines
Published 11/27/2007 by Al <al@bleedcubbieblue.com> at Bleed Cubbie Blue: Front Page Posts
... Kerry Wood's going to get his shot as closer. Good, I say. I have always felt, since Wood got hurt after 2003, that he would be well suited for closing. He's got the right mental makeup and when healthy, that terrific fastball. ...

Cubs have until Dec. 12 to make decision on Prior
Published 11/27/2007 at MLB - Sports Rumors - Yahoo! Sports
... him to regain form in 2008 only to get leveraged against his free agency in 2009 the Sum-Times said. Prior, whose best-case prognosis for a return to the mound is early in the 2008 season, is in his final winter of arbitration eligibility. He made $3.575 million last year, and because teams are not allowed to cut the salaries of controlled players by more than 20 percent, he cannot be paid less than $2.86 million by the Cubs, whether he reaches an arbitration hearing or not. Source: Chicago Sun-Times Related: ...

Kerry Wood To Contend For Cubs Closer Spot in 2008
Published 11/27/2007 by Knox at Crooked Pitch
... Kerry Wood, who recently signed a one-year, $4.2 million deal to stay with the Cubs has just had his hat thrown into the ring for the vacant closer job in Chicago. ...

Cubs May Trade Mark Prior
Published 11/27/2007 by Tim Dierkes at MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
... , and Gordon Wittenmyer.  The Cubs have until December 12th to make a decision one way or another - that date is the last day for teams to offer 2008 contracts to unsigned players. ...

News Roundup: Pirates Name Don Long Hitting Coach
Published 11/27/2007 by Charlie <info@buccosdugout.com> at Bucs Dugout: Front Page Posts
... makes good. Of course, it's possible that none of that was Long's fault, and the Phillies haven't drafted a lot of high profile hitters in that time. -P- Dave Parker is on the Hall of Fame ballot, but can I get some love for Bert Blyleven and newcomer Tim Raines? Raines was an exceptional basestealer, but his best skill was actually his plate discipline, and I wonder if that might cause some voters to leave him off the ballot. -P- The Cubs re-signed Kerry Wood to a one-year, $4.2 million contract.

Kerry Wood Signs, Will Make Run at Closer's Role
Published 11/28/2007 by Bryan at OUT OF RIGHT FIELD
... off, he's off. If we wanted to watch a closer that would scare us to death with his walks, Ryan Dempster would still be the closer. The fact that Kerry Wood will even enter Spring Training as a Closer contender is the wrong move. The absolute shut down guys who are consistently shut down guys are Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry. Give Kerry Wood a "Holds" clause and get this Closer nonsense out of everybody's minds right now. Kerry Wood is a set-up man, period. Kerry Wood Covets Closer's Role [Chicago Sun-Times] ...