Category: Kerry Wood

Autographed Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano Cubs jerseys for auction at charity event

May 1, 2008 by churchillmom

You’re invited! Please join the Churchill Elementary Home & School Association at the Annual Churchill Elementary Gala and Silent Auction Benefit - An Evening at the Races - Saturday, May 17th at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club in Yorkville, IL - 7pm to midnight.

This year, we have been fortunate to receive autographed Kerry Wood and Carlos Zambrano Cubs jerseys to silent auction at our event. We are spreading the word to Cubs fans who might like to bid on a jersey and support a great cause at the same time.

Wood Returns

November 26, 2007 by cubsnet

The Cubs have signed Kerry Wood to one-year, $4.2M contract, with incentives for games finished. He apparently turned down longer-term, more lucrative contracts to return to the Cubs. He is likely to be given the opportunity to close games in 2008. I am surprised by his return, but thankful. Wood is appreciative of the Cubs. At the same time, he has to be cognizant of the respect Cubs' fans have for him. Signings like this only continue to increase his high standing in Cubs' history.

Hendry: Dempster to Rotation (Really, We Mean It This Time)

November 7, 2007 by cubsnet

There is a lot to digest in Phil Rogers' column in the Chicago Tribune today:

Ryan Dempster is again being told that he will enter the starting rotation. Jim Hendry cites the facts that Demspter won 15 games and went to the All-Star game as a starter. He doesn't mention that those events occurred 6 and 7 years ago, respectively.

But moving Dempster to the rotation frees the Cubs up to offer the closer's role to Kerry Wood as enticement for him to come back. That might work. If it doesn't, the Cubs have Bobby Howry and Carlos Marmol as closer options. Thankfully, Hendry sees the value Marmol offers in the role he played in 2007: "Ideally, I think you'd like to give Marmol another year doing what he did last year, when he could maybe come in and give you two innings at a time and get a little more experience." As Phil Bencomo at Cub Town notes, Wood, Howry, and Marmol are all better relievers than Dempster.

Of course, Sean Marshall is a better starter than Dempster. Sean Gallagher may be as well. But, if Hendry manages to get some team to take Jason Marquis and the $16M the Cubs owe him over the next two years off his hands, Dempster can fill the Marquis role in 2008, for better or worse. (Disclosure: I like Dempster and would love to see him succeed.)

In other news, "Hendry says Piniella will give Felix Pie a chance to become the regular center fielder next spring." At the same time, the Cubs are seeking a regular rightfielder. Neither of those developments bode well for Jacque Jones and Matt Murton.

Cubs Should Offer Wood Arbitration

November 1, 2007 by Squib Hits

Another Cubs Blog has the Cubs' free agent roundup. Even if the Cubs don't re-sign Kerry Wood within their small exclusive negotiating window, they ought to at least offer him arbitration, even though he is not worth a draft pick under the Elias rankings. That decision will not have to be made until December 1.

Wood to Throw a Baseball Monday

May 19, 2007 by Squib Hits

Kerry Wood -- though it's hard to believe -- will turn 30 years old next month. (Which, incidentally, means I turn 30 later this year.) He's been able to pitch through just two full seasons. His latest attempt for a partial season this year will proceed on Monday when he starts throwing a baseball again, reports the AP.

Updated: Wood Not Still Alive (For Opening Day)

March 27, 2007 by Squib Hits

So much for the chance that Kerry Wood would still make the opening day roster. "When the meeting broke up about 9, Hendry emerged, and only after media members pressed him did he confirm what already had been in the public domain: Wood’s troublesome right shoulder is acting up and will put him on the disabled list for an indefinite amount of time," reports the Daily Herald's Bruce Miles. I know we're supposed to move on with Wood and Prior, but, frankly, it's not easy.

Ramirez and Wood Sign

November 12, 2006 by cubsnet

Apparently it just took getting past the exclusive negotiating window and out in the open market for Aramis Ramirez to realize he wanted to stay a Cub. Ramirez agreed "Sunday to a $73 million, five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs," reports the AP. Adding to the good news, in my estimation, is the re-signing of Kerry Wood. Wood agreed "to a $1.75 million, one-year deal that could be worth up to $6 million." Excellent; it would have been too weird to see him in another uniform. Wood belongs in Wrigley Field, helping the Cubs to its first championship since 1908. Wood's "performance bonuses are based on games pitched, games finished and time on the 25-man roster."

Zambrano Likely to Get Oswalt Money

September 4, 2006 by cubsnet

The Chicago Cubs are likely to seek to sign Carlos Zambrano to a contract extension during the offseason, to avoid him becoming a free agent after the 2007 season. For that reason, the Houston Astros' recent signing of Roy Oswalt to a 5-year, $73M extension has much relevance, not only for Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt, as The Sporting News' Mike Berardino notes, but also for Zambrano and the Cubs.

Here are Zambrano's and Oswalt's numbers from July 1, 2002 (when Zambrano entered the Cubs' rotation) through September 3, 2006: