Left-hander Travis Wood has been a plausible rotation candidate all offseason despite his recent work as a reliever with the Cubs, and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweets that Wood is indeed drawing interest as a starter. The veteran has “at least one Major-League contract offer” from a team that wishes to use him in the rotation, per Morosi.
Wood, who’ll soon turn 30, produced good results in the pen last year for Chicago, throwing 61 innings of 2.95 ERA ball — though he did so with just 6.9 K/9 to go with 3.5 BB/9 and benefited from an extremely low .215 BABIP. Despite the sub-3 ERA, those numbers are actually a bit disappointing. Wood had produced a jump in his swinging-strike and strikeout rates upon moving to a relief role in 2015, but essentially reverted to his prior levels (which came as a starter).
Of course, Wood’s history as a starter is a feather in his cap rather than a demerit. He did scuffle in 2014, but ran up exactly two-hundred innings of 3.11 ERA pitching the year prior. All told, he has made 133 big league starts, over which he has allowed 4.19 earned runs per nine.
That being said, there’s also reason to believe that Wood can be a more useful weapon — to a contending team, at least — while working from the pen. He obviously can take on multiple innings if needed, but also has a track record of stifling opposing lefties, making him an excellent match-up option. Over his career, right-handed hitters own a .749 OPS against the southpaw, while same-handed batsmen sit below .600. Those splits were even more severe last season.
That track record at least suggests that Wood can present a depth option, even if he’s signed with intentions of being used in the pen. But it seems there’s at least one team that would be willing to promise him not only a roster spot, but a place in the rotation. Whether that club is also the high bidder, of course, isn’t known.
Dude can also provide some offense with the bat. I would see him having more appeal in the NL.
I hope its an NL team, he’s a lot of fun to watch as a hitter.
st louis could use a lefty starter with experience
The Cards would likely start with him in the bullpen though, as they have quite a bit of major league level starts on the 40-man, even if they are mostly righties. Wood would likely be the 7th or 8th guy in like to start games.
Mo didn’t trade off Garcia to the Braves to sign Wood
Garcia stinks! At least Wood is good
I could see the O’s being interested in him. He’d be better than Ubaldo in the rotation but could also serve as their long man in the bullpen. The O’s are also looking for another lefty pitcher.
i agree the O’s need to go for it!
I agree too. I have been thinking this for about a month. SP/RP/LF?
Could see the Royals being interested
After Yordano’s tragic accident they do need another starter in a market essentially devoid of anyone in their price rage. This makes a lot of sense.
GareBear I think you’re on to something here.
I’d much rather see this route than Jason hammel for the Royals
I predict the padres.
I’d bet that one team is the Padres. They hope he looks good on a two year deal as a starter in their park to flip him at the deadline to some morons like the Marlins. See: Rodney, F.
They have only been giving out 1 year deals to starters and 1.75 million has been the theme. I doubt wood takes that, he would be a nice fit though however.
Diamondbacks, please.. We give him a shot in the already crowded rotation and if he fails, he can be a solid LHP out of our pretty weak bullpen.
Jays have a solid rotation but unfinished bullpen. Maybe work him into a 6-man rotation temporarily. Liriano’s 5 spot becomes a competition… odd man gets lefty job in the pen.
I’d rather they sign Blevins or Logan, woods peripherals are troubling
I don’t understand why the cubs haven’t shown more interest in retaining him.
They need a lefty and rotation depth plus he’s a guy they’re familiar with and Joe obviously loves using in multiple roles.
Wood wants to start, he’s looking at other teams for that opportunity. If the Cubs promised him the 5th starter’s job he would take it.
A team in need of a LF/DH should sign him. He can hit and he had a pretty good play while filling in at left field after the Cubs ran out of position players late in the game
i could see pittsburgh going after him. they were on the quintana hunt and still have no lefty starter. they have lots of leftys in the bp though.
I think the Marlins should pick him up, they need a guy like this.
I’d like to see my Cubs bring him back. Always liked him
Come to the Giants and you can swing that bat of yours, too! We need another lefty!