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Kerry Wood

Teams Still Interested In Kerry Wood

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Just got word from a solid source, an insider who had previously indicated the Devil Rays’ interest in Ervin Santana back in December.  This time, he’s got some info concerning oft-injured Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood.

Word is that despite Wood’s awful health record, Jim Hendry is shopping him and has received some interest.  The Rangers would like to add Wood and may give up John Danks or Thomas Diamond to get him. 

Danks, a 21 year-old southpaw, has made some progress in his second stint in Double A.  His strikeout rate is way up and his control has improved, though his home run prevention has worsened.  Danks is mentioned as a potential #2 starter one day by Baseball America, and should earn a promotion to Triple A this year if he can further improve upon his 4.41 ERA and 1.39 WHIP.

Diamond is a 23 year-old righty with a mid-90s fastball and a good changeup.  He’s also done better in his second stint at Double A Frisco, managing a 4.15 ERA despite his 1.48 WHIP.  Diamond has whiffed over 11 batters per nine innings, but his walks per nine has soared past 6.  Diamond and Danks are ranked #2-3 in strikeouts in the Texas League, behind only Juan Gutierrez in the Astros’ system.

Wood would have to approve a trade to any club, and the Rangers seem more likely than another possible suitor: the Yankees.  I’m told the Yanks are poking around as well, but don’t have details on any offers.  Given that Wood’s $13.5MM option will most certainly be bought out for 2007, a trade to Texas would be contingent on a restructured agreement for 2007 with Wood.

Wood is no lock to be traded, and could turn into an effective, healthy pitcher if used in the bullpen.  The Cubs are certainly open to the idea of retaining Wood for 2007 at a discounted price.

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Fire Sale In Chicago?

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It’s May 28th and the Cubs are now 13.5 games out of first place, 13 games under .500.  The June schedule doesn’t include any pushover matchups (if there is such a thing for this club).  It’s becoming time to shake things up.  Which players are the most likely trade candidates?

How about Kerry Wood?  Yes, he loves Chicago and has a no-trade clause.  But there are a couple of teams in Texas who could use Wood as a backup option if they miss out on Roger Clemens. 

The Rangers are clinging to first place right now and could get Adam Eaton back in July.  Still, if the league figures out John Koronka the second time around, there may be a need for more starting pitching.  Wood makes $11MM and has the huge injury history, but he’d make for an intriguing pickup if he improves over the next month.  Seems to me that a Jason Botts would be plenty given how far Wood’s stock has fallen.

Houston would probably only express a mild interest in the event that Roger Clemens goes to the Yankees.  They could part with Willy Taveras, and then Jim Hendry would have his low-OBP speedster atop the lineup for years to come.

I’ve seen Aramis Ramirez’s name bandied about in the local papers.  Ramirez’s current four-year deal includes a player void option after ’06, built in by agent Paul Kinzer in the event that he has a monster 2006 season.  He’s off to a slow start, but does have an .848 OPS for May.  Even an off-year, resulting in .270-30-90, would be more than enough to top three years and $33MM in the free market.  That’s what’s left on his current deal.  Ramirez only turns 28 this year.  Still, he doesn’t sound like a man who wants to bail out.  One could envision the Angels, Phillies, or Dodgers getting involved if the Cubs decide to shop Ramirez.  He’s probably the team’s most marketable player, Mark Prior included.

Greg Maddux has a handshake agreement that he will not be traded.  Still, he could have some interest in helping the Padres, Giants, Angels, or A’s make a pennant run.  Unfortunately for the Cubs, Maddux’s hot streak came at a time when teams aren’t ready to make deals (April).  Is Maddux hungry for pennant race baseball at all costs, or is he complacent the way Jamie Moyer was last summer?  Funny how the Chicago press was calling for a contract extension for Maddux after his renaissance (one month of excellent pitching). 

Juan Pierre seems very likely to be dealt.  There’s just one little problem: his .231/.268/.286 line.  The speedster hasn’t quite been Rondell White/Yadier Molina bad, but he’s still been awful.  If Pierre can heat up for a month or so the Cubs might be able to get something useful in return.  He would seem to fit in with the Angels or White Sox.  How about Brian Anderson for Pierre? John Mabry better watch his back.

The Cubs will definitely send off Todd Walker at some point this summer.  Countless teams would have interest in the affordable second base/DH candidate.  Role players like Scott Williamson and John Mabry are trade candidates as well.  Despite poor control this season, Williamson could be the most marketable of the three.

The Cubs have a host of additional undesirable to awful type contracts that probably could not be unloaded.  This includes Jacque Jones, Glendon Rusch, and Neifi Perez.  Some might include Bob Howry and Scott Eyre on this list despite their excellent starts.  If the Cubs want to use 2007 to rebuild, the two relievers should be shopped.   

Wood To Have Knee Surgery

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Looks like Kerry Wood will have minor arthroscopic knee surgery.  Chicago radio station The Score speculates that it could put him back another couple of weeks.  Wood apparently threw this morning, so the need may have popped up today.

It seems that a June return to the Majors may be Wood’s new target.

Kerry Wood for Vidro & Church?

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A new Cubs trade rumor found its way into my inbox this morning courtesy of loyal reader Derek.  Yesterday, Jim Williams wrote a column for the Washington Examiner suggesting the Cubs might deal Kerry Wood for Jose Vidro and Ryan Church this spring.

He mentions the health issues surrounding both Wood and Vidro and that both players would have to be ready to play.  Williams also says Wood’s huge contract could be a concern.  Looking at the numbers, Wood makes $11MM in 2006 and has a $13.5MM option for 2007 with a $3MM buyout attached.  Vidro will make $7MM in ’06, $7.5MM in ’07, and $8.5MM in ’08.  Church makes the minimum, having played just 132 games in the bigs.

I talked to three of my Cubs sources to see if they thought this rumor had any validity.  One called it "totally absurd."  The another said that given Wood’s blanket no-trade clause, the rumor’s not feasible.  I haven’t been able to find Jim Williams’s email address to ask him about that aspect of the deal.  A third source called the rumor sounded "shaky," saying that Wood would probably approve a deal to the Astros or Rangers, but not the Nationals.  He mentioned that Wood will need more than spring training to prove his shoulder is healthy, and a July trade wouldn’t be a surprise.   

My thoughts on the players: Vidro’s decline is coming on fast and he may never be completely healthy again.  Church will be a solid Major Leaguer if he gets the opportunity.  Wood seems destined for the bullpen in the long-term, perhaps with a Gagne-like run in the cards. 

Willy Taveras, Jarrod Washburn Mentioned For Cubs

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Chicago Sun-Times writer Chris De Luca has a few names he thinks would work for the Cubs.  Said De Luca today:

"It’s too bad Wood’s future is so murky. The Houston Astros, in need of pitching and always in the market for homegrown stars such as Wood, are listening to offers for center fielder Willy Taveras, the runner-up in National League Rookie of the Year voting. With the Astros showing more trust in Chris Burke during the postseason, Taveras has become a hot name on the trade market."

While one Juan Pierre in the lineup has a chance of working, two of them certainly would not.  You can’t get four home runs between two outfield spots.

De Luca also mentions that Jarrod Washburn and his 3.20 ERA "should have been an option, but Hendry has shown little interest in the left-hander."  De Luca first mentioned the Cubs as a possible suitor back on November 18th.

I can’t agree here either.  If you compare Washburn’s indicators (baserunners and HR allowed, strikeout rate) you’ll notice that Washburn posted a 4.64 ERA in 2004 with indicators very similar to this year.  In other words, a huge chunk of that 3.20 that’s going to earn Washburn an extra $10MM can be attributed to luck.

Latest Cubs Rumors – Furcal, Wood, Nixon

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As we approach the winter meetings, all kinds of crazy rumors are making the rounds.  First and foremost is a possible three-way deal between the Rangers, A’s, and Cubs as reported by Sunday’s edition of the Chicago Tribune.  WSCR, a radio station in Chicago, has cited tomorrow’s Phil Rogers column about the trade.

The details:  The Cubs send Kerry Wood and $6MM to the Rangers for Kevin Mench.  The Cubs would also surrender Todd Walker and prospects and would receive Barry Zito from Oakland.  It’s unclear what prospects would go Oakland’s way, although it’s fair to speculate Beane would ask for #1 prospect Felix Pie.  Thanks to Alex and Mike for passing it along, and you can read a message board thread on the deal here.

My opinion?  Doesn’t sound valid in the proposed form.  As mentioned on the Inside The Ivy message board, it sounds more like a Phil Rogers opinion column.  Rogers can’t be reached to confirm the rumor.  The Cubs have plenty of starting pitcher and outfielder options on the table, and can make a deal without surrendering Pie.  Given that Beane holds the cards with six starters, only the Cubs’ very best could entice him.  I don’t think this deal happens.

I’ve also been informed that George Ofman from WSCR is reporting that Rafael Furcal will make his final decision by noon CST on December 4th.  It’s still unknown which way he’s leaning.  It’s well-known that the Dodgers have put in a three-year, $39MM bid for the shortstop.  The offer is a smart one and mitigates L.A.’s risk nicely.  Given that it could bring Furcal more money in both the short and long term, the Dodgers must be a serious option.

A source in the Red Sox organization mentions that the Cubs have interest in 31 year-old right fielder Trot Nixon.  Nixon hasn’t had 500 at-bats since 2002, but he’s hit well when healthy.  Nixon mashes right-handers but struggles mightily with southpaws.  The Red Sox are rumored to have interest in Corey Patterson.

Thanks to Alex, Mike, Nick, and Cody

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