Kerry Wood News

Disappointed Wood: 'It was a great run'
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November 15
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Kerry Wood may be moving on, but he may never stop looking back. The Cubs' former ace -- who went from overnight sensation in 1998 to an All-Star closer for the Cubs this past season -- called his departure from the only organization he has known ''bittersweet'' and said eventually he'd like to return to the Cubs in some capacity. Speaking publicly Friday for the first time since the team informed him it planned to cut ties, Wood praised general manager Jim Hendry for his honesty and said he knew through much of the season that this change of direction could be coming. ''It wasn't a big surprise. I don't think I would have been surprised either way,'' said Wood, who later suggested he ..."
A too-amicable divorce
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November 15
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood left the Cubs on a classy note Friday as he thanked general manager Jim Hendry for his honesty and suggested the closer's job was in good hands with Carlos Marmol. But the nagging question for Cubs fans remained unanswered: Why did Wood have to leave? The Cubs told Wood he should pursue a lucrative three- or four-year deal for his own best interests, though Wood said he would have accepted a one-year deal. "That was an avenue we kind of approached," he said. "But they have some issues they have to take care of, and at the end I wasn't as important as a lot of other aspects of the team. Marmol, we all know what he's capable of doing." Asked Thursday whether Wood had told the Cubs ..."
Kerry Wood deserves chance to close with bang
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November 14
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Rick Morrissey
"There shouldn't be any hard feelings on either side, not if people are using their heads. Even if people are using their hearts, which would make sense when it comes to Kerry Wood, there shouldn't be any hard feelings. The Cubs all but said goodbye to their closer Thursday, announcing they wouldn't give him a multiyear contract and wishing him well in his free agency endeavors. He's about to become a much richer man. It's too bad the Cubs' portion of his career is ending, but the bigger point—the better point—is that his career is continuing. There was a time, a very long time, when it would have been hard to convince anyone that Wood's career had anything resembling a future. So no hard ..."
Cubs make sound baseball move
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November 14
Chicago Tribune
 columnist Phil Rogers
"Kerry Wood is leaving, and just like old friends Mark Grace and the late Rod Beck, he still doesn't know what it's like to celebrate a trip to the World Series with the Cubs. It's a shame, but it's not a surprise. The surprise — to me, anyway — is the Cubs didn't get Ryan Dempster signed to a contract extension Thursday when their exclusive signing period ended. That means he hits the open market Friday, which greatly increases the chances he'll leave. Don't be surprised if the Cubs strike quickly either to finalize a Jake Peavy trade or sign another of the eligible free-agent starters. Although if Lou Piniella gets his wish, they will take Dempster's money and sign Bobby Abreu or Raul ..."
'Good citizen's' spot in Cubs' lore secure
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November 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"It might have been the most difficult call of his career, but Jim Hendry's decision Thursday to let Kerry Wood leave the Cubs to seek a better deal elsewhere was made with his head, not his heart. After acquiring Florida reliever Kevin Gregg for Double-A pitcher Jose Ceda, Hendry reluctantly announced the club would not try to re-sign Wood, who is seeking a multiyear contract. "Honestly, we feel for his own good, and for the good of him and his family, there is going to be a longer and more lucrative deal somewhere else than there would be here now," Hendry said. "And it would be unfair to keep it dangling for another month or so and say, 'Let's see where the ownership situation is going, ..."
Kerrying on without Wood
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November 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs closed one era as they prepared to open the make-or-break part of their offseason work, cutting ties with Wrigley Field icon Kerry Wood on the eve of the open free-agency period. With Wood expected to command a multiyear contract worth $10 million or more annually as a free agent, general manager Jim Hendry met with the All-Star closer this week to discuss the club's intentions. Hendry then completed a trade Thursday that landed Florida Marlins closer Kevin Gregg for hard-throwing pitching prospect Jose Ceda. ''We all feel Kerry is deserving of a three- or four-year, long-term contract,'' said Hendry, who has an especially close relationship with the longest-tenured Cub. ''We're ..."
Wood first since '45 to play on four Cubs playoff teams
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September 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs haven't buried the curses yet or even gotten to that first World Series since 1945, but Kerry Wood has accomplished a 63-year first for the franchise just by helping this team get to the postseason. He's the first to play on four Cubs postseason teams since third baseman Stan Hack, who was on the 1932, '35, '38 and '45 pennant winners. In fact, since the Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance and Three Finger Brown crew 100 years ago, only three Cubs had accomplished that before Wood: pitcher Charley Root and catcher Gabby Hartnett (teammates in '29, '32, '35 and '38) and Hack. ''I was just talking to Daryle Ward about that,'' Wood said Sunday in Milwaukee. ''This is the fourth time, so 40 ..."
Wood a constant presence on Cubs' playoff teams
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September 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"After the 2007 season ended and Kerry Wood became a free agent, he told general manager Jim Hendry to give him a contract he felt was fair and he'd sign it without a second thought. Wood wound up agreeing to a one-year deal for $4.2 million and incentives, taking much less than his market value so he could try to help the Cubs get to the World Series. After