Kerry Wood to Cleveland??

[jimbof20]

apparently close to signing him..first i heard of this but i do like it

 

[jimbof20]

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/35825244.html

 

[MrMulligan]

I like this team and think Wood is a huge upgrade...would really like them with more SP and a move of Perralta to 3B while signing Rafael Furcal.....:cheers:

 

[Kramer]

Wood definitely makes sense for a team like Cleveland. If they add a few pieces like a Furcal as MM suggests they can compete in the AL Central next year

 

[ManchesterUk]

I think hes finished,time will tell.

 

[MrMulligan]

I think hes finished,time will tell.

You think Kerry Wood is finished?

Wasn't he 5-4, 3.26, 34 sv (84/18 K/BB in 66 1/3 innings) at the age of 31 last year?

Obviously he's injury prone but age 31 is the "sweet spot" for closers and if he's anything like last year he's a BIG upgrade for the Indians.

 

[ManchesterUk]

Mully,I guess I`ll never get to grips with baseball trades.I always look at it this way.If he wasnt fucked ,Lou and the boys would have held onto him.
I maybe need to look at things a different way

Really looking forward to the season,and being on CTG with you lads..
I wasted 3 yrs on another forum.

Good luck

 

[tipyerbartender1]

He's not done. As Wood's agent said, his last pitch in the NLDS hit 97 on the gun. (That guy may be a little biased though.) No arm trouble last season in the closer slot, just the blister. The scouts and the even-keeled Cubs fans, if there are any, say he pretty much looked like Kerry Wood's supposed to look.

I'm philosophically opposed to signing free agent closers, I prefer the in-house-development approach there for a mid-market because it's usually such an accidental role. Flip 'em before their payday comes due. But I can stomach this one. Not my money.

 

[MrMulligan]

He's not done. As Wood's agent said, his last pitch in the NLDS hit 97 on the gun. (That guy may be a little biased though.) No arm trouble last season in the closer slot, just the blister. The scouts and the even-keeled Cubs fans, if there are any, say he pretty much looked like Kerry Wood's supposed to look.

I'm philosophically opposed to signing free agent closers, I prefer the in-house-development approach there for a mid-market because it's usually such an accidental role. Flip 'em before their payday comes due. But I can stomach this one. Not my money.

If you're developing young SP having a proven closer is important...will be nice for Cleveland's rotation to see a strong 7-8 innings rewarded with a W.....:shake:

 

[MrMulligan]

Mully,I guess I`ll never get to grips with baseball trades.I always look at it this way.If he wasnt fucked ,Lou and the boys would have held onto him.
I maybe need to look at things a different way

Really looking forward to the season,and being on CTG with you lads..
I wasted 3 yrs on another forum.

Good luck

Tribune Co. just filed for bankruptcy and is desperate to sell the Cubs so they have to be cognizant of salary.
Letting Wood go as a FA saves $$$, especially when they have Marmol as a young, inexpensive, and competent replacement.....:shake:

 

[tipyerbartender1]

It's official. Wood's in the wigwam.

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent RHP Kerry Wood to a two-year Major League contract with a club option for the 2011 season.

Wood, 31, converted 34 saves in 40 opportunities with the Cubs last summer in his first season as a closer. Wood went 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 65 appearances in 2008, striking out 84 batters and walking 18 in 66 1/3 innings.

"The signing of Kerry Wood brings to the Cleveland Indians a powerful presence in the back of our bullpen and in our clubhouse," said Cleveland Indians Executive Vice President and General Manager Mark Shapiro. "Kerry fills our need for a closer and fits our team's culture perfectly as he is a dominant talent and an outstanding teammate and person."

 

[tipyerbartender1]

I think it'll work out O.K. Lighter workload seems to have harnessed what he's got left, and he's not an old dude.

Pretty good little bully Shapiro's building, Wood at the back end, the two Raffys, Jensen Lewis, Joe Smith ... one more SP, even some veteran Paul Byrdesque ham-and-egger is next on my Christmas wish list.

Central's wide open in '09.

 

[tipyerbartender1]

Veering off topic in the thread, but here's your opening day line-up if they do nothing else ...

1. Sizemore-CF
2. Carroll-2B
3. Martinez-C
4. Peralta-3B
5. Hafner-DH
6. Francisco-LF
7. Choo-LF
8. Garko-1B
9. Cabrera-SS

(3 thru 8 exact order is a guess at best, those guys were all over the line-up in August and September, but I think those are going to be your regulars unless Barfield has an eye-opening spring. Wedge likes Carroll.)

Can you live with that, Tribe fans? Defense looks better.

 

[STEED]

I hate Carroll. As long as Pronk gets back to being himself, and Choo and Johnny stay hot, we'll be legit.

 

[tipyerbartender1]

I like Carroll in a utility role, not as an every day 2B/two-hole hitter. But I think they're intent on moving Peralta to 3B and Cabrera to SS, even though they haven't said it out loud. So I think Barfield's got to win the job, or you'll have to live with Carroll.

Maybe a trade for a 2B solves it, or a trade for a 3B or SS keeps Peralta at SS and/or Cabrera at 2B, but I don't see them signing a FA starting infielder at this point. Overpaid a bit for Wood, and saddled with that horrible Hafner contract. They're done spending. Maybe a low-rent SP that can give them some innings - and probably not a lot of wins - but that's about it.

A bit surprised Shapiro hasn't splashed with a sort of big trade to shore up the rotation or the middle of the order. Shoppach, Francisco, Peralta, Garko, Adam Miller, even Martinez ... all expendable and attractive to other teams. My only untouchables are Sizemore, Cabrera, Choo (surprisingly), Cliff Lee, Carmona, Raffy Perez, and some of the not-ready-for-prime-timers in the pipe line.

 

[STEED]

You think overpaid for Wood? I sort of agree, but not entirely. We need someone like that guy. Good move.

I do agree with that awful Hafner contract...and the fact their they are done spending. We don't need much...we just need guys to perform how their suppose to. Two years ago we had this amazing run, all hyped up that EVERYONE was coming back and then they shit down their leg in the Central.

Anyways, I'm exicted, but I want to see more happen. Things need to be mixed up because I just don't think 'Kerry Wood' was the entire answer...

 

[tipyerbartender1]

I suspect Wood had some suitors after K-Rod signed with the Mets. Probably worth it just to keep him out of Detroit and force the Tigers to keep sweating and sobbing in the 9th, becoming a Motown tradition.

 

[signalcaller]

What does Fuentes gather in this market? 3/30??? No more than that I would hope. Wouldnt mind getting him as a Brewer fan.

 

[Kramer]

I'd say between 3 and b/w 30-35mil.

 

[Yanks27Sox9]

Central's wide open in '09.

respectfully disagree.
like i said about detroit, then clev last year...the white sox will have a fall off this coming season.

this is cleveland's division to take in '09. they're my 1a.
1b is either minny or detroit...whoever gets the most outta their pitching.

then there's the rest. but it'll be a 2 team race, imho.

 

[G-Man]

I hate Carroll. As long as Pronk gets back to being himself, and Choo and Johnny stay hot, we'll be legit.

Sorry to say, but Pronk is a victim of likely 'supplement use' IMO. So many guys in the last 2 years are just fragments of what they were on the 'juice'.

Id like to think that Haffner (Pronk) is one who didnt 'use', but he never brought that same swing to the plate this year, that he once had.

Im also HIGHLY skepical of catcher Victor Martinez. TWO home runs last year? In 260 at bats? Juice as well? Tribe should have kept Shoppach.

Trade him (Haffner) - if he's worth anything in the "real insider market" of those who know. He is way over paid (8 million) and doesnt produce like others who are paid like him.

 

[tipyerbartender1]

^
Unfortunately, G-Man, Tribe couldn't get a box of stale donuts for Hafner. They're stuck with him. Who would trade for 30-something $10-million player who can't play in the field, is coming off shoulder surgery, and worst of all can't hit? A designated hitter who can't hit. Probably right about the roids, saw him on TV at some holiday charity thing the other day, he looks like he's shrunk. (Sez it's "diet".)

On the bright side, they did keep Shoppach. He's still an Indian. Hard to believe a couple years later but the jewel of the Marte-Crisp trade with Boston has turned out to be the throw-in, Kelly Shoppach.

 

[Smokedawg]

he sounds like the perfect fit for the Orioles

Quick! Get Peter Angelos on the phone!

 

[MrMulligan]

respectfully disagree.
like i said about detroit, then clev last year...the white sox will have a fall off this coming season.

this is cleveland's division to take in '09. they're my 1a.
1b is either minny or detroit...whoever gets the most outta their pitching.

then there's the rest. but it'll be a 2 team race, imho.

:cheers:

 

[Yanks27Sox9]

^
Unfortunately, G-Man, Tribe couldn't get a box of stale donuts for Hafner. They're stuck with him. Who would trade for 30-something $10-million player who can't play in the field, is coming off shoulder surgery, and worst of all can't hit? A designated hitter who can't hit. Probably right about the roids, saw him on TV at some holiday charity thing the other day, he looks like he's shrunk. (Sez it's "diet".)

early last season, watched him against the halos. santana might've been on the hill. but the halos really exposed a hole in hafner's swing, and he never seemed to hit again (over the course of the season) after that game/series.

don't see him that often...but from the outside looking in, it was almost like the rest of the league saw that...and took advantage...as hafner hasn't been able to adjust...to a ball that moves low and in on him, just off the plate.


anyways, doesn't matter. the injuns still got 3 OFers...and LaPorta to take over the DH role, as he matures.

 

[G-Man]

^
Unfortunately, G-Man, Tribe couldn't get a box of stale donuts for Hafner. They're stuck with him. Who would trade for 30-something $10-million player who can't play in the field, is coming off shoulder surgery, and worst of all can't hit? A designated hitter who can't hit. Probably right about the roids, saw him on TV at some holiday charity thing the other day, he looks like he's shrunk. (Sez it's "diet".)

On the bright side, they did keep Shoppach. He's still an Indian. Hard to believe a couple years later but the jewel of the Marte-Crisp trade with Boston has turned out to be the throw-in, Kelly Shoppach.

Agree on the opinion of Hafner. I never liked him much even when he hit HR's. He was a reduced version of Jim Thome, who is just as bad with RISP in the first 2 months of the season.

Yes Shop is still here and he is a far better catcher behind the plate then Victor.

 

[G-Man]

early last season, watched him against the halos. santana might've been on the hill. but the halos really exposed a hole in hafner's swing, and he never seemed to hit again (over the course of the season) after that game/series.

don't see him that often...but from the outside looking in, it was almost like the rest of the league saw that...and took advantage...as hafner hasn't been able to adjust...to a ball that moves low and in on him, just off the plate.


anyways, doesn't matter. the injuns still got 3 OFers...and LaPorta to take over the DH role, as he matures.

Cleveland stole those three guys from Mil. May turn out to be the best trade in Cleveland history? C.C was on his way to NY regardless of what Cleveland would have offered.