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12-14-2003, 06:04 PM
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
December 14, 2003
NEW ORLEANS -- While Houston tries to entice Roger Clemens to change his mind about retirement, the Cubs turned their focus to another Texas fireballer Saturday on another slow day at the winter meetings.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry opened formal contract talks with representatives for Kerry Wood, hoping to keep him in a Cubs uniform through 2006 or '07.
While no figures were revealed, Wood's price tag figures to be prohibitive. Wood is expected to seek a four-year deal worth around $50 million, on par with the recent deal Bartolo Colon signed with Anaheim.
Perhaps the closest pitcher to Wood in terms of service time and overall success is St. Louis' Matt Morris, who will earn $12.5 million in 2004 during the final year of a three-year, $27 million deal. Morris has a 72-42 record and a 3.28 earned-run average with 738 strikeouts in 982 2/3 innings; Wood is 59-41 with a 3.62 ERA and 1,065 strikeouts in 902 2/3 innings.
"I think both sides would like to get a multiyear deal done, if possible," Hendry said. "Neither side has made it a secret. We would love to keep Woody, and Woody, I'm sure, would prefer to stay."
The 26-year-old Wood is coming off his best season. He earned an All-Star berth, led the majors with 266 strikeouts and won two games against Atlanta in the division series to help the Cubs reach the National League Championship Series. The Cubs may want to keep the extension to three years, however, because of concerns over Wood's back, which flared up on a few occasions during the 2003 season.
Tribune staff reporter
December 14, 2003
NEW ORLEANS -- While Houston tries to entice Roger Clemens to change his mind about retirement, the Cubs turned their focus to another Texas fireballer Saturday on another slow day at the winter meetings.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry opened formal contract talks with representatives for Kerry Wood, hoping to keep him in a Cubs uniform through 2006 or '07.
While no figures were revealed, Wood's price tag figures to be prohibitive. Wood is expected to seek a four-year deal worth around $50 million, on par with the recent deal Bartolo Colon signed with Anaheim.
Perhaps the closest pitcher to Wood in terms of service time and overall success is St. Louis' Matt Morris, who will earn $12.5 million in 2004 during the final year of a three-year, $27 million deal. Morris has a 72-42 record and a 3.28 earned-run average with 738 strikeouts in 982 2/3 innings; Wood is 59-41 with a 3.62 ERA and 1,065 strikeouts in 902 2/3 innings.
"I think both sides would like to get a multiyear deal done, if possible," Hendry said. "Neither side has made it a secret. We would love to keep Woody, and Woody, I'm sure, would prefer to stay."
The 26-year-old Wood is coming off his best season. He earned an All-Star berth, led the majors with 266 strikeouts and won two games against Atlanta in the division series to help the Cubs reach the National League Championship Series. The Cubs may want to keep the extension to three years, however, because of concerns over Wood's back, which flared up on a few occasions during the 2003 season.