As it is all but official looks like Kid K is going elsewhere. Maybe the guy never became Nolan Ryan but he was loyal to the team that was loyal to him. He also did everything possible to be able to pitch again. Many guys (prior) would not take the needle, the knife or do whatever was needed to make it possible for them to pitch again.

Plus, in my lifetime I have never seen a more dominating game pitched than Wood v Houst and 20K's, 98 ROY (As Pitcher is a big deal) and ranked #1 in many categories in 98 and 2003.

Most impressive, of all active pitchers, allowed least Hits/9 IP of pitchers with 500 or more innings and is 6th All time.

People say he never reached his potential and that statement is WRONG. He reached it, he just didnt stay healthy.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Prior had surgery.
Yeah, I'll miss him.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I wonder where he'll go. If he goes back home, I hope it's to the Rangers and not the 'stros.

Wood has been one of my favorite players over the last 10 years, just too bad he could never stay healthy.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

That's something no one can EVER deny. Woody took plenty of needles to help him perform.

Maybe the most thrilling game I have ever attended, was game 5 of the NLDS series in Atlanta. I drove with a friend, 11 1/2 hours to get there to watch Kerry Wood beat Mike Hampton. Not only did Kerry dominate on the mound, he hit a home run to boot. He is definitely one of my favorite all-time Cubs. I really hope he goes to the AL, so I can root for him most often. God forbid he were to go to Milwaukee. Hendry had to let him go, as he will surely get a 2 maybe 3 year contract and it's all too likely he will go on the DL for an extended time again. But he has had some special games as a Cub. I'm glad I was there for some of them.

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Go Cubs!!!!

wood was always one of my favorite pitchers to watch, when he was healthy. and he was a good hitter too.

it's sad to see him go, but he was never going to be what he was.

will they retire his number?

Since the Cubs are looking at some big pitching contracts and some new bats, unfortunately
they can't keep everyone. Wood was a stand up guy and pitched his heart out. He also does
his part for charities off the field as well. I wish things would have worked out better this year
but wish him the best in the future. I hope he doesn't go to Cincy and play for Dusty.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

I saw Kerry Wood pitch the game 7 loss to the Marlins in 03.

The three run homer hit to tie the game rocked the house. Then he went on to lose the game.

That sort of sums up his Cubs career for me. Enjoyable, but disappointing.

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

That sums up the Cubs period.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

He never lived up to his potential. In order to do that, you have to be on the field, and more times than not, he wasn't.

Though after all the money the Cub have shelled out for him thru the years, and after the season he had in '08, I'm surprised they aren't going to resign him.

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Yeah I sorta understand the logic in not giving him a multi year deal but it seems a little unwise to let him go Now after one of his few productive seasons.

I like the guy but I would (and probably will) be pissed when we wins a world series with another team.

cub fans don't seem too upset over the loss Woody. Why couldn't they bring him back? Is it because of his injury history (obviously never stopped them before) or because Hendry couldn't fit him in the budget because of all the massive back-loaded contracts he gave out?? Looks like cub fans are giving Hendry yet another pass.

Exactly. After years of extended stints on the DL, they resign him. Now they let him go. Very strange.

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Maybe they know someone is gonna offer him a deal they wouldnt come close to and they dont want to look cheap and thats why theyre out in front of the free agency but its weird.

i dont think this is that controversial a call to make - wood has a chance to go out and make a big payday and get a few years. if the cubs gave him big paper and 2-3 years, and he got hurt in spring training, the shit would hit the fan as to how hendry could be so dumb as to sign him after his injury history. i think the timing is good - im glad for him that he seems to be healthy, and i am also glad that the cubs can close the book on that whole thing, they stuck with him and gave him a chance to get his career back. now if he wants to cash in, he is going to get the chance.

i am sad to see him go, because i think he MIGHT be healthy now, but the team has much bigger fish to fry. they have marmol to close, they got a pretty decent arm in gregg to set up, and samardzija as well. it is a fair back end of the bullpen. they need to spend the big cash on landing some left-handed power hitting and either signing dempster or another starter. they just dont need to spend big money on a closer right now.

I can understand the Cubs and Hendry's reasoning. You have Marmol as a closer, with Gregg and Samardzija as set up men. The Cubs need to allocate whatever money available to try and find a left handed slugger, which is the most glaring problem this team has had since the Fred Mcgriff days. Then sign Dempster or another starter.

Remember watching Wood pitch against the Cards at Wrigley in April of '98, a couple of starts before his 20K game. It was cold, rainy and dreary and a fog rolled in about the seventh inning. Couldn't see home plate from the bleachers for about an inning. Wood struck out about 10 and was dominant Too bad injuries hampered his development.

Id like the no trade clause having 5 million dollar deal man to start at some point

Marmol will NOT be the Cubs closer next year, it will be Gregg unless they sign another closer type by then. Marmol much more valuable in the 7th-8th inning. I am amazed at those who think Marmol will end up as the closer. Not gonna happen.

You are amazed easily

You are amazed easily

Gregg blew 9 saves last year, I don't want to see him close. Gregg is probably one of these relievers that is good before the ninth, you don't put him in save situations. And if you want to sign a closer, then go ahead and resign Wood because quality closers don't come cheap. But it does not seem the Cubs are willing to spend big for a closer.

I was for Marmol being the set up guy last year because he could pitch more than one inning, but also because I felt Wood could come and close. But Wood is no longer here and Gregg was not effective as a closer, so the next logical choice is Marmol. So be amazed.

Samardzija's future maybe a starter, but if the Cub rotation stays intact, then who is he going to replace? Plus i think Samardzija might be needed more for the bullpen then the starting rotation.

Class Act all the way.
I wish him nothing but success and good health.

It will be interesting if the Cub fans still love him should he sign a 3 year deal with the Mets.

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“Mmmm. Move over, eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend - fudge.”

i am one of the people who like marmol best as a setup man, but with the latest turn of events, i cant see any way that he is not the closer. i cant imagine that they brought gregg in to take that role. i think gregg could be good for the cubs, he is a pretty good arm, but it seems clear to me that marmols closer career starts now. and he deserves a crack at it, he has been very dependable as a setup man, and should get first crack at the job.

Does this mean if the cubs offer him arbitration he'll accept? What the hell is Hendry doing?? Offer him a 1 year deal!


One day after GM Jim Hendry said he wouldn't be back, Kerry Wood said staying with the Cubs was his first choice and he would have considered a one-year deal.

"It’s bittersweet. Obviously this is my first choice. I wanted to stay here and the best choice for me and my family," he said. "But that’s part of baseball right now." Friday. The Cubs were expecting him to take a three- or four-year deal elsewhere and apparently won't even make a bid to keep him. Hendry indicated that Carlos Marmol would be the favorite to close next season over the newly acquired Kevin Gregg.

I get the feeling Hendry is doing this because he feels it is best for Wood and his family. He knows the Cubs won't do a 3-4 yr deal for the money he can get somewhere else, so he is kinda forcing Wood to go somewhere else so that he will get what he deserves.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Wood already has money.

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Who said he didn't?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

We actually work along with one of Kerry Wood's childhood friends who is in constant contact with him via cell phone. According to Kerry Wood, Cleveland is the front runner in terms of offers.

Great Wood gets WS MVP as Cleveland ends their "drought" while this Cub fan watches in disgust.