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Kerry Wood News & Rumors

New deal for Kerry Wood and his adoring Cubs fans
January 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"In his first season as Kerry Wood's teammate, Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd last spring referred to Chicago's favorite pitcher as ''Mr. Cub,'' the Ernie Banks of his generation. That Byrd made the comment just a few weeks into Wood's second tour with the team only goes to show how obvious and persistent Cubs fans' affections remain for the one-time Kid K, the former Texas phenom whose promise of annual dominance and championships was betrayed by repeated injuries and adversity beyond his control. And it remains one of the damn­dest love stories in sports. What Byrd recognized almost immediately last year was on display again Friday night during Cubs Convention opening ceremonies. Engineering"
Kerry Wood signs one-year, $3 million deal to stay with Cubs
January 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood said it took 15 minutes to get a deal done with Cubs President Theo Epstein after more than two months of negotiating and recent reports he was resigned to leaving. "I thought it was three different teams in about a week," Wood said. "I made it the right one." Wood, 34, agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal Friday with a $3 million club option in 2013 and no buyout. He said he was waiting for a call to take a physical with another team he declined to reveal, having already agreed to terms. "I'm not sure if (the Cubs) knew," Wood said of the other deal. "I wasn't relaying what I was doing to anybody, but there were definitely options out there and I was close. ? I wasn't ready to"
Kerry Wood signs one-year, $3 million deal to stay with Cubs
January 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood said it took 15 minutes to get a deal done with Cubs baseball president Theo Epstein after more than two months of negotiating and recent reports he was resigned to leave. "I thought it was three different teams in about a week," Wood said. "I thought I was going to be in three different places. I made it the right one." Wood agreed on a $3 million deal Friday with a $3 million club option in 2013 and no buyout. He said he was waiting for a call to take a physical with another team he declined to reveal, having already agreed to terms."
Cubs still hopeful they can keep Kerry Wood
January 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"While Kerry Wood is expected to re-sign with the Cubs before their annual fan convention begins Friday, the drawn-out process and recent noise from Wood's camp suggesting he was prepared to sign elsewhere made the organization appear cold and unsentimental. President Theo Epstein had ruled Ryne Sandberg out of the managerial process, and let assistant to the general manager Greg Maddux leave for a similar job in Texas. Would Epstein reject a third Cubs' icon? Doubtful. Epstein said at Wednesday's Cubs Caravan luncheon at Harry Caray's Kinzie Street restaurant it was a "no-brainer" to bring Wood back."
Cubs, Wood close to one-year deal
January 11
Foxsports.com
 
"The Cubs and free-agent reliever Kerry Wood are re-engaged in negotiations, and major-league sources say the sides are nearing a one-year deal with an option for 2013. Wood, 34, resides in Chicago and has previously indicated that he would prefer to remain with the Cubs — where he has spent 11 of his 13 big-league seasons. It appears that he will get his wish, even though the Cubs are entering a true rebuild for the first time in years."
Wood's time with Cubs appears all but over
January 10
CSN Chicago
 
"While new Cubs baseball management has said all the right things about re-signing Kerry Wood as they go about the process of rebuilding a 71-win team, it appears that talking may be as far as they are going to go to get a deal done with the popular pitcher. Sources with knowledge of the negotiations told me late Monday night that Wood's days as a Cub appear all but over. "Woody wanted to be here despite the rebuilding process but while the Cubs were saying they wanted him back they were unwilling to pay him the market value for a solid set up man," he said. "He has heard from a number of teams that are World Series contenders and they are all willing to pay him a very fair salary to"
Source: Phils eye Kerry Wood; price too high?
January 9
CSN Philly
 
"Evidence is mounting that the Phillies are concerned about their setup relief situation. A baseball source on Sunday night confirmed an ESPN.com report that said the Phillies have had discussions with the representative for free-agent Kerry Wood. The source indicated that the Phillies were one of a number of teams that have reached out to Wood. Detroit, Anaheim and Cincinnati are other clubs that have expressed an interest in the 34-year-old reliever. How realistic is it that Wood could end up with the Phillies? Well, Wood is said to be looking for a one-year salary worth in the neighborhood of $4 million. As modest as that number might sound, it might be too rich for the Phillies. Last"
Epstein on Wood: 'We want him back'
November 19
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs baseball president Theo Epstein confirmed Friday the process of re-signing Kerry Wood has begun. Epstein met with Wood for a casual get-together last week on Wood's home turf in Lincoln Park. Wood made sure Epstein felt right at home, choosing a bar that caters to Boston sports fans. "I'll leave the details confidential," Epstein said. "But Kerry Wood is a very important part of the Chicago Cubs and we want him back. "He makes us a better team because of what he brings to the bullpen, and he makes us a better organization because of what he brings to the clubhouse, his leadership." Epstein isn't quite as sure about moving forward with Carlos Zambrano, though he also met with him last"
10 White Sox, Cubs file for free agency
October 31
Chicago Tribune
 
"Left-hander Mark Buehrle highlights a list of 10 White Sox and Cubs players who filed Sunday for free agency. That number could increase to 12 if the Sox decline a $3.75 million team option on reliever Jason Frasor or if Aramis Ramirez follows through on filing for free agency after telling the Cubs he will decline his $16 million option. The Cubs exercised their half of the mutual option Sunday night. Ramirez said in September he expected to decline if the Cubs exercised the option, holding out for a long-term deal on the free-agent market."
Wood says Bartman part of Cubs history
September 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood said Tuesday he had no idea a documentary focusing on Steve Bartman interfering with a supposedly catchable foul ball in the 2003 National League Championship Series was airing on ESPN while the Cubs were taking batting practice. But Wood, one of two remaining Cubs (along with Aramis Ramirez) from that team, said he plans to catch a rerun of the film later this month. "Hope the guy is able to live a normal life," Wood said. "It's a shame he had to go through what he went through. Unfortunately, I don't think much about him. I know his life was changed by that incident. I guess it'd be nice to figure out where he's at and what has been going on.""
Torn meniscus in left knee ends Kerry Wood's season early
September 20
Chicago Tribune
 
"Despite another in an unending series of injuries over his 12 seasons with the Cubs, there doesn't seem to be any doubt Kerry Wood will be back for another shot in 2012. Wood announced before a 5-2 victory over the Brewers on Monday night that he tore the meniscus in his left knee over the weekend and would miss the final nine games before undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. He suffered the injury Saturday while squatting a few hours after the game against the Astros. "Just squatted down and stood up, and (it) popped, and sharp pain and burning," he said. "That's the way it goes. I'm glad it happened now instead of getting through the season and going into spring and having something"
Phillies' Victorino has suspension reduced to 2 games
August 18
CBSSports.com
 
"The players association has filed a grievance on behalf of Carlos Zambrano, alleging that the club overstepped by placing the starting pitcher on the disqualified list, which prevents him from being with the team for 30 unpaid days. A spokesman from the MLBPA told MLB.com that there is no timetable regarding the process. The next step is for both sides to meet to try to hammer out a settlement. If none can be reached, there would be a hearing before an arbitrator to determine the outcome."
Kerry Wood, Reed Johnson are out of service
July 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs opened their 10-game road trip short two players, including setup man Kerry Wood, who remained in Chicago on Tuesday receiving IV fluids because of flu-like symptoms. Wood, who participated in the six-hour Ron Santo charitable golf tournament Monday, also was unavailable to pitch Sunday because of ''aches and pains,'' manager Mike Quade said. Wood showed up Tuesday for the Cubs' bus ride to Milwaukee but ''was puking his guts out really bad,'' Quade said. ''We'll take a look at him [today].'' Wood's issues Sunday resulted from pitching the equivalent of four innings while warming up repeatedly in recent days without going into a game, Quade said. He last pitched Wednesday, the"
Wood stays home with flu
July 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs bullpen was one man short Tuesday night after Kerry Wood stayed in Chicago with a stomach ailment after coming to the team bus and vomiting. Though Wood was not available to pitch Sunday, Quade said that was unrelated to this problem. "that was aches and pains, outside of just the flu," manager Mike Quade said."
Wood gets day off with 'a little cranky' arm
July 25
ESPN.com
 
"Mike Quade's use of the bullpen has been criticized often this season. On Sunday, the Chicago Cubs manager quickly got ahead of the second-guessers before a question was even asked about why he didn't go to Kerry Wood in a critical situation in the eighth inning of the Cubs' 5-4 win over the Houston Astros. "I probably got (Wood) up and down (in the bullpen) four times in the last two days," Quade said. "He wants to come out and pitch well and feel like he's good to go and can help the team win. I think as the day started, he didn't feel that confident in how he felt arm-wise. We're all getting older, so… ""
Wood's blister is fine, but his command on mound isn't
July 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood's blister may be healed, but the veteran reliever isn't completely back to his old form in his first week back from the 15-day disabled list. Wood gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh inning of Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Nationals, two days after walking three, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch while blowing a save in one inning of workagainst Washington. "Woody may still be feeling his way around a little bit," manager Mike Quade said. Against the White Sox on Sunday, Wood gave up back-to-back singles and a walk and allowed a runner to score on a wild pitch. On Wednesday, he gave up a double to Michael Morse, the first batter he faced, and a fly out to Jayson Werth"
Zambrano to disabled list; Wood activated
July 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs placed Carlos Zambrano on the 15-day disabled list with a back injury before Friday's game against the White Sox. Zambrano was unavailable for comment after being examined by a team physician Friday morning. He was also on the DL with back soreness in 2009. Kerry Wood was officially activated, and will take Zambrano's roster spot. Zambrano was only expected to make two more starts before the All-Star break."
Cubs' Wood back Friday, doesn't expect trade
July 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood officially launched his Wood Family Foundation on Thursday and said he will come off the disabled list Friday for the start of the White Sox series. Wood has been on the DL with a blister on his right index finger, but said he would be ready after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday. Wood also was asked about a possible trade before the July 31 deadline. He acknowledged he had heard rumors but said his desire was to stay with the Cubs and that he doubted he would leave. "It would have to be something that is definitely going to help this organization down the road and something that's going to fit for us, which is, right now, here," he said. "I know the talk's going to come."
Kerry Wood expects to come off DL Friday
July 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Cubs reliever Kerry Wood expects to come off the 15-day disabled list in time for a weekend series against the White Sox. Wood has been sidelined by a blister on his right index finger. He says Thursday that he "felt great" during a bullpen session Wednesday. Manager Mike Quade says the team's medical personnel will decide if the veteran is activated Friday. Wood is 1-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 24 appearances."
Wood has no regrets rejoining Cubs
June 30
Chicago Tribune
 columnist David Haugh
"Now we understand a little better why Kerry Wood turned down at least $10 million more from two other teams for another season of bad baseball with the Cubs. Now we know why the money Wood makes in the game matters less to him than the kind he plans to raise in the community alongside his wife and three children. Why Wood wants to stay in Chicago no matter how badly another city's baseball team might covet him before the trade deadline. It's hard to launch the Wood Family Foundation to help Chicagoland kids, which Kerry and Sarah Wood will do Thursday at Wrigley Field, without actually being in Chicago. Wood's ambitious goals include building a high school baseball stadium, giving out"
Kerry Wood to throw simulated game
June 28
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Kerry Wood, who is eligible to come off the disabled list, will test the blister on his right index finger with a simulated game on Wednesday. Wood, who was placed on the DL retroactive to June 9, threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Monday. "It's getting a lot better," Wood told ESPNChicago.com on Tuesday. "The skin around the finger is better. The nail is stronger. It's looking a lot better to me.""
Blister still bother to Wood
June 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood is eligible to come off the disabled list with his blister injury, but he doesn't appear close to returning action. Wood, whose DL stint was backdated to June 9, missed nearly a month in the summer of 2008 with the same injury. He has thrown with and without padding on the right index finger, but the skin has not healed enough for Cubs trainers to clear Wood for a rehab assignment. "I'm trying to understand the blister thing," manager Mike Quade said. "It's somewhat healed, but now you need layers of skin, a thickness, or even a callus if you can get it.""
Blister lands Cubs' Wood on 15-day DL
June 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs placed reliever Kerry Wood on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a blister on his right index finger. It is the 15th career trip to the disabled list for Wood, who missed three weeks with the same injury in 2008. Wood had tried to pitch through it, but said Sunday it was not something that would heal in a few days."
Blister may put Kerry Wood on DL
June 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs reliever Kerry Wood may be headed to the disabled list for the 15th time in his career with a blister on his right index finger. Wood said a DL stint was "absolutely" a possibility and that he'd been losing skin "here and there" while pitching through the problem. "I don't think I'm a couple days away (from returning)," he said. Wood missed three weeks with the same injury in the summer of 2008. He said he'd been pitching with it for about a month or so. Wood warmed up in the seventh inning Sunday but was not used. Manager Mike Quade said Wood was scheduled to come in after Sean Marshall if the Cubs had held the lead. The blister issue has been frustrating for Wood, who had been"
Kerry Wood isn't ready for panic button
April 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Playing .500 baseball might seem like an unproductive course, but not to Kerry Wood, especially not in Chicago in the first month of the season. ''I say it every year, and not just with this team, but you get through April and the first week of May in Chicago at .500 and you're fine,'' he said. ''The guys here have done a good job, and we've been in all but one or two games.'' Wood hadn't been in a game since April 16 and had done nothing but throw on the side before entering in the eighth inning Sunday. ''You have to do something [during a layoff],'' Wood said. ''You don't want to go more than three days without doing something.'' Wood walked one in a scoreless inning. OK, no K The focus"
Wood's 'vacation' comes to an end
April 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"For those who were worried about another injury, Kerry Wood is alive and well — and healthy. "Only in Chicago," Wood said of concerns that his long layoff was due to injury. Wood climbed onto a major league mound Sunday for the first time since April 16, but the "weeklong vacation," as Cubs manager Mike Quade kiddingly labeled it, was only coincidence. "It's just kind of the way it worked out," Wood said."I tried to get in there (Saturday) but we came back and dropped a five-spot on them" so Carlos Marmol pitched instead. "There's been days like that, but it was nice to get back out there. I wasn't as sharp as I wanted, but that's to be expected (because of the layoff)." He pitched a"
Cubs making themselves at home
April 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"There aren't many changes inside Wrigley Field this year, including the Cubs' clubhouse, where Kerry Wood got his old locker back. "It didn't cost me anything — yet," he said. Wood's return to the mound figures to be an emotional moment at Wrigley, though he said it did not feel strange at all to be back at his old stomping grounds. As for the prognosticators downplaying the Cubs' chances, Wood said: "The sun is going to come up and we're going to get dressed and go play a baseball game. All the experts are always wrong. Their early picks are never right. We focus on what we have to do, do what makes us good, and we'll be all right.""
Crowd roars for Kerry
March 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Kerry Wood's spring debut in his second go-around with the Cubs didn't go unnoticed by even the relatively sparse crowd at HoHoKam Park when he jogged in from the bullpen Monday to start the sixth inning against a Milwaukee Brewers split squad. A few cheers turned into a head-turning roar by the time he reached the mound, and it rose again when he was announced, with a smattering of fans offering a standing ovation. ''The response was great,'' said Wood, who had two called strikeouts on nasty breaking balls but had a couple of fastballs driven for extra-base hits in his two-run inning. ''It was good to get out there and get the first one out of the way.''"
Wood hopes comparisons with Cashner end with their home state
March 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"The comparisons between Cubs rookie Andrew Cashner and then ex-Cub Kerry Wood were obvious last year. Both pitchers hail from Texas, were first-round draft picks by the Cubs, and burst into the majors with triple-digit fastballs and a ton of hype. "I've been compared to him a lot," Cashner said. "It's pretty special to me because of the pitcher that he is. Hopefully I live up to his expectations." Before Cashner grew his hair out over the winter, he even resembled a younger version of Wood, standing 6-foot-6 with closely cropped blonde hair. Wood was oblivious to the facial resemblance, though he has heard the comparisons as well. "He's definitely a kid from Texas though, you can tell"
Wood shops, bumps into Barkley
February 26
Chicago Tribune
 
"With his wife, Sarah, and their three children due to arrive in Arizona this weekend, Cubs reliever Kerry Wood has been busy setting up their home. That meant buying and assembling baby furniture, grocery shopping and more. Thursday evening, Wood was at a Scottsdale Target pushing a shopping cart filled with baby items when he bumped into Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who lives in Scottsdale and had a cart full of food for his kids. "It was pretty funny," Wood told us. "We talked for a while and had a few laughs." Reviewing the play: In August, NBA Commissioner David Stern disallowed a formal business affiliation between Isiah Thomas and the Knicks. But that didn't keep the"
Wood feels Wainwright's pain
February 24
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, who has had his own fair share of injuries, empathized with St. Louis starter Adam Wainwright, who suffered an apparent season-ending elbow injury at Cardinals camp. Wood said he was "sorry to see it happen" but added that pitching injuries are common. "He'll be ready to go in spring of next year," Wood said. "He'll be strong. It's just going to be a long and boring summer for him. You feel bad for the guy. You never want to see guys get hurt, especially top-of-the-line guys like that. But he's not the first, and he won't be the last." When manager Mike Quade heard the news, he said he pretended to look at the Cubs' roster list. "I was like, 'Is he on my roster?'""
Kerry Wood still wonders 'what if?' about 2003
January 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"Kerry Wood has returned to the Cubs, at least in part to try to take care of some unfinished business. Now a 33-year-old bullpen set-up man, Wood can't help but agonize at times over the Cubs' close encounter with greatness in 2003. Just five outs away from beating the Marlins in Game 6 to capture the NLCS, the Cubs famously faltered behind a suddenly rattled Mark Prior, and a bungled double-play ball by shortstop Alex Gonzalez. The Cubs' 3-0 lead entering the eighth inning turned into a crushing 8-3 home loss."
Cubs close to deal with reliever Wood
December 16
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs, who have a major need for a veteran right handed reliever are moving towards finalizing a deal with free agent Kerry Wood. Wood, who spent the first 10 years of his major league career with the Cubs, spent 2010 with the Indians and Yankees and compiled impressive numbers down the stretch as he helped the Yankees make the playoffs. If he finalizes his deal with the Cubs, Wood should provide tremendous support to Cubs closer Carlos Marmol and will form a very formidable back end of the bullpen with left-hander Sean Marshall. Wood has made Chicago his home and told us last week that whatever decision he made about where he would pitch in 2011 had to be a good fit for his family."
Wood says returning to Cubs not 'impossible'
December 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"Former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood was at Ryan Dempster's charity event Friday and talked with us about going through free agency: "There has been a lot of interest, but at this stage of my career it has to be the right fit for my family. We are raising our kids and making our permanent home in Chicago, so we'll see what happens." On coming back to the Cubs: "Nothing is impossible. We'll see how things play out." There have also been several rumors about Wood possibly playing for the White Sox but that appears to be off the table. When asked about signing with the Sox, Wood smiled and said we've talked about that before. Wood has told us several times over the years that he could never see"
'Kid K' on South Side? Wood said to interest Sox
December 8
Chicago Tribune
 
"Could one of the most storied Cubs of recent vintage wind up with the White Sox? With the South Siders in need of relief help, especially in the eighth inning, it's not surprising that Kerry Wood's name would surface in rumors. And, according to a Twitter report from Fox's Ken Rosenthal, that's what has happened. "Interest" and "signing" are not the same, because Wood is thought to be seeking a multi-year deal worth $9 million or more and the Sox are already considerably over budget. Wood may return to the Yankees, who are balking at his payroll requests."
Source: Wood would be welcomed back to Cubs
October 28
ESPN.com
 
"Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood may be the missing link to a young and improving bullpen on the north side of Chicago. A source familiar with the situation said Wood would be welcomed back to the Cubs organization if general manager Jim Hendry has enough money in the offseason to be able to sign Wood and add the other dimensions to become a contender. The Cubs' need three major elements to contend for the NL Central in 2011 are a left-handed RBI bat, starting pitcher and a shutdown seventh-inning or eighth-inning bullpen man. A call to Wood's agent Pat Rooney was not returned. Wood, the Cubs' No. 1 pick in the 1995 June free-agent draft – and No. 4 overall selection, finished the"
Yankees decline options on Lance Berkman and Kerry Wood; Reliever open to returning to Bronx in 2011
October 28
New York Daily News
 
"Kerry Wood and Lance Berkman helped spark the Yankees at the trade deadline, each playing a role in the Bombers' run to the ALCS. Their tenure in pinstripes appears to be over, as the Yankees announced Wednesday that they had declined the 2011 options on both players. They also declined their $5.5 million option on Nick Johnson for next season. Johnson got a $250,000 buyout. Wood had the biggest impact during his short stint with the Yankees, going 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in 24 regular-season appearances as the primary setup man for Mariano Rivera. Wood's $11 million option was too steep for a setup man. The 33-year-old figures to get offers to close for other teams. Wood said he hopes to sign"
Kerry Wood, thriving in playoffs, helps stabilize the bridge to Mariano Rivera
October 21
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Elvis Andrus, arguably the fastest player in the American League Championship Series, was trying to goad Kerry Wood into a balk yesterday. After getting aboard to start the seventh inning and advancing on a wild pitch, the Rangers shortstop danced on and off second base, toying with the Yankees setup man. Wood threw back once. Andrus dived back. The dance continued until Andrus strayed a little too far from the bag. Wood whirled as shortstop Derek Jeter sprinted to cover the base. Just like that, Andrus was erased. "I went with the no-look pitch and then I went with the inside move and then I don't know why I doubled-up on the move," Wood said. "He probably thought that no one doubles up"
Yankees' Kearns, Wood owe Tribe a thank-you
October 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Thanks to the Indians, Kerry Wood and Austin Kearns are in the postseason. It's the sixth time Wood has been in the playoffs and the first time for Kearns. The Indians traded Kearns and Wood to the Yankees just before the July 31 trading deadline. Wood is the Yankees' eighth-inning set-up man for closer Mariano Rivera. Kearns helped out initially in the outfield because of injuries to Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner until hand and elbow injuries limited his playing time. "Kerry has done a great job for us in the bullpen," Rivera said. Wood went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA (two runs in 26 innings) for the Yankees after the trade. He struck out 31, walked 18 and allowed 14 hits. The opposition"
Kerry Wood has gone in career from top Cubs starter to setup man for Mo Rivera
October 9
New York Daily News
 
"This isn't how it was supposed to happen. Yes, Kerry Wood was supposed to pitch in the postseason, and yes, he was supposed to have a shot at a World Series ring. He was supposed to be a key piece of a championship team. But the 33-year-old Yankee setup man once imagined he would do all that as an overpowering starter on the team that drafted him, the Chicago Cubs. "You always think you'll be a starter your whole career," Wood said. "Then things happen." Indeed, Wood has been through some trying times, leading to a pair of reinventions. The latest transformation transpired after he was acquired by the Yankees from the Cleveland Indians just before the trade deadline: Wood, who spent the"
Revitalized Kerry Wood pens a new chapter for New York Yankees & self since trade with Indians
September 16
New York Daily News
 
"The Yankees' acquisition of Kerry Wood at the trade deadline didn't exactly send shock waves throughout the baseball world, as the addition of Lance Berkman grabbed most of the headlines. But six weeks after he joined the Bombers, Wood has proven to be one of Brian Cashman's best midseason acquisitions in years, providing stability and experience to the late-inning relievers setting up Mariano Rivera. Wood has allowed one run in 19 appearances with the Yankees, posting a 0.44 ERA in 202/3 innings. Wood has given up 11 hits and walked 11, striking out 24. "I thought he'd be effective for us, but I don't think you can ever predict that a guy is going to do what he's doing," Joe Girardi said."
A Kerry good addition
September 4
New York Post
 columnist Mike Vaccaro
"Sometimes you have to wander off the script, ad-lib a little. By this point in the game, 13 years in the major leagues, Kerry Wood was going to have a couple thousand strikeouts, a couple hundred wins, and he would have leaped the Sears Tower in a single bound while ending a century-long drought on Chicago's North Side. That was the plan, anyway. We know what happened to the plan, because we keep seeing it happen. Yesterday was the day when the latest version of Kerry Wood 2.0, Stephen Strasburg, underwent Tommy John surgery, and there's no way of knowing what Strasburg is going to be when he comes back from that in a year, year-and-a-half. Some say the procedure can actually strengthen an"
Yankees can repeat as champs if bullpen additions Kerry Wood, Boone Logan remain reliable
September 4
New York Daily News
 
"The key moment of the Yankees' 7-3 victory over Toronto Friday perhaps came when Joe Girardi went to the mound in the fifth inning to take the ball from struggling rookie Ivan Nova and give it to surging lefty Boone Logan. Nova, impressive in his first two starts, labored, "a little off," Girardi said, sinking into deep counts against the Blue Jays' sluggers. So Girardi brought in Logan to face lefty Lyle Overbay, the Jays' No. 5 hitter, with two out and two runners on and the Yanks' lead down to two runs. Logan, who has held lefties to a .175 average this season, struck out Overbay on a 2-2 pitch. It was just another instance of the Yankee pen, remarkably hot since late July, playing a"
Kerry Wood writes new chapter to his storied career
August 21
Bergen Record
 
"Kerry Wood needed a defined role based in reality, not legend. Hall of Fame projections were attached to his right arm the moment he broke into the major leagues in what seems to be a lifetime ago. And it has been difficult living up to expectations he created as a 20-year-old baseball phenomenon, a hard-throwing ace targeted for Cooperstown the day he struck out 20 batters in just his fifth start for the Chicago Cubs. More than a decade has passed and Wood is no longer chasing the ghost of his past."
Yankees' trade-deadline acquisitions get used to new surroundings
August 3
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Lance Berkman sat his four daughters down in their Houston home and tried to explain how the trade deadline would change some things for their family. "I said 'look, I just want y'all to know that daddy doesn't play for the Astros anymore, I got traded to another team.' "I'm sitting here thinking it's going to be a big momentous moment in our family history and (the kids) are like 'big deal.' And I said you know that means you all get to come up here and (my daughter) says 'oh great we get to go to the big toy store again,' talking about FAO Schwartz, so that's what they equate that to." In the Yankees' locker room Monday afternoon, three new faces - Austin Kearns, Lance Berkman and"
Wood wants a shot at title
August 2
Bergen Record
 
"Though his right arm has plenty of mileage and a few scars, Kerry Wood believes he has a lot more left – and something more to accomplish. "I think I still have a few years left," Wood said upon arriving in the Yankees' clubhouse on Sunday morning. "My arm feels good. I still think I have pretty good stuff." Plus, he still longs for that elusive World Series. "This is why you play the game," Wood said before delivering a scoreless inning in his Yankees' debut, a 3-0 loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field. "Getting into the postseason and having a chance to win a championship – this is what it's all about." Wood, 33, had been a bit surprised to be heading to the Yankees just before Saturday's"
Yankees appear insecure acquiring Lance Berkman, Kerry Wood, Austin Kearns at deadline
August 1
New York Daily News
 columnist Mike Lupica
"The other teams in baseball want to win. The ones with a realistic chance to win, and that means win it all, do the best they can to put themselves in the best position to do that. The Yankees are different. The Yankees have to win, and that never just means the American League East with them. The Yankees are operated in a way, even when they have the best record in baseball, that makes you think that if they don't keep adding players and spending money, they are going to somehow turn into sports dummies like the Dolans. So now they bring in Lance Berkman, Kerry Wood and Austin Kearns as this year's difference-makers at the trade deadline, even though guys like that are nothing more than"
Yankees pick up Indians reliever Kerry Wood, may be used in Joba Chamberlain's set-up role
August 1
New York Daily News
 
"The Yankees completed their final bit of trading deadline business Saturday by acquiring reliever Kerry Wood from the Indians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. According to a source familiar with the talks between the two teams, the Yankees will pick up approximately half of the $3.6 million owed Wood, who is making $10.5 million this season. This means the cost of all three players the Yankees acquired at the deadline - Wood, Lance Berkman and Austin Kearns - required an outlay of approximately $5 million on their part."
Berkman on board; Yanks add Kerry at deadline, too
August 1
New York Post
 
"Three weeks ago, the Yankees thought they had acquired a difference-maker in Cliff Lee. Yesterday, they completed two deals they hope improve their lineup and bullpen. Hours before their 5-4 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field, the Yankees officially added switch-hitter Lance Berkman in a trade from the Astros and got right-handed reliever Kerry Wood in a deal from the Indians. Late Friday night, the Yankees acquired outfielder Austin Kearns from the Indians. "The last 72 hours, things got hot," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "We wound up with three deals we were comfortable with." Time will tell if they were the right moves. "The upside is very good for us," manager Joe"