Are the Cubs Considering a Deal for Kerry Wood?

When Chicago Cubs reliever Angel Guzman went down, presumably for the year, rumors picked up about the Cubs adding another right-handed reliever. The kicker, of course, is that the Cubs were already looking for such a right-handed reliever, and efforts to add a guy now will be met with outrageous demands.

But maybe the Cubs can pick up a guy who’s got an outrageous contract, making the deal slightly more palatable. Maybe it could be someone who is loved by Cubs fans.

Kerry Wood, RHP, Indians — He would make a lot of sense for the Twins, as closer Joe Nathan will likely undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Wood makes $10.5 million, and with Minnesota’s budget stretched to $96 million and change — highest in team history — the Indians would have to pick up a good slab of it. The Twins are considering in-house candidates, but don’t be surprised if they look around. Wood also is drawing interest from his former team, the Cubs. The Boston Globe.

It is, of course, unclear why the Boston Globe would have unique visibility to the Chicago Cubs’ reliever desires, and this report also ignores recent statements by both Jim Hendry and Tom Ricketts that the Cubs’ payroll is maxed out.

But if they could swing a deal where they only pick up a few million of Wood’s deal? Maybe they’d consider it. Wood, as you know, spent his entire career in Chicago before leaving via free agency last year to Cleveland. Last year was arguably the worst of his career, and assuredly the worst since he became a reliever - he had a 4.25 ERA, a 1.382 WHIP, and converted just 20 of 26 save opportunities.

Still, he’d look pretty great back in a Cub uniform.

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So the Cubs Aren’t Getting Cuban Shortstop Hechavarria

Last week, there was a head-scratcher of a rumor that had the Chicago Cubs attached to a top Cuban shortstop prospect, who is free to sign with any team. Yesterday, word trickled out that the kid - Adeinis (not Adeiny, apparently) Hechavarria - would more likely be signing soon with the Blue Jays.

The Post has learned Adeinis Hechavarria is going to get more money than the $8 million Jose Iglesias Iglesias got from the Red Sox.

However, it won’t be from the Yankees. And it has nothing to do with the Yankees not wanting to spend the money on the Cuban refugee shortstop.

According to an industry source Hechavarria is close to signing a $10 million deal with the Blue Jays because he didn’t envision himself playing short for the Yankees.

Hechavarria, 21, was leery of Derek Jeter’s impending extension that will keep him at short for the foreseeable future.

Having seen Hechavarria work out often in the Dominican Republic, the Yankees were high on the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder with a body that resembled a young Alfonso Soriano. NYPOST.com.

Alfonso Soriano? Oh, well, in that case, we don’t want him. Kidding, of course.

The Cubs’ interest was always a bit perplexing given the expect cost, and the fact that Hechevarria and Starlin Castro sound like they are both equally good at short and equally ready to play in the bigs.

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Chicago Cubs Reliever Rumors

In the wake of Angel Guzman’s shoulder issues, the Chicago Cubs are being attached to a number of reliever rumors. Some are nothing new - the Cubs are still interested in Luke Gregerson from the San Diego Padres or Jason Frasor from the Blue Jays - but some are brand new.

The Cubs, who currently are scouting the Cactus and Graperfruit Leagues for a setup man, would be interested in both [Pedro] Martinez and [John] Smoltz “down the line,” according to a major-league source. FOX Sports on MSN.

It’s hard to know what “down the line” means, unless Smoltz and Martinez are currently seeking more money than they should be. Neither would be a terribly exciting addition, but they would add some veteran influence in the pen. Smoltz, who will turn 43 this year, has been exclusively a starter since 2004. He was brutal last year in Boston, but was adequate after moving on to St. Louis.

Martinez, 38, has exclusively been a starter in his career, but many believe if he’s got a future, it’s in the bullpen. He pitched just 9 games last year for the Phillies, but made the most of it.

As for the two trade targets, we’ve discussed Gregerson and Frasor at length before. The former is younger, on the upswing and under control for a couple years; the latter is in his mid-30s, had a career year last year, and is a free agent after this year. Take a wild guess at which one the Cubs will end up with. Either way, with Guzman out, you can bet that the asking price just went up.

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Cubs Interested in Another Cuban Prospect - Adeiny Hechavarria

Studly 21-year-old Cuban prospect Adeiny Hechavarria has officially been unblocked by the authorities in Cuba (damn it’s good to live in the United States, huh?), and is free to sign with a team in America. The New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs have shown the most interest in the shortstop.

Hechevarria, 21, is excellent in the field, but questions remain about whether he can hit in the bigs. Unlike the Cubs recent Cuban signing - Serrano for $250k - Hechevarria is expected to get big bucks on the order of $10 million.

That said, it would be interesting to learn where the Cubs’ strong interest comes from. Sure, a guy like Hechevarria might not be ready to play in the bigs for a couple years, but are the Cubs looking at him to play in the middle infield soon? Say, perhaps in a double-play tandem with Starlin Castro? Ryan Theriot is under the Cubs’ control for two more years after this season, but could be non-tendered after this or next season.

What such a signing would mean for the Cubs’ other stud shortstop prospect, Hak-Ju Lee, remains to be seen. Thought of as the future of the middle infield, together with Castro, Lee is still playing A-level ball, so his future is uncertain. But he’s said to be better defensively than even Castro.

One thing’s for sure - it would be nice to have these kind of questions to deal with.

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The Chicago Cubs Will Have the Money to Make Trades at the Deadline

Given how many times we’ve heard about this year’s “budget,” and how Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry “does not have the money” to make certain moves, it is reasonable to question whether the team is completely locked in as is, regardless of how the team performs, how things play out, and who might become available during the season.

Owner Tom Ricketts was cagey when asked about the subject, but manager Lou Piniella was confident.

New Cubs owner/chairman Tom Ricketts, in town with his co-owner siblings to address the team and check out potential new spring-training sites, said the family ”possibly” would be willing to increase the team’s tapped payroll budget to add players at the trading deadline.

”We’ll take that one day at a time,” he said.

Manager Lou Piniella seemed a little more confident.

”We’ve got probably the fourth- or fifth-highest payroll in baseball, so the commitment is there from a monetary standpoint,” Piniella said, praising what he has seen so far. ”They’re very competitive, and I’m sure that if we get in position during the course of the summer and we need something, there’s a darn good chance they’ll step forward.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.

The thing is, Ricketts is a businessman. He’s a fan, sure, but given the crazy amount of debt his family took on to purchase the Cubs, he’s not going to go spend-crazy quite yet. That said, if the Cubs are in it, and there’s a move out there that clearly puts them in a better position to make a deep playoff run, the right business decision is to make the move and temporarily expand the payroll.

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No Chan Ho Park for the Cubs, Signs with Yankees

Well, if the Chicago Cubs were looking to use their Ryan Theriot winnings on a reliever, it won’t be Chan Ho Park.

The Yankees have signed former Phillies reliever Chan Ho Park to a 1-year $1.2million deal, with incentives to make another $300K.

Park had considered an offer from the Cubs, where he would have started but felt he had a better chance of winning a World Series title with the defending champs. hotstove.com.

Well, duh, he’s got a better chance with the Yankees. Can’t blame him for that part. Can blame him for turning down $3 million from the Phillies earlier in the offseason.

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Chan Ho Park is Still a Possibility for the Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are, for the most part, done making moves this offseason, but General Manager Jim Hendry has acknowledged that the team wouldn’t mind doing some tweaking, particularly in the bullpen. Specifically, the Cubs have been looking at veteran, righty relievers, and one named they’ve been tied to is Chan Ho Park.

Well, he could still be a possibility for the Cubs, according to Jon Heyman. Park turned down a one year, $3 million deal from the Phillies earlier this offseason, and you have to wonder if he regrets that now it appears he’ll have to settle for something less than that.

The Cubs likely view Park as an upgrade at the back-end of the pen, but also as a guy who can swing a start or two if necessary. Of course, Park was terrible as a starter last year, but was brilliant in the pen for the Phillies.

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No Mark Mulder for the Cubs - Or Anyone Else

There was a brief period of time where the Chicago Cubs were connected to potential reclamation project Mark Mulder, but it seems like that won’t be happening.

TMJ4 in Milwaukee is reporting that left-hander Mark Mulder has decided to hang up his cleats and retire from professional baseball.

Mulder has been long connected with the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason.  The 32-year old southpaw was attempting to make a comeback to the big leagues, and most thought the most obvious destination was with his former pitching coach, Rick Peterson, in Milwaukee.

That never came to fruition, however, as the talks dragged on and on throughout the winter.  The Brewers wished to see him throw off a mound before reaching out and agreeing to a minor league contract with performance incentives.  Mulder did not showcase his stuff for the Brewers until early February, though no reports as to how that session went became immediately available. JSOnline.

If he does retire, Mulder’s legacy will be that of a promising young pitcher, derailed by injuries. Oh, and he’ll be one of the worst trades in Cardinals history. Mulder, who put up just one good season in St. Louis before succumbing to a myriad of problems, was traded to the Cardinals for Daric Barton (solid first baseman), Kiko Calero (very solid reliever), and … Dan Haren. Oops.

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