If MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince is right, the Indians are about to sign former Cubs closer Kerry Wood.No details yet beyond the fact that the two sides are far along into the talks.
So, after months of deafening silence from the Tribe's front office, there's something more than made-up, or sketchy rumors to talk about.
And who would have thought when the Tribe entered the market for a closer with several other teams this fall that they would come home with - perhaps - the second-best option available.
The Mets reportedly have signed the biggest name in the pool - Francisco Rodriguez.
After that an argument could be made for Wood at No. 2, but you might also put Brian Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman or JJ Putz in that second slot.
Putz would have cost Tribe some players they can now trade elsewhere to fill other needs.
Hoffman would have probably come at only one year (Wood is said to be getting two from the Tribe), but at 41 you never know.
Fuentes also would have come without costing players, and he was actually the one I thought the Tribe might get. But he was seeking $10 million to $12 million a year for too many years, which should have been a clue that he would not be wearing a Tribe uni next season.
But Wood is just fine with me. He's not as lights-out fast as he was before his many injuries, but he can still be dominating in the 9th, and when is the last time the Tribe had a closer you would describe as dominating.
Ya. I don't remember either. I guess it would have to be Jose Mesa a dozen years ago.
The news is particularly welcome because, for the most part, all we've heard so far out of the front office is "we looked at these guys at that position, but they cost too much; then we looked at other guys at another position, but they cost too much."
I was beginning to think this year's off-season was going to be a redux of last year, and you see where that got us.
Now at least, I hold out some hope that the Tribe will indeed do what's needed to get back into a very winnable Central Division race.
So far - at least from what we're reading, they have taken the first step.
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Belated comment on this story as one who's gotten to see the "good" and "bad" Kerry Wood over the past decade or so -- for your sake and the Tribe's, let's hope the "good" Kerry shows up. The one who's on the DL once or twice per season, or the one who brings a straight, 93-mph fastball to the mound will disappoint ; the one who is healthy and can throw 96-plus will help. We'll see...
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