ProductionNinja.com

Well it wasn’t quite like Pay-Rod, who after using his out clause told the Yankees to not even bother trying to re-sign him… only to re-sign with them weeks later, however it’s certainly good to see that the Cubs won’t have to worry about filling another hole in the bullpen this offseason after signing Kerry Wood to a 1 year contract today:

CHICAGO — Kerry Wood is staying put.

The Cubs agreed Monday to a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the free agent pitcher, who had been courted by other teams as a setup pitcher.

Wood, coming off his first full season as a reliever, may get the opportunity to be the Cubs’ closer in 2008, and will compete for the job this spring along with Carlos Marmol.

It seems like most of the fans I’ve talked to never doubted that Wood was coming back. However the Cubs lost exclusive negotiating rights with him back on November 13th and hadn’t been anywhere near re-signing him, then last week Paul Sullivan with the Trib wrote that he could be heading to the Red Sox. So it was hardly a sure thing.

The Cubs bullpen turned into a huge strength with the mid-season additions of both Wood and rookie Carlos Marmol, and if Wood had left there would have been a very large hole to fill, especially since Dempster was dethroned as closer. As it stands the Cubs need only get 6 quality innings from their starters with Wood, Howry and Marmol picking up the last three innings.

It’ll be good to see Wood get a full, injury-free season under his belt. He really seems to be one of the better guys in the Majors. Already in his career he’s turned down the possibility of getting more money elsewhere because he was loyal to the Cubs and Chicago. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he’s the 21st century answer to Ron Santo… we may even see him in the booth one day living and dying with the Cubs.