Cubs, Wood agree to one-year deal
November 26th, 2007
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs and right-hander Kerry Wood have agreed to a one-year contract. As is club policy, financial terms of the deal were not released.
Wood, who was selected by Chicago with the fourth overall pick of the 1995 draft, was used primarily as a reliever for the first time in his career last season and was 1-1 with a 3.33 earned run average in 22 appearances.
The National League Rookie of the Year in 1998, Wood's career has been plagued by injuries. He missed all of the 1999 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery and has been on and off the disabled list for the better part of the last four seasons.
Wood was out for nearly 14 months due to a number of right shoulder issues before finally returning in August of last season.
For his career, the 30-year-old has posted a 72-57 record with a 3.67 ERA in 211 games, 178 of which have been starts. Wood ranks fourth on the club's all- time strikeout list with 1,323, while his .215 batting average against is the lowest of any Cub pitcher in team history.