Cubs, Sox Make Offseason Moves

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Nov 13, 2008 11:15PM

With the free agent signing period for Major League baseball set to begin at 12:00 a.m. Friday morning, clubs are making trades to get the most of what they can before they lose players to the market. First up are the Sox, who dealt Nick Swisher and minor leaguer Kanekoa Texeira to the New York Yankees in exchange for infielder Wilson Betemit and a pair of right-handed pitchers, Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez. While Betemit saw some big league action this year, both pitchers spent '08 in the minors.

But what about the North Siders, who are looking to make a bigger splash after getting knocked out of the Wild Card round of the playoffs for the second year in a row? While they still haven't landed Jake Peavy (the anticipation of which is nearing Brian Roberts-level annoying right now), the Cubs did acquire relief pitcher Kevin Gregg from the Florida Marlins in exchange for minor league prospect Jose Ceda. Gregg had 29 saves for the Marlins last year but also blew nine saves. Still, it looks like he has the inside track for the closer spot for 2009.

That's because Cubs GM Jim Hendry announced today that the Cubs would not resign free agent pitcher Kerry Wood.

"I think we all feel that Kerry is certainly deserving of a three- or four-year contract," Hendry said. "He’s done everything this organization has asked for the last 14 years, been a warrior the last couple of years. He's come back and health-wise stood the test of time, taken the ball every day we needed, and had no hang-ups, except for (missing one month with a blister injury).

"We’re just in a situation, as Kerry fully understands, that that length of deal, for the kind of salary he’d command right now, is not our first priority. We certainly have to finish our rotation, we have offensive situations to address, and by having the prominence that (Carlos) Marmol now brings to the table, it certainly doesn’t come before the other needs we have. We felt it was time Kerry goes out and does what’s best for him and his family, and gets a huge multi-year deal if possible."

It's a somewhat sad end to what seemed to be a promising career. Still, we'll always have that cold spring day in 1998.

A.P. Photo/Jack Dempsey