The Cleveland Indians jumped into the free agent market by signing right-handed relief pitcher Kerry Wood to a two-year contract worth $20 million with an option for a third year. Although we have not advocated the Tribe signing a closer, I really cannot argue to vehemently about this signing.
In fact, when I saw a few weeks ago that the Cubs did not offer Wood arbitration, I thought he might be a good fit for the Indians because they would not have to give up a draft pick to sign him. The only negative on Wood is his injury history, but in his first full year as a reliever, his only ailment was a blister problem on his finger.
The real reason I like the signing is for the first time since Mike Jackson closed for the Tribe in 19989, the Indians will have a power arm coming out of the bullpen to pitch the ninth inning. And not even Jackson had the strikeout prowess that Kerry Wood has. No more fooling hitters with change ups, curve balls, and guile. Kerry Wood throws 95 miles per hour and has a devastating breaking ball.
Guys like Bob Wickman and Joe Borowski did good jobs in some years. Heck, Borowski led the American League in saves in 2007. But, those guys are always pitching on the edge; always have guys on base, always one bad pitch location away from a real disaster. Finally, we have a big guy who says here it is, go ahead and try to hit it.
The 6-5, 211 pound Texan pitched 66-1/3 innings last season and struck out 84 hitters. He allowed just 54 hits and just three home runs for the season. He will turn 32 years old next June. He is a legitimate power pitcher, and can be a guy that makes other teams think it’s an eight inning game when they play the Indians. Heck, Wood even averages 10.38 whiffs per nine innings for his career!
The other good thing about the deal is it is only a two year commitment with, of course as all Shapiro contracts are, a club option for a third year. This means that even if Wood gets hurt or is ineffective, Cleveland is only on the hook for two years. Compare that to the Sabathia deal with the Yankees or the Zito deal with the Giants, those deals being for seven years.
The Tribe also added another reliever in right-hander Joe Smith in a three-team deal with the Mets and Mariners, which saw the Indians part ways with OF Franklin Gutierrez. Smith, who will be 25 in March, has spent the last two years with the Mets, and is a submariner, which makes him effective against right-handed hitters. He held those hitters to a .192 average last season. He gives Eric Wedge another option out of the bullpen.
Shapiro also received 23 year old 2B Luis Valbuena in the deal. He was a late season call up for the Mariners, appearing in 18 games last season, batting .245 with an RBI. He hit .304 with an 864 OPS in 70 games last year in Class AA. However, it was his second year at that level, as he hit .239 with an OPS under 700 the year before. He was selected by Baseball America as having the best strike zone judgment in the Mariners organization.
Gutierrez’ main value is as a platoon outfielder of as a defensive specialist in CF, presumably where he will play with the Mariners. He struggles against right-handed pitchers, but is still young enough to improve in that area. He falls victim to the emergence of Shin-Soo Choo, and the three young outfielders in the farm system: Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, and Trevor Crowe.
However, unless the Tribe gets another outfielder they face starting the season with a LF platoon of Ben Francisco and David Dellucci. That’s not going to be good enough to contend.
They also still need a starting pitcher. I can’t picture starting the season with Anthony Reyes as the third starter.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 