The Padres announced that they’ve released left-hander Travis Wood, whom the team designated for assignment over the weekend to clear roster space for right-hander Jordan Lyles.
Wood, 30, signed a two-year, $12MM contract with the Royals last winter but struggled enormously both in Kansas City and in San Diego this past season. The former Cubs lefty posted an ERA north of 6.70 with both teams last year, working to an overall 6.80 ERA with 6.2 K/9, 4.3 BB/9 and a 1.8 HR/9 mark in 94 innings. He’s still owed $6.5MM in 2018, but the Royals agreed to pay the entirety of that sum when he was traded to San Diego, so Wood will represent a pure lottery ticket for any club that signs him this offseason.
As unsightly as his 2017 results were, Wood had success with the Cubs from 2015-16, totaling 161 2/3 innings with a 3.51 ERA, 9.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and 1.1 HR/9 between nine starts and 122 relief appearances. Overall, he posted a 3.94 ERA in nearly 700 innings in parts of five seasons in Chicago. Given his experience both in a big league rotation and bullpen, Wood figures to draw interest from clubs looking for depth options in either capacity.
A low-payroll club like the Marlins, who had interest in Wood as a free agent last offseason, could make sense as a speculative landing spot given their overall need for affordable pitching depth. NL clubs may also be drawn to the fact that Wood has some ability at the plate (relative to his pitching peers, anyhow). In 195 plate appearances over the past five seasons, Wood has connected on eight homers and batted .202/.241/.354.
Let the dumpster dive sweepstakes begin . . .
“dumpster dive.” Makes more money than everyone in your family combine.
Lol you’re an idiot. He makes a lot of money based off of a contract that he signed when he was playing well. His current status is definitely dumpster dive. He’s compared to his peers, not any of our families lol.
The cheap Padres got rid of a guy that they are not even paying his salary?
This move has nothing to do with “the cheap Padres”, this has to do with Wood not being better than any pitcher on the 40 man roster. This is more a sign of Wood’s ability then it is the Padres bring frugal. No offence to Travis Wood and his family.
Wouldn’t mind him back on the cubs as a LOOGY
agree come back to the cubs Travis
And be our 25th utility man!!
Hell yeah! We’d get him for the minimum $ because his salary is still being paid
So who’s starting opening day now?
Probably Richard, or maybe Perdomo.
Jake Peavy
Seriously, probably Lamet
Andrew Cashner
Padres have very little SP depth. If The Padres don’t even want him, who would
he’ll catch on with someone looking for depth. Marlin’s, Mariners, and Orioles come to mind.
Mariners, Jerry you hear me
They got more than you know
Perdomo lemet Lloyd Richard Mitchell that guy from Lyles brewer erlin Lockett Strahm
I’m familiar w all those guys, and only 2 of them have any sort of track record
Richard, Lamet, Perdomo, Mitchell, Strahm, Rea, Erlin, Lyles, Lockett seems to be their depth chart right now. If they had not been coming off TJ, Rea and Erlin would be above Mitchell and Strahm.
Being a cubs fan I’d honestly love to have him back. At least invite him to spring training. He can replace Montgomery as the long man and monty can jump in the rotation. Then cubs save money this off season and can put it toward next off season to sign harper and pollock and a closer (kimbrel,Miller,Britton(depending how he does when he comes back))
Eh. As much as Montgomery wants to be a starter…..he isn’t one.
Also, the Cubs don’t need
to save money. They’re not the A’s.
They’re a top 3 market team. They need the strongest rotation possible, and that rotation doesn’t include Montgomery. He excels in the bullpen. He needs to stay there.
Fantastic answer…
quket the spending. youre aware bryant is getting more expensive soon right?
Not THAT expensive. His expected arbitration this year is around $8M-$9M. He won’t actually command a large contract for four more years.
No. No Cubs fan in his or her right mind wants the #4/#5 spot to go to Montgomery. We need to sign an established SP and there are several still on the market.
He’s a downgrade from Montgomery but makes a lot of sense if the Cubs pull off a deal for Machado that sends Montgomery (along with others) to Baltimore.
Life would be a dream if BAL took Heyward in such a deal. Not entirely far fetched when you consider the O’s haven’t adequately addressed their OF needs for several years now.
Not sure what sparked the Heyward comment, but we’re at least a year away from a realistic Heyward trade. After 2018, he’ll have 5 years / $106 million on his contract. That’s an AAV a hair above $21 million. At that point, it isn’t terribly unrealistic that a team could throw back their own sunken cost (something in the range of $25-30 million worth of dead money) to off-set Heyward and bring him closer to a $15 million per year investment for the acquiring team.
But we’re a year from that. The idea that Baltimore would even consider him in any potential Machado deal is madness.
Astros should take a look we still need left handed help in the pen and he’s our favourite thing…cheap
Agree. Minor league contract with invite to spring training.
He’s already under a guaranteed MLB contract for next season but the Royals are paying it. He’s basically free for whoever signs him.
The Astros should be looking for a good left handed reliever. They have a great shot to repeat and have only one weakness, filling that hole with a Wood doesn’t make sense.
Tony Watson is probably the best bang for your buck. Might want to hedge your bets a bit, maybe even with Wood, though.
Didn’t see him pitch last year what happened to him, did his velocity drop or was it command issues fill me in
The simple answer is yes
Wood started with the Reds. Reds need pitching, especially lefties and swing-man types. Seems like the kind of move Cincy front office would make.
I would like to see him reunite with his old pitching coach in Detroit.
It’s worth taking a flyer on him!
Y’all got jokes he’s coming back to the Cubs and Theo will let Montgomery do his own thing
The Royals are paying him, they might as well sign him.
Angels might sign Woods to a Minor League Contract & invite him to Spring Training!!
Welcome back to Chicago, Travis.