Chicago Cubs: Evaluating a possible return of Travis Wood

Former Chicago Cubs’ pitcher Travis Wood enjoyed the perils of success during his time on the North Side. Could a return be in the cards?

Travis Wood was an undeniable part of the Chicago Cubs championship season in 2016.

Appearing in 77 regular season games in relief, Wood sported a 2.95 ERA, contributing to the league’s fourth-rated bullpen regarding ERA, and helping set up the teams’ 38 saves.

Then, of course, there were the three appearances he made in left field.

Most noticeably, that memorable game against the Seattle Mariners, pitching in relief, before moving to left field and making a tremendous catch into the vines.

He then proceeded to go back to the mound in the eventual Cubs win. An instant thriller all around.

Wood also relieved Kyle Hendricks in Game 2 of the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants when Hendricks left the game following a comebacker. Coming up big again, both on the mound and at the plate, Wood hit a key home run in that eventual Cubs victory.

As important as Wood was for the Cubs, he was also a starter before that, putting together an All-Star caliber season in 2013 when he won nine games with Chicago, and also secured an even 200.0 innings pitched.