Chicago Cubs: Is a Travis Wood reunion in the mix?

The Chicago Cubs are looking to keep adding pitching depth, and Travis Wood may be a guy to bring back if officially released by the Padres. 

Former Chicago Cubs pitcher and World Series champion Travis Wood has been designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres. Wood, 30, left Chicago via free agency after 2016 when he signed with the Royals.

Last year with the Royals and Padres he struggled to a 6.80 ERA, 5.90 FIP, 1.730 WHIP and 11.3 hits per nine  in 94 innings. His FIP in San Diego alone in 52 1/3 innings was 7.00. Even worse, he allowed 2.6 home runs per nine. Not a memorable year for the veteran lefty.

Cub fans remember Travis Wood well from his tenure in Chicago. Coming over in the Sean Marshall trade in 2012, Wood spent the next five years in a Cubs uniform. He was the only Cub other than Anthony Rizzo to play at Wrigley Field on both the 101-loss 2012 team and the World Series champion 2016 club.

Chicago Cubs

Wood’s Cubs career included a 3.94 ERA, 4.21 FIP and 1.270 WHIP in 691 1/3 innings. He was an All-Star starting pitcher in 2013. The left-hander appeared in 220 total games with 98 starts.

Wood’s final year as a Cub in 2016 he was a full-time reliever not making a single start. He pitched to a 2.95 ERA, 4.54 FIP and 1.130 WHIP in 61 innings. Not to mention five innings playing in left field and hitting a postseason home run in the NLDS.

Would it be worth bringing back Travis Wood?

While Wood’s season last year went extremely poorly, his track record as a Cub suggests he could rebound. Right now he has been designated for assignment so there would have to be a waiver claim on him at the moment to bring him back. Wood’s contract he signed with the Royals was a two-year, $12 million deal with a 2019 buyout option. If he gets claimed, the claiming team would have to split the cost of his contract with the Royals. He is set to make $6.5 million.

So if the Cubs claimed him, they would split the remaining money with the Royals. While Travis Wood had done some good things in Chicago, his value right now is no more than league minimum. This might be a good thing to wait out and see if he gets claimed.

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Now if he does not and gets released, then it would be a solid idea for the Cubs to go out and sign him to a really cheap contract. He would serve as another lefty in the pen that can pitch long relief and possibly a spot start or two. He would not have a major role but it would be smart to get him very cheap if the opportunity rose.

Plus you can never have enough outfielders. (Relax, guys. We’re kidding).