According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs declined to offer arbitration to Kerry Wood on Monday. With failing to offer Wood arbitration, they will not receive draft compensation in next year’s draft for losing Wood to free agency. Wood is a Type-A free agent and the Cubs would have received two picks in the 2009 draft.
Update 8:02pm C.T. with Additional Information – Bobby Howry, Jim Edmonds and Daryle Ward not offered arbitration. Update – According to the report on Cubs.com, the door is not is not closed on the Cubs possibly bringing Kerry Wood back for the 2009 season. The initial report from the Sun-Times indicated that the arbitration offer from the Cubs “appeared to be the last chance for a return in 2009.” The Cubs can continue to negotiate a deal with Wood as arbitration rules have changed over the past few years.
The Cubs, as expected, did not offer arbitration to Bobby Howry, Jim Edmonds and Daryle Ward.