Philadelphia Phillies Interested in Free Agent Relief Pitcher Kerry Wood

The Philadelphia Phillies have expressed interest in free agent relief pitcher Kerry Wood, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick. Wood spent 2011 with the Chicago Cubs as a setup man, posting a 3.35 ERA and 10.1 K/9 strikeout rate in 51 innings pitched. The Phillies are reportedly worried about the health of Jose Contreras, a 40-year old who struggled with elbow injuries in 2011 that limited him to just 14 innings. Contreras is signed through 2012 and is due to make $2.5 million. As of now, the Phillies have free agent acquisition Jonathan Papelbon as their closer and are hoping to use Contreras as their setup man. Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge very likely won’t be back, so the remaining arms in the pen will consist of Antonio Bastardo, Michael Stutes, Kyle Kendrick, Dontrelle Willis, David Herndon, and whichever of the young arms – Michael Schwimer, Joe Savery, Phillipe Aumont, Justin De Fratus – make it out of camp. Wood was an All-Star back in the day with the Cubs, making the NL team ...