Cubs Sign Kerry Wood To One Year, $1.5 Million Contract

UPDATE from last night's post, via tweet from Chris DeLuca:

Now, here's the rest of last night's post. I'll have more later:

This just in -- literally. I had written a long post based on this FanShot regarding Kerry Wood to the White Sox rumors -- which turned out to be false -- when I found this post by David Kaplan on ChicagoNow, indicating that the Cubs are "close" to a deal to bring back the big righthander:

The Cubs, who have a major need for a veteran right handed reliever are moving towards finalizing a deal with free agent Kerry Wood. Wood, who spent the first 10 years of his major league career with the Cubs spent 2010 with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees and compiled impressive numbers down the stretch for New York as the Yankees qualified for the post season.

This is outstanding news. Yes, I know Wood has had injury problems -- but once his back trouble last year was cleared up and he was dealt to the Yankees, who fixed some mechanical problems, he was nearly lights-out. He has had no recurrence of the elbow trouble which kept him out for most of two years with the Cubs in 2006 and 2007. He's a great clubhouse guy and will, presuming this deal is finalized, provide another setup option along with Sean Marshall, for Carlos Marmol as closer. This also may provide the Cubs the opportunity to try Andrew Cashner in the rotation -- as many of you have suggested.

Presuming this is true: Welcome home, Kerry Wood. You're back where you belong.