San Diego Padres Rumors: Travis Wood Under Consideration?

Reports indicate that the San Diego Padres may not be done in free agency this offseason. Could left-hander Travis Wood be added to the rotation?

Rumors are still coming in during these final days of the offseason, as evidently the San Diego Padres are not satisfied with their work thus far. Yet unlike reports which have resurfaced various times over the past several months linking Jake Peavy and Jered Weaver to the club, a new name has been thrown into the discussion.

Left-handed reliever Travis Wood, according to Ken Rosenthal and MLB Trade Rumors, is being pursued by San Diego. And much like his former teammate Trevor Cahill who was signed by the Padres earlier this offseason, a return to the rotation is a possibility.

The reports also come in the midst of other rumors which link former LA Angel and free agent Jered Weaver to the Padres, as well as Peavy as mentioned earlier. The latest update indicates that Peavy probably won’t be wearing a Padres uniform in 2017, but either Weaver or Wood still very possibly could.

Wood is 30 years old and has seven seasons of major league experience under his belt. Moving to the Cubs after spending his first two seasons in Cincinnati, the left-hander has overcome several down seasons and has become a consistent arm for Chicago’s bullpen.

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Last season, Wood logged 61 innings over the course of 77 appearances, finishing with a modest 2.95 ERA. The 2013 all-star has spent the majority of the last two seasons in the bullpen, but still has 133 career starts, more than any current Padre.

Which leads to the most compelling question surrounding Wood. Of course, his dominance in the bullpen would be a welcomed addition for San Diego. But the way the rotation is currently set up, there is plenty of room for another experienced left-hander who is still in the later stages of his prime.

Plus, fans can only assume that Wood wants to return to the rotation, much like Cahill. Granted free agency last November, the southpaw has yet to find the fit he is seeking.

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The Padres could realistically be the right place for Wood. For an affordable price, San Diego would welcome the 2016 World Champion in order to further strengthen their pitching staff. Adding him to spring training at the last minute would also increase competition, making the spots up for grabs even more elusive and making the months of February and March even more exciting for fans.