Wood returns, but for how long?

Kerry Wood returns to the Cleveland Indians as the team's closer and is officially rumored as trade bait by USA Today. This significantly devalues Chris Perez, who now resumes his role as Wood's primary setup man.

Fantasy Impact: A trade would be good for Wood, who doesn't look to get many save chances for the Indians. A trade would also be good for Perez, who would finally get his shot to close games at the MLB level full-time.

Mistakes by lake?

The Cleveland Indians are assembling the all-what-if free agents. Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa and now pitcher Carl Pavano give Cleveland a threesome of as many questions as answers heading into spring training.

Wood established himself as a closer last year, but there will always be health qustions with him. Can DeRosa's career year with the Cubs be replicated in 2009? Pavano is a health nightmare. Somebody must own a voodoo doll of him.

The Yankees paid $39.95 million to Pavano, who made just 26 starts in four seasons because of injuries. His contract with the Indians includes incentives beginning with his 18th start and can grow to $5.3 million.

Pavano had reconstructive elbow surgery in 2007, when he was the unlikely opening-day starter for the Yankees after missing a full season. He returned last August and went 4-2 with a 5.77 earned run average in seven starts.

“He feels he’s in tremendous shape,” O’Connell said. “The Cleveland people were very impressed with his physique. He’s as strong as an ox.”

Strong like bull, but brittle like peanut brittle.

Fantasy Impact: Wood and DeRosa can put up solid numbers. Wood will get his 35 saves in Cleveland while DeRosa's versatility makes him attractive as a utility player. Pavano is an intriguing X-factor. Draft him late, hoping he can become a very low-cost 5th starter.

K-Rod not in Mets future

So much for the K-Rod to the Mets rumors. Both the team and Rodriguez's agent refute rumors that he's headed to the Big Apple.

A Mets official who preferred his name not be used characterized the report in El Universal as "not true," and agent Paul Kinzer said his client was in Venezuela and that the report was inaccurate.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya didn't respond to a telephone call.

"Unless I know nothing about it, there's no truth to it," Kinzer said via cellular phone from the Atlanta area. He said he had spoken with his client, who had told a reporter in Venezuela of the need for a flight for business purposes. "But it wasn't for a physical," Kinzer said. "It didn't involve this."

Kerry Wood Mets rumors should start to fly any time now.