PEORIA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood will have
minor arthroscopic surgery on his right knee next week, general
manager Jim Hendry said Friday.
Wood's surgery will take place Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The 28-year-old Wood had arthroscopic surgery on his right
shoulder last Aug. 31 and was not expected to be ready for the
start of this season. He's thrown off the mound a couple of times
in spring training, testing his shoulder.
An All-Star in 2003, Wood was 3-4 with a 4.23 ERA in 21 games
last year. He was slowed by injuries all season, missing about
three months while going on the disabled list three times.
After a 15-8 victory Friday over the Seattle Mariners, Cubs
manager Dusty Baker said he was optimistic about Wood this season.
"It's better now than later," Baker said. "He's been working
out real hard on his lower half all winter, so fortunately this is
the time of year when he shouldn't be set back too far."
Wood threw on the side Friday and will do so again Monday before
his surgery, Baker said.
"It's just the last few days that he's been complaining that he
can't run," Baker said. "Hopefully, it won't be too long. It
doesn't appear too serious."
Wood has been on the disabled list nine times in a professional
career that began in 1995 after he was the fourth player chosen in
the draft. He is 70-54 with a 3.67 ERA and 1,286 career strikeouts
in 1,109 innings.