White Sox were close to landing Wood

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Imagine Kerry Wood in a White Sox uniform. That's probably a nightmarish image for some Cubs fans, and a confusing one for some Sox fans who have spent the last 15 years poking fun at Wood's durability.

It almost happened. According to CSNChicago.com's David Kaplan, had Wood not come to terms with the Cubs, he would've signed a deal with the White Sox. When the Cubs upped their offer, Wood decided to stay on the North Side.

Kaplan reports theSox "have long respected Wood," and would've given him an opportunity to close with Sergio Santos shipped off to Toronto. That's interesting -- the Sox, at least outwardly, have seemed content with using one of Addison Reed, Matt Thornton or Jesse Crain in the ninth inning in 2012. But maybe an opportunity to add a well-respected veteran -- and needle their neighbors to the north -- was too good to pass up.

For Wood, the White Sox would've made a lot of sense if he wasn't pleased with the Cubs' offer. He could still pitch and stay in Chicago, where he's started a charity and put down roots. And, theoretically, it wouldn't hurt his long-term standing with Cubs fans -- after all, Ron Santo played a season for the White Sox.

The White Sox don't need to spend money on the bullpen, although bringing in a veteran like Wood to help Reed along wouldn't have been a bad move. What this does tell us is that the Sox do have some money to spend after dealing away Carlos Quentin and Jason Frasor, and they may be willing to spend it.

Sox fans, would you have liked to see Wood on the White Sox? Would you have taunted Cubs fans about it without mercy?

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