Wood wanted to stay

In the back of his mind, Kerry Wood knew 2008 might be his last season with the Cubs.

With that knowledge, Wood went out in his new role as closer and had the time of his life, recording 34 saves, being named to the National League all-star team and helping the Cubs reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

"This summer here was probably the most fun summer I've had in the game of baseball," Wood said. "I changed positions, I changed roles, and I had a great time doing it."

It didn't last.

At a dinner with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry a few days ago, Wood got the news he didn't want to hear: the Cubs were going in a different direction and he wasn't part of their plans.

"We sat down and talked and I was mentally prepared," Wood said of the meeting. "Did I want to leave? Of course not. I wanted to end my career here.

"It's bittersweet; obviously this is my first choice to want to stay here - the best choice for me and my family, but that's part of baseball. It wasn't a big surprise. I knew where the team was at and where I stood."

And now the starter-turned-reliever-turned-closer will turn in a new direction as he heads out into the free-agent world on his maiden voyage, leaving behind the only ballclub he's ever worked for.

"This organization has been great to me, the city of Chicago has been great to me," said Wood, who indicated he was open to taking a one-year deal to stay with the Cubs. "I had a great time here in Chicago. It's where I'm going to raise my family.

"I'm a Chicagoan."

Wood, who hopes to play another three to five years, will soon become an ex-Chicagoan - in uniform only - when he hits the road in search of a new team.

His priorities?

"Nothing really. I want to go to a club that has a great chance to win, a good atmosphere," he said.

National or American League?

"I'd like to stay in National League, but I don't really know," he said. "It's my first time going through this so I'm leaving all the doors open. I just want to play baseball.

"It's exciting but it's bittersweet."

He's leaving an organization that has provided him with a ton of memories, like the 2003 season when the Cubs came so close to reaching the World Series, and the 2007 and 2008 teams that made the playoffs but flopped.

"It left a bad taste, two years in a row and not get a 'W' - not the way I wanted it to work out," Wood said. "It would have been great to go deep in the playoffs. I'm disappointed I won't be on the team that does it."

He'll also be leaving behind a rabid fan base that supported him through thick and thin.

"I was Chicago Cub when I was 18, 19," he said. "They've seen me grow up. I'm leaving married with two kids. They've gone through the ups and downs with us. Great when you're doing good and not so great when you're doing bad - and rightly so.

"The fans here have been great to me."