The Kerry Wood era in Chicago began with a bang and ended with a thud.

On a cloudy November afternoon in Chicago, the Cubs quietly cut ties with their free-agent closer, who tied a major-league record with 20 strikeouts in his fifth big league start in 1998.

After acquiring a potential closer in Florida's Kevin Gregg on Thursday morning, Hendry announced the Cubs would not try to re-sign Wood, who will be able to accept free-agent offers from other clubs on Friday.

Hendry met this week with Wood and his agent, Pat Rooney, and told him the Cubs were going in a different direction.

"I think we all feel that Kerry is certainly deserving of a three- or four-year contract," Hendry said. "He’s done everything this organization has asked for the last 14 years, been a warrior the last couple of years. He's come back and health-wise stood the test of time, taken the ball every day we needed, and had no hang-ups, except for (missing one month with a blister injury).

"We’re just in a situation, as Kerry fully understands, that that length of deal, for the kind of salary he’d command right now, is not our first priority. We certainly have to finish our rotation, we have offensive situations to address, and by having the prominence that (Carlos) Marmol now brings to the table, it certainly doesn’t come before the other needs we have. We felt it was time Kerry goes out and does what’s best for him and his family, and gets a huge multi-year deal if possible."

Marmol will be the favorite to win the closer’s role, with Gregg on standby in case he fails.

"We’re not crowning certain people in November," Hendry said.

Hendry has a close relationship with Wood, and said the move was made in the best interests of the right-hander, who finished fourth in the NL with 34 saves and figures to command a deal worth up to $50 million for four years on the free-agent market. Last year Wood agreed to a one-year, $3.5-million deal, declining higher offers to remain a Cub. He told Hendry to give him what was fair, and Hendry said he didn’t want other clubs making offers to Wood with the feeling he’d simply return to the Cubs at a lower price.

The Cubs were only interested in re-signing Wood for one year, and are hoping to re-sign Ryan Dempster to a long-term deal. Hendry would not comment on the other Cubs free agents, though Henry Blanco is expected to get an offer, while Bob Howry and Daryle Ward likely will go elsewhere.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin took exception with the notion that his offer to free agent pitcher CC Sabathia is anything but a legitimate bid.

“It’s something this franchise has never come close to offering before,” said Melvin. “That’s the best way for me to characterize it.”

Melvin wouldn’t reveal details of the offer, which was made Nov. 1 to Sabathia. And Sabathia’s agents weren’t returning telephone calls.<SCRIPT language=javascript>if(window.yzq_d==null)window.y zq_d=new Object();window.yzq_d['aNTWA0PDoHw-']='&U=13eu3rofq%2fN%3daNTWA0PDoHw-%2fC%3d703319.13047635.13283501.1323516%2fD%3dSKY% 2fB%3d5543714%2fV%3d1';</SCRIPT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>
But a baseball official familiar with the situation said the offer was for five years and $100 million. If accepted, it would more than double the highest contract given by the club—and eight-year, $45 million extension signed by left fielder Ryan Braun early in the 2008 season.

Atlanta has acquired righthander Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox in a five-player deal, ESPN.com, MLB.com and the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday night.

ESPN reported the Braves would receive Vazquez and lefthanded reliever Boone Logan for shortstop Brent Lillibridge and two additional players. ESPN reported that lefthander Jo-Jo Reyes was headed to the White Sox, but FoxSports.com reported that Reyes is not part of the deal. The Chicago Tribune reported that one of the players might be top catching prospect Tyler Flowers.

The trade will become official after all players undergo physicals. Vazquez is scheduled to take his physical Wednesday in Atlanta, MLB.com reported.

Atlanta wants to upgrade its rotation this offseason, and its pursuit Padres ace Peavy has been well-known. Talks have stalled over which players the Padres would receive for Peavy. The club also has been talking to free-agent righthander A.J. Burnett.

Vazquez, 32, was 12-16 with a 4.67 ERA for the White Sox this year. He is signed through 2010 and will make $23 million. He has a limited no-trade clause, and the Braves reportedly are not one of the nine teams on his list of clubs to which he can be traded. Vazquez, however, has made it clear he would be agreeable to going to an East Coast team so he can be closer to his home in Puerto Rico.

Lillibridge becomes a candidate to start in the middle infield for the White Sox. The club likely will not re-sign free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera.