Kerry Wood

Cubs placed RHP Kerry Wood on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 14, with right shoulder fatigue.

Wood reported improvement with the shoulder following a cortisone shot on Wednesday, but he either eventually started feeling worse or the Cubs decided not to take any chances. It’s not clear at this point how long he might be out, but a longer than minimum stay on the DL would seem to be possible. Scott Maine replaces him in the bullpen.

Randy Wells was spotted at Wrigley Field Friday, leading to speculation that Kerry Wood (shoulder) is headed to the disabled list.

Wood received a cortisone injection Wednesday and subsequently reported improvement with his shoulder. Evidently he’s still not where he needs to be, though. Wells has been used as a starter at Triple-A Iowa, posting a 9.42 ERA in three outings, but he would be bound for the bullpen in Chicago.

Kerry Wood got a cortisone shot Wednesday in his sore right shoulder.

Wood reported feeling relief almost immediately after the injection and is aiming to return to the Cubs’ bullpen on Friday. The veteran righty has allowed three hits and three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings this year.

The Cubs have admitted that Kerry Wood’s injury during spring training actually involved his shoulder, rather than his back as they originally indicated.

Wood went 10 days without an appearance in Cactus League action, with the Cubs mentioning a back injury but saying that it was mostly because they wanted to save his bullets so he’d have more left late in the season. “It’s been sort of off and on, really, since the beginning of spring,” GM Jed Hoyer said. “We?re trying to get him right. I don?t have all the years and years of background with him ? like a lot of people do ? but I know his arm is always something that is touch-and-go.” Wood received a cortisone injection on Tuesday and might need a DL stint.

Kerry Wood flew back to Chicago on Tuesday to get a cortisone injection in his right shoulder.

The Cubs are hoping that he’ll be ready to return to the club (pain-free) on Friday. Wood has surrendered three hits and three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings this year.

Kerry Wood was fairly useless in Thursday’s Opening Day match-up, walking three batters — including one with the bases loaded — while recording only one out against the Nationals.

He also had a wild pitch. The only good news is that his ERA remains spotless, as the earned run was charged to starter Ryan Dempster. But Wood gained no ground on closer Carlos Marmol with this forgettable performance.

Kerry Wood (back) might return to action by Thursday.

Wood hasn’t pitched in a Cactus League game in over a week due to a back strain. He is scheduled to pitch on the side Monday. “We were just easing him back toward the season,” Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. “Nothing spectacular form the back is going on. This is backing him off and making him ready for the season. There is just no reason for any extra workload. He was feeling good and everything like that.” Wood posted a 3.35 ERA and 57/21 K/BB ratio over 51 innings last season.

Cubs signed RHP Kerry Wood to a one-year, $3 million contract with a $3 club option for 2013.

Wood signed a team-friendly one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Cubs last offseason, but spoke with multiple teams this winter in hopes of getting a contract at the market-value rate. The Cubs ultimately compromised and awarded him with a nice raise after he posted a 3.35 ERA and 57/21 K/BB ratio over 51 innings last season. He’ll function in a set-up role again in 2012.

According to David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com, the Cubs have re-signed reliever Kerry Wood.