Prior voids his contract/ eligible for arbitration

[BigbadB]

I wonder if this decision has anything to do with his name being dangled in the Tejada talks.

 

I think it has more to do with knowing he will get WAY more than $2.75M by filing for arbitration.

 

What, Prior is worth more than Neifi? Come on..... :D

[RynoRules]

I wonder if this decision has anything to do with his name being dangled in the Tejada talks.

 

I think it has more to do with knowing he will get WAY more than $2.75M by filing for arbitration.

 

define "WAY." this early on in prior's career, i can't believe he's going to be getting anything crazy.

 

I know Hendry and MacPhail hate arbritation so I wouldn't be surprised if they try to sign him to a 3 year deal to cover him up until he is a FA. I can't say I am too sure on the numbers but even at $4M this year he would seem like a bargain and that is almost a 50% raise.

 

Life will really get interesting if Prior refuses their overtures for an extension...

[Electron Blue]

Dear Jim,

 

If you turn this into Maddux II I will personally hunt you down and make you pay for it.

You seem to have anger issues. Threats aren't appropriate here.

 

I don't have anger issues, and I'd be right behind him the whole way.

 

I have extreme anger issues, and I'm in.

 

I don't even understand how Hendry could turn this into Maddux II? Maddux was a free agent that Himes played hard ball with and lost to another team. What similarity does that have with Prior voiding his contract and filing for arbitration?

 

It's related to the Maddux situation only in the broadest of senses: the GM let a budding ace go to another team. Maybe Himes tried harder than we know, maybe not, but people were dissapointed with the result either way. Same thing here. Purely and simply, no one here seems to want Hendry to trade Prior and worried that Prior (if traded) will truly bloom and succeed somewhere else.

[HoopsCubs]

Life will really get interesting if Prior refuses their overtures for an extension...

 

Not necessarily at this point. I can see the Cubs having no issue giving Prior one year deals for the next 2 seasons, say $5M for 2006, and another $8M for 2007 if he has a good 2006. Where it will get really interesting is after the 2007 season when the Cubs have Prior under control for 1 more season. If he refuses their offer for a multi-year deal at that point, then a trade will be probably be made. The Cubs have never been in a hurry in the MacPhail era to go the multi-year route until it is absolutely a necessity. Think of all the 1-year deals signed by Wood and the expected 1-year deals signed by Patterson and Zambrano. It was the year before free agency where Wood, Lee, Ramirez and Barrett got their multi-year deals.

[RynoRules]

Life will really get interesting if Prior refuses their overtures for an extension...

 

Not necessarily at this point. I can see the Cubs having no issue giving Prior one year deals for the next 2 seasons, say $5M for 2006, and another $8M for 2007 if he has a good 2006. Where it will get really interesting is after the 2007 season when the Cubs have Prior under control for 1 more season. If he refuses their offer for a multi-year deal at that point, then a trade will be probably be made. The Cubs have never been in a hurry in the MacPhail era to go the multi-year route until it is absolutely a necessity. Think of all the 1-year deals signed by Wood and the expected 1-year deals signed by Patterson and Zambrano. It was the year before free agency where Wood, Lee, Ramirez and Barrett got their multi-year deals.[/quote

 

That's right - I keep forgetting that we "control" him for two more years.

 

So the recalcitrants should save the picthforks and torches for next year, eh?

:axe: :protest:

[ThePenguin11]

Mark Prior - S - Cubs

 

 

Mark Prior voided the final year of the contract he signed when he was drafted, making him eligible for salary arbitration.

The Cubs were expecting this. Prior would have earned $2.5 million under the terms of his deal. As an arbitration-eligible player with three-plus years of service time, he could earn $4 million-$5 million this year. He won't be eligible for free agency until after 2008. Jan. 4 - 8:50 pm et

[XZero771679666304]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

[Brian]

lock him up 7 years plz.

[NYF]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

Exactly!

 

not reallly news. this move has been expected for some time. Prior is seriously underpaid according to that contract/ market value. i would guess there is money set aside for this purpose.

 

the interesting point will be whether Hendry is able to sign Prior before the case goes before an arbitrator, thus preserving the MacPhail/ Hendry streak of never meeting a player across the table at an arbitration hearing. strictly from a neutral standpoint, Prior might be justified in playing 'hardball', citing the perceived value he has accrued in recent Tejada talks.

 

also makes it hard to determine Prior's 2006 salary for any trade discussions. (though an estimation could be made.) guessing Prior will command Z type numbers, one year later...

[Diffusion]

Dear Jim,

 

If you turn this into Maddux II I will personally hunt you down and make you pay for it.

You seem to have anger issues. Threats aren't appropriate here.

 

I don't have anger issues, and I'd be right behind him the whole way.

 

I have extreme anger issues, and I'm in.

 

I don't even understand how Hendry could turn this into Maddux II? Maddux was a free agent that Himes played hard ball with and lost to another team. What similarity does that have with Prior voiding his contract and filing for arbitration?

 

There's no real similarity. I was just joking. I can't speak for the others.

[Jehrico]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

[XZero771679666304]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

There's just no way Prior wasn't going to do it. It wouldn't have made any sense not to.

[Jehrico]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

There's just no way Prior wasn't going to do it. It wouldn't have made any sense not to.

 

Then why'd he wait until now?

[Mizzou]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

According to this yahoo article, Prior informed the Cubs of his decision on November 29th.

 

CHICAGO (AP) -- Cubs pitcher Mark Prior voided the final year of his contract, making him eligible for salary arbitration.

 

The right-hander's agent, John Boggs, said Wednesday that Prior notified the team of his decision on Nov. 29.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cubs-prior&prov=ap&type=lgns

[NYF]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

how is this a 'surprise'? this clause has been well known to fans as well as Hendry. Prior deserves a raise, (if, for no other reason than Neifi is being paid 2.5M) and i certainly believe Hendry has planned for this scenario...

[XZero771679666304]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

There's just no way Prior wasn't going to do it. It wouldn't have made any sense not to.

 

Then why'd he wait until now?

 

To see how the market was. Coming off a short season, he probably wanted to feel secure he would get a decent raise in arby, and the contracts given out to Millwood and Burnett increased those chances.

 

I also don't think the timing makes a difference, because Hendry had to have planned for it.

[XZero771679666304]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

According to this yahoo article, Prior informed the Cubs of his decision on November 29th.

 

CHICAGO (AP) -- Cubs pitcher Mark Prior voided the final year of his contract, making him eligible for salary arbitration.

 

The right-hander's agent, John Boggs, said Wednesday that Prior notified the team of his decision on Nov. 29.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cubs-prior&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

Well there it is, I guess.

[SantoForHOF]

how is that he's locked up through 08 and 07?

[sethuel1]

how is that he's locked up through 08 and 07?

 

Major league service time free agency rules.

[SantoForHOF]

ok thanks

[Jehrico]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

how is this a 'surprise'? this clause has been well known to fans as well as Hendry. Prior deserves a raise, (if, for no other reason than Neifi is being paid 2.5M) and i certainly believe Hendry has planned for this scenario...

 

Not to mention Rusch, Eyre, Howry, and Jones also making more than him. Isn't Mabry getting paid about that too?

[ltb]

This isn't really a story. Everyone had to have seen this coming since the ink was dry on the contract.

 

I think the surprise is the timing. Why now? Why not earlier in the offseason when Hendry had alot more payroll unaccounted for? Why wait until most of Hendy's available dollars have been spent?

 

I'm not convinced he would have done it otherwise. I think a NTC might be at play here...

 

how is this a 'surprise'? this clause has been well known to fans as well as Hendry. Prior deserves a raise, (if, for no other reason than Neifi is being paid 2.5M) and i certainly believe Hendry has planned for this scenario...

 

Not to mention Rusch, Eyre, Howry, and Jones also making more than him. Isn't Mabry getting paid about that too?

 

mabry is getting $1m

[Transmogrified Tiger]

As someone who likes to track contract info, it's very frustrating that with all the details we know about his deal that we didn't know about this option until last month.

[CuseCubFan69]

As someone who likes to track contract info, it's very frustrating that with all the details we know about his deal that we didn't know about this option until last month.

 

You're going hate finding out the hidden perks in Neifi's deal then:

 

"150 or more games 4M raise"

"Leads off at least 1 time 2M"

"Grounds into 20 or more DP's 1M"

"Saves Cubs season...Priceless"

[CubbieSouthpaw]

lock him up 7 years plz.

 

I'm probably going to get bashed for this. But hear me out.

If Prior wants more money then he should show he can stay healthy. I say if the Cubs can get Tejada and Bedard for him then do it. To me he's still in that prospect mode. He hasn't proven that he's durable enough to handle a full season.

Yes, his injuries aren't all related to pitching. But he still hasn't proved his worth for an entire season.

 

So ranting was done in the above. :D