Prior voids his contract/ eligible for arbitration

[CuseCubFan69]

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

 

I agree. I want to see him get 35 starts and not have any problems. He's a good pitcher but if Hendry can make a deal to make the Cubs better while trading Prior I'm all for it. Unfortunately I don't really trust Hendry enough anymore to do so. I hope Hendry surprises me and proves me wrong.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

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. :D

 

According to the O's FO, Patterson,Hill & Prior wasn't enough for Tejada & Bedard, that's if these rumors were even true.

[wilk]

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.

 

That's not true... I've known about Prior's opt-out clause for quite some time. There was a lot of discussion about it last year as to whether he qualified as a Super Two or not, etc. I've been saying all offseason that Prior is arbitration eligible and will almost certainly elect it. This has definitely been documented.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Here are some dates that may help some of you on the arbitration process:

 

01/05: »Salary arbitration filing begins.

01/08: »Last day until May 1 for free agents who rejected arbitration offers to re-sign with their former teams.

01/15: »Salary arbitration filing ends.

01/18: »Arb. figures exchanged.

02/01: »Arb. hearings begin.

02/21: »Arb. hearings end.

[fromthestretch]

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.

 

That's not true... I've known about Prior's opt-out clause for quite some time. There was a lot of discussion about it last year as to whether he qualified as a Super Two or not, etc. I've been saying all offseason that Prior is arbitration eligible and will almost certainly elect it. This has definitely been documented.

 

They mentioned on XM this morning that Prior notified Hendry in November that he would be exercising this option. If that report is accurate, I think that it makes a bit more sense that Hendry would at least consider using Prior in a trade to acquire a big bat like Tejada. Not saying I'd be for that trade, but it at least makes some more sense now.

 

I also sure as hell hope that if Hendry has known about this for ~2 months, he budgeted for it.

[goonys evil twin]

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

 

Prior is too brittle to earn a raise from $2.5m (Neifi's money, less than Rusch)? But you want Bedard to replace him, a guy with a history of pitching related injuries, who is older than Prior and hasn't come close to dubplicating his success.

 

The grass is not always greener people. Prior at $2.5m was an absolute steal. His arbitration price will still make him very affordable, and he will be somewhat penalized for the injuries that kept him from being at his best.

[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

 

Prior is too brittle to earn a raise from $2.5m (Neifi's money, less than Rusch)? But you want Bedard to replace him, a guy with a history of pitching related injuries, who is older than Prior and hasn't come close to dubplicating his success.

 

The grass is not always greener people. Prior at $2.5m was an absolute steal. His arbitration price will still make him very affordable, and he will be somewhat penalized for the injuries that kept him from being at his best.

 

I don't disagree with you. I like Prior as much as everyone else does. But the fact still remains that Prior hasn't proven himself to stay healthy. Yes, he's a great pitcher when healthy. But so is Kerry Wood and thats been a nightmare in itsself..

The point I'm trying to make is you don't go in and ask for a raise when you know you don't deserve one. As far as I'm concerned. Prior hasn't earned a pay raise.

As for Neifi? Well, I don't have anything to say cuse that is a waste of money.

If the grass is already Brown (which it is with the Cubs.), then why not look on the other side and see if it turns green.

 

[/b]

[RynoRules]

I would extend Prior, but only for 3 additional years. I love him; he's great; he's still a pitcher.

[goonys evil twin]

The point I'm trying to make is you don't go in and ask for a raise when you know you don't deserve one. As far as I'm concerned. Prior hasn't earned a pay raise.

 

He does deserve a raise. He signed a contract that gave him the option to void his deal once he became arbitration eligible. The Cubs offered him that option in the contract they signed him to. He is arbitration eligible. He earned that eligibility. He earned the right to void his final year and he earned the right to file for arbitration. Even injured Prior is worth way more than $2.5m. The past 3 years he's put together a stretch that was easily worth as much as the many pitchers signing 3/27-30m deals. It's not like he backed out of a contract and is holding out for more money. The void option was part of the contract.

[goonys evil twin]

I would extend Prior, but only for 3 additional years. I love him; he's great; he's still a pitcher.

 

I'd try and sign him for around 3/27-30 with a 4th year team option around $14-15m (which could easily be a bargain for the team by then) and maybe $1-2m buyout.

[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.

 

That's not true... I've known about Prior's opt-out clause for quite some time. There was a lot of discussion about it last year as to whether he qualified as a Super Two or not, etc. I've been saying all offseason that Prior is arbitration eligible and will almost certainly elect it. This has definitely been documented.

 

From what we as fans had available, the language was pretty clear it referred to 2004, and there was no indication that there was another option for this year or that it carried over to '05.

[Bull]

I would extend Prior, but only for 3 additional years. I love him; he's great; he's still a pitcher.

 

I'd try and sign him for around 3/27-30 with a 4th year team option around $14-15m (which could easily be a bargain for the team by then) and maybe $1-2m buyout.

 

Too much. He's arb eligible, not a Free Agent. Ozwalt Got 2 years/16.9 last year. 3/25 is top dollar for arb. eligible pitchers and I think Prior would ask for and get 5 in arb.

 

3/25 is generous at this stage in his carreer.

[goonys evil twin]

I would extend Prior, but only for 3 additional years. I love him; he's great; he's still a pitcher.

 

I'd try and sign him for around 3/27-30 with a 4th year team option around $14-15m (which could easily be a bargain for the team by then) and maybe $1-2m buyout.

 

Too much. He's arb eligible, not a Free Agent. Ozwalt Got 2 years/16.9 last year. 3/25 is top dollar for arb. eligible pitchers and I think Prior would ask for and get 5 in arb.

 

3/25 is generous at this stage in his carreer.

 

He could get 5 easily this year, 8-10 by next year, and 10+ the third year of arbitration. You give him a little more now so that he'll put off his first year of free agency.

[goonys evil twin]

the language was pretty clear it referred to 2004, and there was no indication that there was another option for this year or that it carried over to '05.

 

I don't think it was clear at all. It said 2004, but it was not clear if it carried over, and it makes perfect sense that it would carry over.

 

I don't understand why people are freaking out about this. We've been aware there was a chance it would happen for years, and it became clear it most likely would happen quite a while ago.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

the language was pretty clear it referred to 2004, and there was no indication that there was another option for this year or that it carried over to '05.

 

I don't think it was clear at all. It said 2004, but it was not clear if it carried over, and it makes perfect sense that it would carry over.

 

I don't understand why people are freaking out about this. We've been aware there was a chance it would happen for years, and it became clear it most likely would happen quite a while ago.

 

It said 2004, and expressly mentioned he needed to be a super-two to exercise the option. There's a reason everyone thought Prior's contract was guaranteed until those newspaper reports. But whatever, it is what it is now I guess.

[Magnetic Curses]

i would be fine with paying zambrano and prior huge money if i were more comfortable with the ability of hendry to field a cost-effective team. however, since dusty doesn't like to play the inexpensive, cost-efficient rookies, and hendry doesn't like the cost-efficient vetran players--i'd say prior's future with the cubs is in serious doubt.

[HoopsCubs]

i would be fine with paying zambrano and prior huge money if i were more comfortable with the ability of hendry to field a cost-effective team. however, since dusty doesn't like to play the inexpensive, cost-efficient rookies, and hendry doesn't like the cost-efficient vetran players--i'd say prior's future with the cubs is in serious doubt.

 

I don't agree with your assessment. I don't see finances or Dusty being the issue at all here. If anything, Hendry has shown a penchant to value pitching over hitting. Prior's future with the Cubs is going to come down to his health and his performance trend.

[Magnetic Curses]

i would be fine with paying zambrano and prior huge money if i were more comfortable with the ability of hendry to field a cost-effective team. however, since dusty doesn't like to play the inexpensive, cost-efficient rookies, and hendry doesn't like the cost-efficient vetran players--i'd say prior's future with the cubs is in serious doubt.

 

I don't agree with your assessment. I don't see finances or Dusty being the issue at all here. If anything, Hendry has shown a penchant to value pitching over hitting. Prior's future with the Cubs is going to come down to his health and his performance trend.

 

so, if prior has a good couple of years in 2006-07, he'll get a big deal from the cubs?

 

what i'm saying is that i have my doubts about hendry's ability to fill out the roster in an efficient manner. let's say prior and zambrano are amking in a combined 28-30 mil in 2008, if hendry and dusty are still in place, how do they fill out the rest of the roster with serviceable players?

[snoodmonger]

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.

 

"Crush, Kill, Destroy."

[CubbieSouthpaw]

The point I'm trying to make is you don't go in and ask for a raise when you know you don't deserve one. As far as I'm concerned. Prior hasn't earned a pay raise.

 

He does deserve a raise. He signed a contract that gave him the option to void his deal once he became arbitration eligible. The Cubs offered him that option in the contract they signed him to. He is arbitration eligible. He earned that eligibility. He earned the right to void his final year and he earned the right to file for arbitration. Even injured Prior is worth way more than $2.5m. The past 3 years he's put together a stretch that was easily worth as much as the many pitchers signing 3/27-30m deals. It's not like he backed out of a contract and is holding out for more money. The void option was part of the contract.

 

I understand the contract part of it. I just don't agree he's worth it. Some of those pitchers you're talking about with those 3/27m contracts have proved they can pitch an entire season and Prior hasn't. Are they as good as a healthy Prior? In a lot of ways NO. But if they win games, start every 5 game then they've been more valuable then Prior has.

And to offer him a 3/27-30M as you stated in another post is just wrong. Like I said several times before. I like Prior and believe he's going to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. The fact still remains if he can't stay healthy for a full season he will be in the same line with Wood.

We can hash this all you want. But in the end, Prior still needs to prove himself as a healthy pitcher. Until then as far as I'm concerned the Cubs are paying 2 pitchers to spend a good portion of the season on the DL.

Give me 2 of the those 3/27M pitchers that stay healthy and you can keep Prior in the hopes that he might stay healthy.

[Magnetic Curses]

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.

 

"Crush, Kill, Destroy."

 

187. murder, death, kill.

[goonys evil twin]

I understand the contract part of it. I just don't agree he's worth it.

 

We can hash this all you want. But in the end, Prior still needs to prove himself as a healthy pitcher. Until then as far as I'm concerned the Cubs are paying 2 pitchers to spend a good portion of the season on the DL.

Give me 2 of the those 3/27M pitchers that stay healthy and you can keep Prior in the hopes that he might stay healthy.

 

So instead of paying Prior $5m, which he has earned, deserves and is likely to get, you'd rather let him walk, and then go out and trade for Kris Benson and Matt Morris.

 

Please go apply to the Cardinals so they can be run into the ground.

 

This overzealous disdain for Prior and his injuries is utterly preposterous.

 

Over the past 3 season, when he was 22, 23 and 24, Prior has amassed a record of 35-17, with 497 IP, 572 K, 157 BB, 438 H, 1.19 WHIP, 3.23 ERA.

 

Compare that to some recent big money signees:

AJ Burnett

19-20, 352 IP, 332 K, 135 BB, 304 H, 1.25 WHIP, 3.61 ERA

 

Josh Becket

33-25, 476 IP, 464 K, 168 BB, 421 H, 1.23 WHIP, 3.42 ERA

 

Jon Garland

42-34, 630 IP, 336 K, 197 BB, 623 H, 1.30 WHIP, 4.29 ERA

 

Kevin Millwood

32-29, 555 IP, 440 K, 171 BB, 547 H, 1.29 WHIP, 3.83 ERA

 

 

That's 4 players, all but Becket making significantly more money than Prior is making, or will make after arbitration, and Josh will probably make more this season. Not one of them has outperformed Prior over the past 3 years. Garland has more IP, but most of those innings were poorly pitched.

 

And you're sitting here complaining that Prior exercised a right he had in his contract to void his $2.5 million deal for this season and go into arbitration where he'll make between $4-5 million.

 

Are you kidding me? Do you realize what else is out there?

 

This short-sighted approach to looking at the game of baseball gives you absolutely no perspective on the realities of the game.

Edited January 5, 2006 by goony's evil twin

[fromthestretch]

I understand the contract part of it. I just don't agree he's worth it. Some of those pitchers you're talking about with those 3/27m contracts have proved they can pitch an entire season and Prior hasn't. Are they as good as a healthy Prior? In a lot of ways NO. But if they win games, start every 5 game then they've been more valuable then Prior has.

And to offer him a 3/27-30M as you stated in another post is just wrong. Like I said several times before. I like Prior and believe he's going to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. The fact still remains if he can't stay healthy for a full season he will be in the same line with Wood.

We can hash this all you want. But in the end, Prior still needs to prove himself as a healthy pitcher. Until then as far as I'm concerned the Cubs are paying 2 pitchers to spend a good portion of the season on the DL.

Give me 2 of the those 3/27M pitchers that stay healthy and you can keep Prior in the hopes that he might stay healthy.

 

Prior made 30 starts (211.3 IP) in 2003, and probably would have made three or four more had he not collided with Marcus Giles midseason. That may have been a blessing in disguise, considering his age and the number of pitches he ended up throwing that year.

 

Last season, he made 27 starts, and the time he missed was due to getting hit squarely in the pitching elbow by a line drive. He easily would have had his 32-34 starts if that didn't happen.

 

In 2004, he made 21 starts, missing significant time due to an achilles injury. To my knowledge, this is the only time he has missed due to an injury that didn't result from getting hit by a person or ball. Therefore, I can't say he has a problem staying healthy.

 

It would be different if the achilles flared up again, or if he expierence shoulder or elbow problems like Wood. But I don't think you can label him any more of a health risk than any other pitcher when two of his three injuries were freak accidents.

[jtownie]

I'd go so far as to say Prior is still an incredible bargain at 4.5-5M. Considering what FA are getting this year to say that Prior isn't worth 2-2.5M more than he is currently making seems a bit outrageous.

 

Ryan Franklin was just signed for 2.6M plus incentives. That was Prior's projected salary this year. Are they of equal value?

[goonys evil twin]

I'd go so far as to say Prior is still an incredible bargain at 4.5-5M. Considering what FA are getting this year to say that Prior isn't worth 2-2.5M more than he is currently making seems a bit outrageous.

 

Ryan Franklin was just signed for 2.6M plus incentives. That was Prior's projected salary this year. Are they of equal value?

 

Prior and Zambrano are going to be relative bargains throughout their arbitration years. The only way players become non bargains in aribtration years is when they bust from the outset or take total nosedives like Patterson. If either Prior or Zambrano were free agents this offseason, they would have made a killing.