Jayson Stark: Cubs will be listening to offers for Prior

[Laura]

Jayson Starke was on the Mike & Mike show (ESPN 1000 morning show for Chicagoans) this morning and said that the Cubs weren't actively shopping Prior, buuuuut they would certainly would be listening to serious offers this season barring a miraculous recovery by the team. Cubs management types aren't sure whether Prior will ever be the type of consistent innings-eater that he was drafted to become. They do apparently believe, however, that he will be highly effective when he does pitch (or at least that would be the marketing strategy if they were to market him, which Starke repeatedly said that they weren't actively doing).

 

He said Prior would carry a high price tag if he were to be dealt.

 

Somewhat obviously, Prior needs to take the mound at some point for any plausible trade scenarios. There weren't any potential trade partners mentioned.

 

I didn't hear the original session with Starke. I just heard a recap of it while driving, so if anyone heard the full interview, please chime in.

 

Nothing earthshattering, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[Guest]

As long as the player coming back is ARod or Cabrera, I'm fine with moving Prior. There are few others I'd be excited about, though.

[louisvillecub]

Cubs mis-management types .

 

fixed

[CubinNY]

Jayson Starke was on the Mike & Mike show (ESPN 1000 morning show for Chicagoans) this morning and said that the Cubs weren't actively shopping Prior, buuuuut they would certainly would be listening to serious offers this season barring a miraculous recovery by the team. Cubs management types aren't sure whether Prior will ever be the type of consistent innings-eater that he was drafted to become. They do apparently believe, however, that he will be highly effective when he does pitch (or at least that would be the marketing strategy if they were to market him, which Starke repeatedly said that they weren't actively doing).

 

He said Prior would carry a high price tag if he were to be dealt.

 

Somewhat obviously, Prior needs to take the mound at some point for any plausible trade scenarios. There weren't any potential trade partners mentioned.

 

I didn't hear the original session with Starke. I just heard a recap of it while driving, so if anyone heard the full interview, please chime in.

 

Nothing earthshattering, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

 

Unless or until he pitches the speculation is moot.

 

I'd rather see the Cubs shop Wood, Maddux, or Marshall. I still believe Prior will live up to expectations. I blame the Cubs for much of his problems. I also blame them for standing by and letting the radio talkshow jackasses question his toughness.

[BigbadB]

Cubs management types aren't sure whether Prior will ever be the type of consistent innings-eater that he was drafted to become.

 

The quoted part above is another perfect example of why the entire management team needs to be kicked to the curb. A comment like this is supposed to net a huge return in trade?

 

OTHER GM- "Uh, yes Jim, I'd like a pitcher than will never become the consistent innings eater that he was drafted to become."

 

Jim-"Great! Got any Tony Womack's or Jose Macias' on your roster that you could give me for Prior? I'll pay most of Prior's contract if you do."

 

And why just Prior? If you are going to trade Prior, trade everyone else too. Start all over again. But, if they do start over again, please start with a new management team that understands how to build a long term, successful team.

[Rusch33]

What about Tejada still?

 

Would you be leery of getting him for Prior?

[goonys evil twin]

Cubs management types aren't sure whether Prior will ever be the type of consistent innings-eater that he was drafted to become.

 

The quoted part above is another perfect example of why the entire management team needs to be kicked to the curb. A comment like this is supposed to net a huge return in trade?

 

OTHER GM- "Uh, yes Jim, I'd like a pitcher than will never become the consistent innings eater that he was drafted to become."

 

Jim-"Great! Got any Tony Womack's or Jose Macias' on your roster that you could give me for Prior? I'll pay most of Prior's contract if you do."

 

And why just Prior? If you are going to trade Prior, trade everyone else too. Start all over again. But, if they do start over again, please start with a new management team that understands how to build a long term, successful team.

 

Or draft Tex.

[BigbadB]

What about Tejada still?

 

Would you be leery of getting him for Prior?

 

If you were Baltimore, would you now trade your stud offensive player for a guy who hasn't pitched a single game this year?

 

That would make the Baltimore GM twice as dumb as Hendry for making that deal.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm starting to not even care anymore who gets traded off of this team.

[Laura]

And why just Prior? If you are going to trade Prior, trade everyone else too. Start all over again. But, if they do start over again, please start with a new management team that understands how to build a long term, successful team.

 

That's why I was kind of hoping someone else heard the full interview. I don't know whether the focus was on Prior because of rumors or whether Stark was just asked about the possibility of dealing Prior.

[Banedon]

I wonder how much of this is just Stark speculating, and how much is actual inside info.

[CubinNY]

I wonder how much of this is just Stark speculating, and how much is actual inside info.

 

I'd have to say 100% speculation.

[davearm]

Cubs management types aren't sure whether Prior will ever be the type of consistent innings-eater that he was drafted to become.

 

The quoted part above is another perfect example of why the entire management team needs to be kicked to the curb. A comment like this is supposed to net a huge return in trade?

Ahem, that's Jayson Stark talking (guessing), not anyone within the Cubs' management.

[BigbadB]

Cubs management types aren't sure whether Prior will ever be the type of consistent innings-eater that he was drafted to become.

 

The quoted part above is another perfect example of why the entire management team needs to be kicked to the curb. A comment like this is supposed to net a huge return in trade?

Ahem, that's Jayson Stark talking (guessing), not anyone within the Cubs' management.

 

Sure, it's Stark talking. But it's not completely out of the question that he gathered this information from someone within the Cubs administration.

 

And it wouldn't be the first time the Cubs have devalued a player and traded them for pennies on the dollar. :wink:

[RynoRules]

Trading Mark for a proven stud hitter or a gaggle of very highly rated prospects would be a good first step to breaking this thing up and putting it back together again. Next year's rotation could look like:

 

Z

Marshall

Hill

Guzman

Williams/Ryu/Wade Miller/Veteran FA?

 

If the vet FA were somone with proven 2nd starter nos., I could live with that (Schmidt? Zito? Isn't Mulder in his walk year?). Could you?

[sethuel1]

I think we should wait until his value is lower.

[Andy]

I'm starting to not even care anymore who gets traded off of this team.

Seconded

[Rooftop Bum]

I'm starting to not even care anymore who gets traded off of this team.

Seconded

 

I totall agree as well. I just hope we actually get some decent players in return. I am not really counting on that to happen with the folks running this show.

[moorecg]

Trading Mark for a proven stud hitter or a gaggle of very highly rated prospects would be a good first step to breaking this thing up and putting it back together again. Next year's rotation could look like:

 

Z

Marshall

Hill

Guzman

Williams/Ryu/Wade Miller/Veteran FA?

 

If the vet FA were somone with proven 2nd starter nos., I could live with that (Schmidt? Zito? Isn't Mulder in his walk year?). Could you?

 

I'm beginning to doubt that Hill will ever be a legit #3 starter in this league...

[RynoRules]

Trading Mark for a proven stud hitter or a gaggle of very highly rated prospects would be a good first step to breaking this thing up and putting it back together again. Next year's rotation could look like:

 

Z

Marshall

Hill

Guzman

Williams/Ryu/Wade Miller/Veteran FA?

 

If the vet FA were somone with proven 2nd starter nos., I could live with that (Schmidt? Zito? Isn't Mulder in his walk year?). Could you?

 

I'm beginning to doubt that Hill will ever be a legit #3 starter in this league...

 

I am also, but I wasn't implying that Hill would bthe no. 3. He could be the no. 5 or, if Ryu or Williams is better, not a starter at all. My point is to take a page from Beane's book, strip the rotation (excepting Z) and begin again.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Trading Mark for a proven stud hitter or a gaggle of very highly rated prospects would be a good first step to breaking this thing up and putting it back together again. Next year's rotation could look like:

 

Z

Marshall

Hill

Guzman

Williams/Ryu/Wade Miller/Veteran FA?

 

If the vet FA were somone with proven 2nd starter nos., I could live with that (Schmidt? Zito? Isn't Mulder in his walk year?). Could you?

 

I'm beginning to doubt that Hill will ever be a legit #3 starter in this league...

 

I've always doubted that Hill would ever be a legit starter period.

[coreyMVP]

If Hill is the Cubs number 3 starter next year, 2007 will be worse than the disaster we are currently witnessing.

In addition, if Hill is the #3, Hendry is worse than I think he is, and that is saying something.

[Fro]

We need to keep Prior unless we get a stud back, and let Maddux/Wood walk. Especially since his value is pretty low right now.

 

Counting on Hill, Guzman, Williams, or Marshall as being anything other than the #5 starter is really pushing it. Marshall had a good stretch but he's getting shelled now. The other 3 have been constantly shelled this year.

 

Trading Prior is basically waving the white flag on this team's potential over the next 2-3 years before Z and Prior become high priced FAs.

 

That's the window management needs to work with to get this thing fixed.

[Flames24Rulz]

I'm starting to not even care anymore who gets traded off of this team.

Seconded

 

i really don't care anymore. Trade all of them away.

[Sammy Sofa]

Man, talk about Hendry being Hendry. If there's any truth to this, why the hell didn't they shop him seriously in the off season, when the injury issue would have been infinitely less glaring? Obviously Prior is mangled and broken far, FAR worse than anyone is clarifying if they're taking offers already without him pitching a single inning. So either he's traded WAY under-valued and the Cubs get robbed, or we're stuck with a Prior on half-empty most of or all of the year with no relief in sight. He needs to come back and be a dynamo fast or the Cubs need to totally shut him down indefinitely and figure what's wrong and how to fix it, either to make him the #1 pitcher on this team he needs to be or te be traded for a player or players with real impact. This whole thing has been Hendrified.