Miller, Wood Expected to Re-Sign with Cubs

[Backtobanks]

Fearless prediction:

 

Prior, Howry, and Marshall for ARod. Maybe Gallagher or Veal needs to be added instead of Marshall, and maybe another reliever (perhaps Ohman) goes too. Regardless, Prior and Howry are the centerpieces, and Hendry gets his man ARod.

 

Miller re-signed to be the #5.

 

Wood re-signed to quasi-replace Howry.

 

2 new starting pitchers brought in via trade, free agency, international signing. One big name, one lesser name.

 

Guzman, Marmol, Mateo, etc. serve as emergency starters/swingmen.

 

One mid-tier hitter added to play 2B or CF (Izturis, Theriot, or Pie gets the remaining spot), and some depth is added to the bench (ideally a RH OF to platoon with Jones).

 

IMO this is what Hendry and co. will roll out for 2007.

 

I can't see any team taking Prior (let alone a deal featuring Prior) until they have some sort of assurance that he's healthy. If he was making less than $1 million, somebody might take him in a package deal as a project.

[davearm]

I can't see any team taking Prior (let alone a deal featuring Prior) until they have some sort of assurance that he's healthy. If he was making less than $1 million, somebody might take him in a package deal as a project.

Prior's salary is the least of anyone's worries here. The difference between $1M and $4M is trivial to the Yankees, especially considering the amount of payroll they're shedding in this deal.

 

But I agree that they'd require that Prior undergo the Mother of all physical exams.

[Wilmo]

If surgery on Prior is the last option, I would really like to know what, exactly is done to correct "genetic looseness"? And if something is done, Lord only knows what, it makes since to me that he may never recover from this surgery. Correcting genetic looseness, just doesn't seem possible. I guess if doctors can change a man into a woman anything is possible.

 

The other question I have is what are "arthritic changes"?

 

And one other thing, if strengthening is the first form of correction, how long does strengthening take. It seems to me, if he started mid-October to mid-February. That's four months shouldn't that be enough time? Hell maybe he should hook up with Victor and get some of "the cream" and "the clear".

 

Damn, I should have stayed at that Holiday Inn Express last night.

[hardcorecubfan]

Fearless prediction:

 

Prior, Howry, and Marshall for ARod. .

 

why Howery, he didn't do a bad job a bit over-used in the last month along with the rest of the pen.

[goonys evil twin]

Fearless prediction:

 

Prior, Howry, and Marshall for ARod. .

 

why Howery, he didn't do a bad job a bit over-used in the last month along with the rest of the pen.

 

I'd rather trade Eyre. But you have to give up quality to get quality. A middle reliever should never stand in the way of a deal to get a star like ARod. You can't just include guys you want to get rid of.

[davearm]

Fearless prediction:

 

Prior, Howry, and Marshall for ARod. .

 

why Howery, he didn't do a bad job a bit over-used in the last month along with the rest of the pen.

 

I'd rather trade Eyre. But you have to give up quality to get quality. A middle reliever should never stand in the way of a deal to get a star like ARod. You can't just include guys you want to get rid of.

This is it.

 

I'm giving the Yanks their choice of pitchers not named Zambrano.

 

I'm guessing the starter they want most is Prior, and the reliever they want most is Howry. Add one or two other lesser names for good measure, and call it a deal.

[RammyFanny]

Fearless prediction:

 

Prior, Howry, and Marshall for ARod. .

 

why Howery, he didn't do a bad job a bit over-used in the last month along with the rest of the pen.

 

I'd rather trade Eyre. But you have to give up quality to get quality. A middle reliever should never stand in the way of a deal to get a star like ARod. You can't just include guys you want to get rid of.

This is it.

 

I'm giving the Yanks their choice of pitchers not named Zambrano.

 

I'm guessing the starter they want most is Prior, and the reliever they want most is Howry. Add one or two other lesser names for good measure, and call it a deal.

Of course, take any Arod rumors with a grain of salt, but I ran across this today.

“Don't be surprised if the Alex Rodriguez to the Cubs rumors pick up after the World Series and as the Winter Meetings approaches,” according to our Windy City source. “Discussions will be expanded to include some interesting pieces.

 

“The Cubs want to rid themselves of a lot of players (and contracts) that (new skipper Lou ) Piniella has already indicated to Cubs GM Jim Hendry would be smart to get rid off. Mark Prior is a guy that intrigues Cashman, so expect his name to be mentioned.”

 

“Other names that will be tossed around are Yankees' top prospects Phil Hughes and Jose Tabata (because the Yankees are expected to demand Carlos Zambrano), but none of those players are getting dealt in any trade. Prior for A-Rod – if a deal gets done – will be the main pieces.”

 

If the Yankees do deal A-Rod, they will “go after a guy like Mark DeRosa” because Cashman is said to admire the University of Pennsylvania product's grit, ability to play several positions, and desire to win at all costs.

 

Otherwise, the Yankees are said to be targeting bullpen help, and lots of it.

http://www.gothambaseball.com/news/1161579748.php

According to the so called "source", Prior would be the main player in the deal, though I just can't see it happening.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If we make a Prior+ for A-Rod deal and then the Yankees replace him with Mark DeRosa, I may not stop laughing until spring training.

[RammyFanny]

If we make a Prior+ for A-Rod deal and then the Yankees replace him with Mark DeRosa, I may not stop laughing until spring training.

:lol: It had me going too.

[SouthSideRyan]

So is everyone in the "Prior has no penis camp" going to give all the credit to Piniella since he has at least 3 for himself, so when Mark gets healthy, Lou probably gave up one of his?

[Sammy Sofa]

I like Prior and think he can come back and be a good to great pitcher again...but if he can net us ARod and allow us to keep Zambrano and Aramis, I do it in a heartbeat. I wouldn't care if he went on to win the Cy Young with the Yankees...that's too good a deal to pass up and the Cubs have the money to replace him.

[soccer10k]

I'm not going to worry about Prior being/not being healthy until Jan 1, 2007 rolls around.

[NorthsideAvenger]

If his $4 mil is the last $4 mil that goes into a guy like Matsuzaka? Then I'd prefer to cut ties with Prior. I honestly don't think he's going to pitch much, even effectively in the next few years. He's had these reaccuring problems for the past couple of years. All the while we've been paying him $3-$4 mil. If he was still making league minimum, sure. But he's a costly "wait and see" guy.

 

Mark Prior's "salary" won't prevent the Cubs from going after Matsuzaka. And the two salaries are not mutally exclusive.

 

I didn't even know you could do that. Knowing that, I'd rather honestly try to trade him for decent prospects, or just cut ties. I'd honestly rather pay Miller $4 mil than Prior. Because he actually looks like he'd beable to pitch next year. Prior does not. I have no faith he will pitch at all next year.

 

This is going tosound classless---thus I apologize---but I rather wait till Prior is just about done as a pitcher, before I let him go. I don't want to see Prior go and pull another Maddux. That's just me. No way do the Cubs let Prior go, until they know for sure he won't come back and haunt the Cubs.