How much do you value Prior?

[Outshined_One]

The offseason has hit a bit of a lull, so I figure now would be a good time to start posting random questions and hypotheticals.

 

So, to start out, let's say you're GM of the Cubs and a few teams have inquired about Prior's availability. What would it take for those teams to make a trade for Prior? Would you accept him for a small package of decent prospects? Ship him off for a talented guy in the last year of his contract in hopes of getting a contract year performance out of him along with draft picks when he leaves? Or would you instead trade him for the highest lowball offer a team makes?

 

I'm curious as to where everyone stands on Prior now...

[mul21]

I think you're at the point right now where his value can't really get any lower, so unless a deal is something that a team is overpaying for what he gave you last year or is close to what his maximum value is, I don't deal him.

[cbbryan]

The offseason has hit a bit of a lull, so I figure now would be a good time to start posting random questions and hypotheticals.

 

So, to start out, let's say you're GM of the Cubs and a few teams have inquired about Prior's availability. What would it take for those teams to make a trade for Prior? Would you accept him for a small package of decent prospects? Ship him off for a talented guy in the last year of his contract in hopes of getting a contract year performance out of him along with draft picks when he leaves? Or would you instead trade him for the highest lowball offer a team makes?

 

I'm curious as to where everyone stands on Prior now...

 

Or, would you not entertain an offer that didn't knock your socks off because he's still a great pitcher when healthy. I'm not convinced that we've seen the best days of Prior. He's a guy that can have great success, but he's got to get past the injury bug and be consistant. It's alot of IFs, but in my mind it's less Ifs then a prospect poses.

[Soriano12]

I'm curious as to where everyone stands on Prior now...

 

Be careful. I think his back is the only injury he hasn't fak..I mean had yet.

[goonys evil twin]

Because he could still be a stud starting pitcher, I wouldn't deal him for anything less than a stud in return, even though it would have to be a package deal because he doesn't hold much trade value on his own. I definitely wouldn't even consider Prior for a couple decent prospects. I wouldn't trade him for a guy I expected to have for only 1 season.

 

If Florida asked for him in a deal for Cabrera, or the Yankees wanted him in an ARod deal, then I couldn't say no.

[Rob]

Seeing as how his value to the rest of the league is so minimal, and for us he's a very low-risk, very high-reward proposition... it'd still take a ton to pry him out of my hands. To DFA or cut him (which I've heard people propose here before) is perhaps one of the single dumbest moves that could be made in this situation.

[Jazz]

Does anyone know Prior's contract status. Let's say hypothetically he has a decent-great season and his completely healthy. Will we have to extend him, or offer arbiration to him after this season or do we have to extend him. If so, I really hope Hendry extends Z immediately, because I do not like the chances of signing Zambrano and a healthy Prior in the same offseason.

[goonys evil twin]

Does anyone know Prior's contract status. Let's say hypothetically he has a decent-great season and his completely healthy. Will we have to extend him, or offer arbiration to him after this season or do we have to extend him. If so, I really hope Hendry extends Z immediately, because I do not like the chances of signing Zambrano and a healthy Prior in the same offseason.

 

I believe he won't be a free agent until after the 2008 season, but I could be wrong.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Unless I'm getting a player that I believe immediately helps the major league team, I wouldn't trade Prior.

 

Prior still has huge upside. If he comes back to his 2002-early 2005 form, the Cubs could have a phenomenal pitching rotation with Zambrano, Prior and Hill at the top with Lilly and Marquis or a young pitcher at the bottom.

 

While no one is counting on Prior to be that type of pitcher, he's still incredibly young and isn't a drain on the payroll.

 

I would package Prior for an impact bat at SS (Tejada or M. Young) or at CF (A. Jones), but I likely wouldn't give him away for a prospect unless it was a prospect that I envisioned winning a job and producing in 2007. Those prospects are few and far between.

 

So, I'm likely over-valuing Prior. But since he isn't being counted on, he's of more value to hold onto than to trade for another question mark.

[CuseCubFan69]

I have to see him throw. Judging on nothing is just wrong because I need to see the actual results.

[rawaction]

At this point, I wouldn't look for a "stud" player in return for a package including Prior. Obviously, if the Yanks or Marlins ask for Prior in a deal for Arod or Cabrera, it's a no-brainer. But I'd likely trade Prior for a player that just has the potential of being a "stud", who has eclipsed his prospect status or is a pretty sure bet to do so successfully.

 

If a team offers players or prospects that would be under the Cubs control for more than 1-2 years, I'd probably go for it. If Tampa offers Baldelli or Crawford, I'd probably do it.

 

The main reason has nothing to do with Prior's ability. It has more to do with the fact that he is nearing his FA season. I think the best case scenario for 2007 has Prior showing greatness when healthy, but not being healthy for more than 140-160 innings. That to me, still isn't enough to throw big money at him, especially when the Cubs will have a ton of long-term money tied to the rotation in Zambrano (hopefully), Lilly, and Marquis.

 

Prior is different from Wood in that he has not yet had his projected big pay day, therefore has no incentive to show loyalty to the Cubs. So, even if he does play out his contact and throws the 150 great innings in 07, and gets back to the 03 form in 2008, I think he still walks away when he gets that chance.

[Backtobanks]

So it looks like pretty much everyone agrees (which is a first at NSBB), it's better to keep Prior in case he becomes healthy because he has zero trade value. I think it is safe enough to agree that if someone is willing to trade for him based on his pre-injury value, most of us wouldn't turn down that trade since it would certainly mean the Cubs would be receiving a big name player.

[USSoccer]

As part of a package that netted a true impact offensive player, I'd deal him. Otherwise, you'd be selling at the lowest possible point.

[Guest]

Right now, I look at Prior much the same way I would look at a very top-end pitching prospect. His downside against those guys is his proximity to FA and his injury history. His upside is that none of those guys has proven they can do anything like Prior's 2003 in the majors.

 

If he were a FA this season, he'd probably get a contract approaching Burnett's if he could pass a physical.

[goonys evil twin]

 

If he were a FA this season, he'd probably get a contract approaching Burnett's if he could pass a physical.

 

I don't think he would. While AJ has had his own injury issues, he was coming off a 200 inning season. I think Prior would have gotten a substantial 1 year make good contract, with player options kicking in if he hit certain inning thresholds.

[BigbadB]

I wouldn't trade him right now. He just won't command enough in return to make it worth it. At the trade deadline, if the Cubs are out of it and he's pitching very well and someone wanted to offer up a really nice package for him, I might consider it.

 

I'm very much afraid that Prior will be the next "I want to play in SoCal" free agent. He's from San Diego and Petco will be a place he can win a few Cy Youngs.

 

With that in mind, I don't think the time is right to move him. At the trade deadline or at the end of 2007 will be better options. But, he really needs to show he's past his health issues and prove he can pitch and pitch well.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

 

If he were a FA this season, he'd probably get a contract approaching Burnett's if he could pass a physical.

 

I don't think he would. While AJ has had his own injury issues, he was coming off a 200 inning season. I think Prior would have gotten a substantial 1 year make good contract, with player options kicking in if he hit certain inning thresholds.

 

Not just that...but Burnett was coming off a season that was suprisingly dominant.

 

He had better control, groundball tendencies, and his stuff was back.

 

Prior right now worries me because he's gone backwards with everything. I hold out ALOT of hope, in fact I defend him on here alot.

 

I think Tim put it best, he's a "prospect" but one who has done something before.

 

As far as the original post, no one in their right mind trades Prior at his lowest possible value unless its for someone elite and young.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Adam Eaton got 3/24. If Prior were a FA, some team would offer him that.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I would trade Mark Prior once I got the first solid offer for him. I don't care how talented he is. I don't like wasting $4MM every year on a perpetual "maybe" ballplayer. I'd rather have an actual major leaguer, you know, someone who plays once in awhile.

 

Make me an offer, any GM in baseball, and I'll listen.

[Sammy Sofa]

I would trade Mark Prior once I got the first solid offer for him. I don't care how talented he is. I don't like wasting $4MM every year on a perpetual "maybe" ballplayer. I'd rather have an actual major leaguer, you know, someone who plays once in awhile.

 

Make me an offer, any GM in baseball, and I'll listen.

 

You'd rather have, say, Jose Macias over Mark Prior?

 

I have to say, the lengths you're willing to go to to repeatedly slam Prior with this absurd notion of "baseball toughness" is beyond ridiculous at this point.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I would trade Mark Prior once I got the first solid offer for him. I don't care how talented he is. I don't like wasting $4MM every year on a perpetual "maybe" ballplayer. I'd rather have an actual major leaguer, you know, someone who plays once in awhile.

 

Make me an offer, any GM in baseball, and I'll listen.

 

You'd rather have, say, Jose Macias over Mark Prior?

 

I have to say, the lengths you're willing to go to to repeatedly slam Prior with this absurd notion of "baseball toughness" is beyond ridiculous at this point.

 

It is. And Don isn't taking into consideration the given the current market $4mill on a 26 yr old pitcher with Prior's talent/upside is a flat out bargain. I know, don is tired on the "Expectations" of Prior, by the law of averages suggests that SOONER or later Prior will be healthy and dominant again. And I am glad, don is NOT the GM, or he would have traded ARam for a pack of gum, and a nudie mag.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I would trade Mark Prior once I got the first solid offer for him. I don't care how talented he is. I don't like wasting $4MM every year on a perpetual "maybe" ballplayer. I'd rather have an actual major leaguer, you know, someone who plays once in awhile.

 

Make me an offer, any GM in baseball, and I'll listen.

 

I find this view rather short sighted.