My friend sent me this email (Prior-related)

[badger1679666666]

One of my friends, whose baseball opinion I value greatly sent me this email today:

 

If the Cubs are SMART, which I don't think they are, they'd try and get Prior to sign an extension right now, 3 or 4 years, on the cheap.. This surgery he's going to have, there's probably a 50/50 chance he returns to what he was in 2004-2005. He was pitching with slightly torn muscles in his labrum/rotator cuff for the last 2 seasons. It's gonna take him an entire year to rehab and build up the arm strength, but I honestly would not be surprised to see him come back and pitch really well. This is a variation of the surgery Chris Carpenter had back in 2000. He's a free agent after this year, right? If the Cubs don't act, some team could get a legit, middle of the rotation starter on the cheap while Chicago paid him to rehab.

 

Your thoughts?

[mul21]

I think it's a fine idea if you can get him to do a deal for maybe $2-3 Mil a year for the 3-4 years. Especially if there is some way to be sure it would be covered by insurance so as not to affect payroll to other guys you might need if he doesn't pan out. But if it doesn't, that would just give us one more thing to p&m about.

[cubs121]

I understand what hes saying, But i for one am tired of the Prior and Wood Injuries. I wouldnt mind if they just forgot about both of them and moved on.

[bc2k]

One of my friends, whose baseball opinion I value greatly sent me this email today:

 

If the Cubs are SMART, which I don't think they are, they'd try and get Prior to sign an extension right now, 3 or 4 years, on the cheap.. This surgery he's going to have, there's probably a 50/50 chance he returns to what he was in 2004-2005. He was pitching with slightly torn muscles in his labrum/rotator cuff for the last 2 seasons. It's gonna take him an entire year to rehab and build up the arm strength, but I honestly would not be surprised to see him come back and pitch really well. This is a variation of the surgery Chris Carpenter had back in 2000. He's a free agent after this year, right? If the Cubs don't act, some team could get a legit, middle of the rotation starter on the cheap while Chicago paid him to rehab.

 

Your thoughts?

 

My thought is I'm going to go ahead and ignore his opinion since he doesn't even know when Prior's scheduled to become a FA. If he doesn't know that simple fact, it's impossible to make an informed decision on what contract details to offer him.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's an interesting idea.

[Wilson A2000]

Prior for 2004-2005: 17-11 with an ERA around 4.00

[Guest]

no way is it covered by insurance.

[kroth1342]

The question is, would the Cubs be willing to keep Prior on the 40-man for a couple more years without seeing him pitch?

[Guest]

The question is, would the Cubs be willing to keep Prior on the 40-man for a couple more years without seeing him pitch?

 

I don't see why not. They aren't exactly brimming with young talent coming up from the minors and there is plenty of deadwood on the 40 man already. I would do it if Prior agreed to it.

[Mephistopheles]

The question is, would the Cubs be willing to keep Prior on the 40-man for a couple more years without seeing him pitch?

 

I don't see why not. They aren't exactly brimming with young talent coming up from the minors and there is plenty of deadwood on the 40 man already. I would do it if Prior agreed to it.

 

 

and during the season hed be on the 60 day dl meaning they get an extra slot on the 40 man roster.

[ltb]

The question is, would the Cubs be willing to keep Prior on the 40-man for a couple more years without seeing him pitch?

 

I don't see why not. They aren't exactly brimming with young talent coming up from the minors and there is plenty of deadwood on the 40 man already. I would do it if Prior agreed to it.

 

 

and during the season hed be on the 60 day dl meaning they get an extra slot on the 40 man roster.

 

that would allow him to accumulate major league service time, so i don't think that's happening this year (or next). he'll have to sit on the 40-man and on the minor league DL for the cubs to retain his rights for 2009.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The question is, would the Cubs be willing to keep Prior on the 40-man for a couple more years without seeing him pitch?

 

I don't see why not. They aren't exactly brimming with young talent coming up from the minors and there is plenty of deadwood on the 40 man already. I would do it if Prior agreed to it.

 

 

and during the season hed be on the 60 day dl meaning they get an extra slot on the 40 man roster.

 

that would allow him to accumulate major league service time, so i don't think that's happening this year (or next). he'll have to sit on the 40-man and on the minor league DL for the cubs to retain his rights for 2009.

 

Does that change his contract negotiations? Can you be a "1st/2nd/3rd year arbitration" player more than once?

[VVMattVV]

I understand what hes saying, But i for one am tired of the Prior and Wood Injuries. I wouldnt mind if they just forgot about both of them and moved on.

 

We should make decisions based on what's best for the team, it doesn't matter if the fanbase is frustrated or not.

[ltb]

The question is, would the Cubs be willing to keep Prior on the 40-man for a couple more years without seeing him pitch?

 

I don't see why not. They aren't exactly brimming with young talent coming up from the minors and there is plenty of deadwood on the 40 man already. I would do it if Prior agreed to it.

 

 

and during the season hed be on the 60 day dl meaning they get an extra slot on the 40 man roster.

 

that would allow him to accumulate major league service time, so i don't think that's happening this year (or next). he'll have to sit on the 40-man and on the minor league DL for the cubs to retain his rights for 2009.

 

Does that change his contract negotiations? Can you be a "1st/2nd/3rd year arbitration" player more than once?

 

it's always based on major league service time, so i'd imagine it will just repeat - i think this was only his 2nd year of arbitration (he opted out of the remainder of his major league deal at the end of 2005), so he'd be treated as a 2nd year arbitration-eligible player again, i believe.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Prior for non-Cub in 2008!

[brinoch]

The Cubs have paid other pitchers during rehab -- Dempster, Williamson and Miller come immediately to mind. If we can sign them to deals during their respective rehabs, then we can certainly do the same with Prior.

[Sarcastic]

Prior for non-Cub in 2008!

 

Why cut him now? Now that they have finally identified and begun to address a concrete issue, showing that his troubles weren't just inherent to his arm, you want to get rid of him? For a team with the Cubs' payroll, there is no reason to abandon the investment now that their appears to be some distant possibility of a partial return to form, even if the rehab does take a year.

Should they sign him to a long term contract? Probably not, since he is still a risk. Should they cut him for nothing? No, since all they have to lose is a small amount of budget space, in return for an actual chance, as opposed to the imaginary one before this problem was found, to see a talented pitcher return to the mound next year.

[SouthSideRyan]

Very intriguing idea. At the right price I'd go for it. I'm not sure Prior would though. 4/14 sounds great to me, probably not to him.

[soccer10k]

Prior for non-Cub in 2008!

 

Why cut him now? Now that they have finally identified and begun to address a concrete issue, showing that his troubles weren't just inherent to his arm, you want to get rid of him? For a team with the Cubs' payroll, there is no reason to abandon the investment now that their appears to be some distant possibility of a partial return to form, even if the rehab does take a year.

Should they sign him to a long term contract? Probably not, since he is still a risk. Should they cut him for nothing? No, since all they have to lose is a small amount of budget space, in return for an actual chance, as opposed to the imaginary one before this problem was found, to see a talented pitcher return to the mound next year.

 

Agreed. I see no reason to get rid of him as long as we control his rights.

[David]

There's definitely no reason to just cut him loose.

 

Once again, a few people are letting emotions get in the way of logic when dealing with Prior.

 

"I'm just tired of all the disappointments," or anything to that effect, is no justification for letting him go.

[illiniguy]

The Cubs have paid other pitchers during rehab -- Dempster, Williamson and Miller come immediately to mind. If we can sign them to deals during their respective rehabs, then we can certainly do the same with Prior.

Especially since Mark Prior is a Cub. I really don't like how people blame this all on Kerry and Mark. They don't want to be hurt. They are also responsible for some great memories for most cubs' fans. How quickly we forget.

[Sammy Sofa]

IF WE LET PRIOR AND WOOD GO, THE CUBS WILL STOP BEING SAD AND THEY'LL START WINNING!!! ALSO, IF I WISH HARD ENOUGH, I KNOW I CAN CRAP GOLD COINS!!! WHOOOOPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

[CubinNY]

The Cubs have paid other pitchers during rehab -- Dempster, Williamson and Miller come immediately to mind. If we can sign them to deals during their respective rehabs, then we can certainly do the same with Prior.

Especially since Mark Prior is a Cub. I really don't like how people blame this all on Kerry and Mark. They don't want to be hurt. They are also responsible for some great memories for most cubs' fans. How quickly we forget.

I agree.

[Dr. Cub]

IF WE LET PRIOR AND WOOD GO, THE CUBS WILL STOP BEING SAD AND THEY'LL START WINNING!!! ALSO, IF I WISH HARD ENOUGH, I KNOW I CAN CRAP GOLD COINS!!! WHOOOOPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

 

Would you mind spending a week at my house? We're having old sushi, undercooked chicken, lots of warm old style, and all you can eat boiled eggs. unfortunately our toilets are broke, so you'll have to use a big tub we have especially for you.

[davearm]

Agreed. I see no reason to get rid of him as long as we control his rights.

After 2007 the Cubs will have over 3 million reasons to consider cutting bait on Prior.

 

Not saying they should or will, but there's certainly a legitimate reason why they might.