Shocking if Prior WASN'T non-tendered this winter?

[UMFan83]

I was reading along Stark's recent column, when I came to a bit about Mark Prior:

 

You won't find Prior on any current free-agent list. But it would be a shock if the Cubs didn't nontender him. And that makes him yet another intriguing dice roll in this free-agent craps game. Who knows what his stuff will look like after shoulder surgery. But at 27, he'll at least be a seductive name, if not a productive arm.

 

"I really don't know where he's at," said one assistant GM. "But given the amount of money he'd make if he was tendered, I'd say it's a safe bet he will be out there."

 

That is interesting. I thought that the consensus around here was that the Cubs would surely keep him after his surgery to see what he still has. Is there a chance that Prior will get non-tendered? My theory is that we've thrown enough money his way, we might as well do it for one more year and see what he has got.

[USSoccer]

There's no way. It would be so, so stupid, especially considering they wasted money on Wade Miller.

[PrimeTime]

I would give him one more shot.Since this is his first surgery finally.See if he gets his velocity and stuff back.If he doesn't..to hell with him

[jersey cubs fan]

It's going to depend a lot on ownership, but I'm fairly certain the current management group has all but given up on Prior and will strongly consider non-tendering him. It would be incredibly stupid, given the amount of millions they are willing to waste on guys you know are going to be terrible, to refuse to risk a few million on a guy who might be great. But if I had to bet, I'd say he's non-tendered.

[NewUserName]

It's going to depend a lot on ownership, but I'm fairly certain the current management group has all but given up on Prior and will strongly consider non-tendering him. It would be incredibly stupid, given the amount of millions they are willing to waste on guys you know are going to be terrible, to refuse to risk a few million on a guy who might be great. But if I had to bet, I'd say he's non-tendered.

 

 

I think great is probably out. He might be effective. If they tender him what will it cost the Cubs? I am guessing the payroll is getting pretty tight already and the need for another OFer is more important than a questionable starter/reliever.

[Backtobanks]

It's going to depend a lot on ownership, but I'm fairly certain the current management group has all but given up on Prior and will strongly consider non-tendering him. It would be incredibly stupid, given the amount of millions they are willing to waste on guys you know are going to be terrible, to refuse to risk a few million on a guy who might be great. But if I had to bet, I'd say he's non-tendered.

 

 

I think great is probably out. He might be effective. If they tender him what will it cost the Cubs? I am guessing the payroll is getting pretty tight already and the need for another OFer is more important than a questionable starter/reliever.

 

I'm wondering if the Cubs can sign him to a high-incentive low-base contract for 2008 with an team option for 2009. I'm not sure about the rules on tendering or non-tendering, but I agree with the others who said that they've sunk so much into him and you would like to see the final result.

[CubColtPacer]

It's going to depend a lot on ownership, but I'm fairly certain the current management group has all but given up on Prior and will strongly consider non-tendering him. It would be incredibly stupid, given the amount of millions they are willing to waste on guys you know are going to be terrible, to refuse to risk a few million on a guy who might be great. But if I had to bet, I'd say he's non-tendered.

 

 

I think great is probably out. He might be effective. If they tender him what will it cost the Cubs? I am guessing the payroll is getting pretty tight already and the need for another OFer is more important than a questionable starter/reliever.

 

If they tender him, it will cost the cubs a mininum of 3 million (which is right about the maximum 20 percent drop), and possibly up to 4.

[Balsa]

Sign him to a Frank Thomas 2006-like contract.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's going to depend a lot on ownership, but I'm fairly certain the current management group has all but given up on Prior and will strongly consider non-tendering him. It would be incredibly stupid, given the amount of millions they are willing to waste on guys you know are going to be terrible, to refuse to risk a few million on a guy who might be great. But if I had to bet, I'd say he's non-tendered.

 

 

I think great is probably out. He might be effective. If they tender him what will it cost the Cubs? I am guessing the payroll is getting pretty tight already and the need for another OFer is more important than a questionable starter/reliever.

 

When you routinely waste $2-3m on guys like Blanco, Rusch, Eyre, etc., I'd hate to make up for it by letting Prior go. I don't think great is necessarily out. HOF great, probably. But it would not be out of the question to get a fairly significant resurgent year out of him, something like 180 innnigs of 120 or more ERA+ type pitching.

[StMarksCubs]

It's going to depend a lot on ownership, but I'm fairly certain the current management group has all but given up on Prior and will strongly consider non-tendering him. It would be incredibly stupid, given the amount of millions they are willing to waste on guys you know are going to be terrible, to refuse to risk a few million on a guy who might be great. But if I had to bet, I'd say he's non-tendered.

 

 

I think great is probably out. He might be effective. If they tender him what will it cost the Cubs? I am guessing the payroll is getting pretty tight already and the need for another OFer is more important than a questionable starter/reliever.

 

When you routinely waste $2-3m on guys like Blanco, Rusch, Eyre, etc., I'd hate to make up for it by letting Prior go. I don't think great is necessarily out. HOF great, probably. But it would not be out of the question to get a fairly significant resurgent year out of him, something like 180 innnigs of 120 or more ERA+ type pitching.

 

Can anyone explain to me, and I mean this in all seriousness, why anyone would want to give up on Prior based on his success in the past? I mean, pitchers get injured all the time and usually bounce back! (Unless your name is Wade Miller...)

[YearofDaCubs]

After all we've been through with this guy, to non-tender would be stupid IMO. I would like to see what he can do after surgery, even for 3-4 mil.

[Choonch]

You would think that, no matter what the Cubs do with Prior, he would re willing to take a low deal to sign with them. Considering how much he has been paid the last few years with very little production, he almost owes it to the franchise.

 

Just my opinion.

[Burtonbell]

You would think that, no matter what the Cubs do with Prior, he would re willing to take a low deal to sign with them. Considering how much he has been paid the last few years with very little production, he almost owes it to the franchise.

 

Just my opinion.

 

So he takes the Wood contract?

[illiniguy]

Man it would be Hendry stupid to let Prior walk now. Hopefully the next GM isn't that foolish.

[CubColtPacer]

Well, from the column apparently the rest of MLB does not think Prior is worth 3-4 million.

 

The only problem with the Cubs non-tendering Prior is that I'm not sure Prior wants to sign with the Cubs as a free agent to a lower deal (which is all he's going to get from anybody). There might be bad blood still between him and the organization.

[E.J.]

What are the chances the cubs non-tender him, the Cards pick him up, and he haunts us for years?

[davearm]

Well, from the column apparently the rest of MLB does not think Prior is worth 3-4 million.

 

The only problem with the Cubs non-tendering Prior is that I'm not sure Prior wants to sign with the Cubs as a free agent to a lower deal (which is all he's going to get from anybody). There might be bad blood still between him and the organization.

I suspect this as well.

 

I think it's likely that the Cubs' only chance to keep Prior for another year is to tender a contract and fork over the $3M.

[jersey cubs fan]

Well, from the column apparently the rest of MLB does not think Prior is worth 3-4 million.

 

The only problem with the Cubs non-tendering Prior is that I'm not sure Prior wants to sign with the Cubs as a free agent to a lower deal (which is all he's going to get from anybody). There might be bad blood still between him and the organization.

I suspect this as well.

 

I think it's likely that the Cubs' only chance to keep Prior for another year is to tender a contract and fork over the $3M.

 

Prior may legitimately feel that the Cubs treatment has already cost him millions of dollars he would have earned this year, and next, by making him unavailable (yes, they did also pay him millions, but that was justified by his draft status and early success).

 

I think the only way to get him to come back, without just tendering, is to offer him something like $1m guaranteed next year, with the potential to make $8-10m in incentives, via different things, like making the 25 man roster, throwing 25, 50, 100, 150, 180 and 200 IP, etc. Then throw in a $10m team option, with a $1.5m buyout. Brings the total guarantee to about $2.5, below what he'd get in a tender, but because of that, you're giving him a chance to make $20m additionally.

[nilodnayr]

Well, from the column apparently the rest of MLB does not think Prior is worth 3-4 million.

 

The only problem with the Cubs non-tendering Prior is that I'm not sure Prior wants to sign with the Cubs as a free agent to a lower deal (which is all he's going to get from anybody). There might be bad blood still between him and the organization.

I suspect this as well.

 

I think it's likely that the Cubs' only chance to keep Prior for another year is to tender a contract and fork over the $3M.

 

Prior may legitimately feel that the Cubs treatment has already cost him millions of dollars he would have earned this year, and next, by making him unavailable (yes, they did also pay him millions, but that was justified by his draft status and early success).

 

I think the only way to get him to come back, without just tendering, is to offer him something like $1m guaranteed next year, with the potential to make $8-10m in incentives, via different things, like making the 25 man roster, throwing 25, 50, 100, 150, 180 and 200 IP, etc. Then throw in a $10m team option, with a $1.5m buyout. Brings the total guarantee to about $2.5, below what he'd get in a tender, but because of that, you're giving him a chance to make $20m additionally.

 

You don't think if we non-tender him that another team wouldn't offer him something like that?

[CubFanPhilly]

You would think that, no matter what the Cubs do with Prior, he would re willing to take a low deal to sign with them. Considering how much he has been paid the last few years with very little production, he almost owes it to the franchise.

 

Just my opinion.

 

His 2003 season alone makes him worth every penny the Cubs have paid him to date. He doesn't owe the Cubs anything.

 

With that said, I'd be interested in a Wood-type incentive based deal and I think Prior might take it.

[d_money]

You would think that, no matter what the Cubs do with Prior, he would re willing to take a low deal to sign with them. Considering how much he has been paid the last few years with very little production, he almost owes it to the franchise.

 

Just my opinion.

 

His 2003 season alone makes him worth every penny the Cubs have paid him to date. He doesn't owe the Cubs anything.

 

With that said, I'd be interested in a Wood-type incentive based deal and I think Prior might take it.

 

I could be wrong, but he's under the property of the Cubs for 2 more years. His contract can only go down a certain percentage (someone mentioned 20% earlier) by rules. Therefore, he cannot sign to a Wood-type contract of $1M + incentives.

[davearm]

You would think that, no matter what the Cubs do with Prior, he would re willing to take a low deal to sign with them. Considering how much he has been paid the last few years with very little production, he almost owes it to the franchise.

 

Just my opinion.

 

His 2003 season alone makes him worth every penny the Cubs have paid him to date. He doesn't owe the Cubs anything.

 

With that said, I'd be interested in a Wood-type incentive based deal and I think Prior might take it.

 

I could be wrong, but he's under the property of the Cubs for 2 more years. His contract can only go down a certain percentage (someone mentioned 20% earlier) by rules. Therefore, he cannot sign to a Wood-type contract of $1M + incentives.

Prior certainly can sign for $1M + incentives prior to an arbitration hearing. Heck he could sign for the league min if he wanted to.

 

But if the matter goes to arbitration, the figure the Cubs submit cannot be less than 80% of his 2007 number.

[chuckywang]

You would think that, no matter what the Cubs do with Prior, he would re willing to take a low deal to sign with them. Considering how much he has been paid the last few years with very little production, he almost owes it to the franchise.

 

Just my opinion.

 

Ultimately, Prior is going to do what is best for him, as will the Cubs. I hope he gets another shot, but he doesn't "owe" the Cubs anything.

[soccer10k]

There's no reason Prior shouldn't be getting paid by the Cubs next year. I would say that he should be wearing a Cubs uniform but, well, we'll just have to hope that's the case.

[hardcorecubfan]

There's no way. It would be so, so stupid, especially considering they wasted money on Wade Miller.

 

and Kerry Wood, a crap shoot at the least