Re: Sullivan: Cubs working on two year deal for Prior

[jersey cubs fan]

As all of you guys have suggested, the key is to have enough incentives aind options and stuff to make a deal preferable to Prior than taking an arb-influenced Cub-controlled one-year.

 

I just think that prior might want a lot to give up FA. All it will take is one or two end-of-year games in which Prior looks healthy and has some stuff to get teams super interested. It may be pretty difficult to get him to give up even an unconditional option for free agency.

 

He doesn't need 20 starts or 10 starts or many of the incentive targets. One or two promising starts is all it will take to give him major earning power.

 

Lefty, if indeed the new contract has dropped the 80% to 60%, that makes the non-tender possibility even more unlikely.

 

He'll need more than 1 or 2 promising starts to garner a huge contract. Interest, sure. But everybody is going to be questioning his ability to pitch all year. There will be no 5 year 90 million dollar offers because of 1 or 2 starts. At best I see him getting 3/33 type money after next season (barring a 10-20 start hot streak). I think he will have to pitch all or most of 2009 at full strength to get that big contract he's probably hoping for. A 1+option contract gives him time to prove himself for that big contract.

[craig]

Sure. I don't think he's going to get a Santana contract off of two good starts.

 

But I certainly expect that two good September starts would be all it would take to get a $40+ contract.

 

And perhaps with plenty of incentives built in for big stuff. Lilly deal as base, with kickers for all-star or top-5-Cy or 200 innings, etc.. If Prior is working his way successfully through the minors, and that culminates in a couple of 6IP-5H-2ER-1BB-6K outings with 90+ velocity in September, don't you think there would be at least one team who'd rather pay him $10+/year than Lilly or Carlos Silva or Gil Meche?

 

$10+ is now the rate for a #3-4 starter, so getting $40/4 isn't a big contract, obviously. To get a $90/5 guaranteed, he'll need more than two good starts, I agree.

 

One other angle. Starts and innings are starts and innings. But post-op guys can give starts and innings that are of a much different quality than in their prime.

 

It's well possible that Prior will come back, healthy enough to pitch. But will perform at a level more in the Marquis or even Jerome Williams level rather than vintage prior. Not sure how many $15 or $17 contracts for 2009 that hendry will want to offer Prior based on starts, if all he needs to do is give 30 Marquis-esque starts.

 

I'm not arguing a Prior-advantageous deal can't be constructed. I'm sure it can. But it may not be easy, and it may require that the Cubs guarantee a substantial block of cash that might be more good money thrown down the drain in the event that prior does *not* come back healthy and effective.

 

It might be easiest to just do the one-year, and wing it from there. Hendry has never lost a player that he's wanted to keep before. Prior is not the ordinary baseball personality or player, so he may well be the first.

[Mizzou]

I'm a big Mark Prior fan, always have been. I really hope that Hendry isn't dumb enough to non-tender him, and hope that a deal can be worked out to keep Mark here. I'd offer him a low base salary in '08 with incentives that kick in based on the number of starts. Also tie on a team option for '09 around 8-12 million.

 

If Mark is only willing to accept a one year deal, then I'm prepared to move on. We've paid him enough money to do nothing over the last couple of years; he can give the Cubs two more years of control in return.

[CubinNY]

If Mark is only willing to accept a one year deal, then I'm prepared to move on. We've paid him enough money to do nothing over the last couple of years; he can give the Cubs two more years of control in return.

Prior does not owe the Cubs anything. Baseball is a business. If the Cubs don't want to pay him what he thinks he's worth he shouldn't sign. It really isn't up to him though, it is entirely up to the Cubs.

[abuck1220]

I'm a big Mark Prior fan, always have been. I really hope that Hendry isn't dumb enough to non-tender him, and hope that a deal can be worked out to keep Mark here. I'd offer him a low base salary in '08 with incentives that kick in based on the number of starts. Also tie on a team option for '09 around 8-12 million.

 

If Mark is only willing to accept a one year deal, then I'm prepared to move on. We've paid him enough money to do nothing over the last couple of years; he can give the Cubs two more years of control in return.

 

prior owes the cubs nothing. he pitched like a $20 mil pitcher for pennies in 2003. i don't feel ripped off by him in the least.

[SouthSideRyan]

There's also some people(and Prior may very well be one of them) who believe the Cubs(Dusty mainly, though others played their part) helped make Prior into what he is today. If Mark believed that, I see no reason why he'd want to stay here any longer than he has to.

[Sammy Sofa]

There's also some people(and Prior may very well be one of them) who believe the Cubs(Dusty mainly, though others played their part) helped make Prior into what he is today. If Mark believed that, I see no reason why he'd want to stay here any longer than he has to.

 

I'd like to think that he's not as narrowminded as that. Dusty is an obvious and pretty justified scapegoat, but in terms of getting treatment, Mark had his own doctors that apparently didn't push for surgery any earlier, either. Plus he was also treated by a lot of "MLB doctors" as well. And in terms of escaping any negative segments of the press or the fans, I'd think they'd only be worse elsewhere. The Chicago "world" is more inclined to remember the good times whereas listening to other fans and commentators in general they focus pretty much on the injuries and the idea that there's a good chance he's done as summing him up.

[anabiono]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

[CuseCubFan69]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Are these guys any good? I'd love to have the Padres overpay to get a hometown guy in the fold.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's an article that discusses the Padres interest in Prior.

 

Link.

 

Also on Friday, Towers said that he's had discussions with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, trying to gauge whether Chicago will offer right-hander Mark Prior arbitration. Prior, who is from and still lives in San Diego, might be available in a trade.

[Post Count Padder]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Are these guys any good? I'd love to have the Padres overpay to get a hometown guy in the fold.

I looked them up on Baseball Cube, and LeBlanc and Huffman have put up decent numbers in the minors, though I don't know their ceilings. Contreras has put up ok numbers, but he's younger than the other two.

 

Edit: Last year, BA had Huffman as the Padres 7th best prospect and said Leblanc had the best changeup in their system.

Edited December 1, 2007 by Post Count Padder

[Outshined_One]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Are these guys any good? I'd love to have the Padres overpay to get a hometown guy in the fold.

 

Contreras

LeBlanc

Huffman

[Bluescale]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Source? Not that I doubt you, just curious...

[Post Count Padder]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Source? Not that I doubt you, just curious...

That's from Rotoworld

[BigbadB]

Oh cool. Hendry doing another player a favor.

 

I fully expect to see a Mark Prior for Oscar Robles trade, simply because the awful Oscar Robles is a lefty hitting 2b.

[RammyFanny]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Huffman is very young and from what i'm reading seems like a OBP machine with some decent pop potential. LeBlanc seems very good as well, though I don't know about his stuff (just going off stats). I'd probably do this if it is for all 3, but I have a feeling it's a choose 1 or 2 thing.

Edited December 1, 2007 by RammyFanny

[CUBZ99]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

None of those guys look like Hendry type guys. The OF has a high OBP and the pitcher has a ridiculous strikeout to walk ratio.

[CuseCubFan69]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Are these guys any good? I'd love to have the Padres overpay to get a hometown guy in the fold.

 

Contreras

LeBlanc

Huffman

 

Thanks PP and O_O!

 

Hah...Contreras is a righty and can't hit lefties...he'd fit right in!

[Post Count Padder]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

None of those guys look like Hendry type guys. The OF has a high OBP and the pitcher has a ridiculous strikeout to walk ratio.

So we're gonna end up with the second baseman. :x

[Outshined_One]

Have the Padres learned from their mistakes when dealing their prospects to the Cubs? Burke and Ceda are two of the better prospects in this system as it is.

[rawaction]

The Padres have talked to the Cubs about a trade for Mark Prior.

The Cubs have reportedly been asking about second baseman Rayner Contreras, left-hander Wade Leblanc and outfielder Chad Huffman. Prior lives in San Diego and would like to pitch for the Padres, so the team figures it wouldn't be difficult to get him signed if it controlled his rights.

 

 

 

well...it looks like he is probably going to be gone

 

:-({|=

 

Huffman is very young and from what i'm reading seems like a OBP machine with some decent pop potential. LeBlanc seems very good as well, though I don't know about his stuff (just going off stats). I'd probably do this if it is for all 3, but I have a feeling it's a choose 1 or 2 thing.

 

Huffman's gonna be 23 for 90% of the 2008 season, and probably gonna start in AA, where he only has 150 or so ABs. Not saying he's a bad prospect, but he's not very young.

[CuseCubFan69]

Have the Padres learned from their mistakes when dealing their prospects to the Cubs? Burke and Ceda are two of the better prospects in this system as it is.

 

It looks as Hendry has learned though! Bleed em dry Jimmy!

[Schwarber Fan]

If you add a healthy Prior to the Padres rotation, you can hand them the W.S. trophy.

[Mizzou]

Oh cool. Hendry doing another player a favor.

 

I fully expect to see a Mark Prior for Oscar Robles trade, simply because the awful Oscar Robles is a lefty hitting 2b.

But is he fast? Because if not, there won't be interest.

[BigbadB]

Instead of doing Prior a favor, why not look at teams that could actually help us now? Prior and DeRosa (since Colorado lost out on Matsui) and another prospect to Colorado for Seth Smith and Ian Stewart. Smith isn't cracking that outfield anytime soon, and he isn't getting any younger. Stewart has been working at 2b this fall since he's blocked by Atkins at 3b. Both hit left handed.