Levine: Prior, Hudson, Swisher

[CuseCubFan69]

Well, if I'm the Yankees or Red Sox, I'm going to give him a call ASAP. You know, when there is a likelihood that a player will be non-tendered, his value is pretty limited. Why trade one of your players/prospects and pay a contract when you can probably get him for just a contract?

 

Because you have no guarantee that he'll sign with your team while trading for him gives you the right to do as you please for 1 year. You just mentioned the Sox and Yanks, only one can get him.

 

Sure, but in the mean time, his value to the Cubs has gone down. Let's say you are Cashman and I am Epstein. We both want him. What are you going to give the Cubs for a guy who you know will likely be non-tendered? I'm not going to give up much at all because if he hits free agency, I can make a run at the guy.

 

Meanwhile, the Cubs get NOTHING for letting Mark Prior go. NOTHING AT ALL. Bad deal.

 

It's not like the Cubs never pay people to rehab. For a team which paid Ryan Dempster, Scott Williamson, and Wade Miller to rehab and Rusch to sit at home to non-tender a pitcher of Prior's potential is foolish. I don't care about how Prior feels. I don't care if he hates the Cubs. What I do care about is that he wants a big contract and I want to win the World Series. To get that big contract, he needs to pitch and pitch well. If he does pitch well, it'll certainly be better than what we saw from Wade Miller last year. Or Jason Marquis. Or Ryan Dempster. Or even Sean Marshall. Prior pitching well means that the Cubs have an additional above average pitcher in their rotation, and that'll get them closer to the World Series.

 

I let his coming free agency sort itself out after next season. Winning can salve a lot of wounds. And if the wounds are irrevocable, he walks. So what? There's an old saying: cross that bridge when you get to it (I'd also say that don't borrow trouble also applies).

 

Don't play the $3M game for nothing game with me, either. Seriously, that's crazy talk. The Cubs have plenty of money, and could certainly carry Prior's contract cost. It's not like they can't afford it.

 

So by claiming I can't say tossing away 3 million dollars plus the cost of rehab as part of my argument because you think 3 million dollars is nothing to a team? You actually think "chemistry" will help turn Prior into a Cub if A goes right, then B then C then D? I understand signing and then trading him but to just pay to rehab....and let's not forget, Prior may ask for a raise in arby too and get it, and to lose him anyways is just wasting money. Also, what guarantee do you have that he will be an effective pitcher? How did that work for Miller who also had a shoulder injury? Did he get his velocity back? If Prior is throwing under 92 what good is he to the Cubs in August or September if the Cubs are in a pennant race? Will the Cubs have the room to let him work the kinks out if he ever does come back that early? All I can see from posters that want Prior to stay is that he'll regain his form and be back to normal and make 15 to 20 starts and what I'm saying is not logical? I think that's just wishful thinking for a player you guys love and hope he reverts to his old form somehow. I like Prior and I'd LOVE to have him back to pitch like he did but imo he will never be that pitcher again and I'm not deluding myself into thinking he will. Does he have potential, sure since he was a heck of a pitcher but I do not think he will be an effective pitcher in 2008 if he pitches at all and imo he wouldn't sign with the Cubs (for 2009 and beyond) again if he did regain a partial amount of his old form.

[MPrior]

I am NOT changing my name. Nor am I going to stop wearing my Prior jersey (the only actual jersey I own). I'll miss you, Mark, although I can't blame you if you want to get away from this organization.

[Post Count Padder]

I am NOT changing my name. Nor am I going to stop wearing my Prior jersey (the only actual jersey I own). I'll miss you, Mark, although I can't blame you if you want to get away from this organization.

Should I change my name or keep it as an oxymoron?

[MPC]

:( b.s.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm not seeing this reported anywhere...please, please, please, please, PLEASE not be true.

[E.J.]

I'm not that sad about Prior leaving. Sure, he could get healthy and be the Prior of old, but that is hardly a given. Prior didn't want to be here anymore. It's time to move on.

[UMFan83]

I'm not seeing this reported anywhere...please, please, please, please, PLEASE not be true.

 

That's how far Prior has fallen...he has slipped completely from the public's conscience. Even if the report isn't true, I wouldn't be too optimistic at the chances of keeping Prior. It's just not going to happen.

[brinoch]

Well, if I'm the Yankees or Red Sox, I'm going to give him a call ASAP. You know, when there is a likelihood that a player will be non-tendered, his value is pretty limited. Why trade one of your players/prospects and pay a contract when you can probably get him for just a contract?

 

Because you have no guarantee that he'll sign with your team while trading for him gives you the right to do as you please for 1 year. You just mentioned the Sox and Yanks, only one can get him.

 

Sure, but in the mean time, his value to the Cubs has gone down. Let's say you are Cashman and I am Epstein. We both want him. What are you going to give the Cubs for a guy who you know will likely be non-tendered? I'm not going to give up much at all because if he hits free agency, I can make a run at the guy.

 

Meanwhile, the Cubs get NOTHING for letting Mark Prior go. NOTHING AT ALL. Bad deal.

 

It's not like the Cubs never pay people to rehab. For a team which paid Ryan Dempster, Scott Williamson, and Wade Miller to rehab and Rusch to sit at home to non-tender a pitcher of Prior's potential is foolish. I don't care about how Prior feels. I don't care if he hates the Cubs. What I do care about is that he wants a big contract and I want to win the World Series. To get that big contract, he needs to pitch and pitch well. If he does pitch well, it'll certainly be better than what we saw from Wade Miller last year. Or Jason Marquis. Or Ryan Dempster. Or even Sean Marshall. Prior pitching well means that the Cubs have an additional above average pitcher in their rotation, and that'll get them closer to the World Series.

 

I let his coming free agency sort itself out after next season. Winning can salve a lot of wounds. And if the wounds are irrevocable, he walks. So what? There's an old saying: cross that bridge when you get to it (I'd also say that don't borrow trouble also applies).

 

Don't play the $3M game for nothing game with me, either. Seriously, that's crazy talk. The Cubs have plenty of money, and could certainly carry Prior's contract cost. It's not like they can't afford it.

 

So by claiming I can't say tossing away 3 million dollars plus the cost of rehab as part of my argument because you think 3 million dollars is nothing to a team? You actually think "chemistry" will help turn Prior into a Cub if A goes right, then B then C then D? I understand signing and then trading him but to just pay to rehab....and let's not forget, Prior may ask for a raise in arby too and get it, and to lose him anyways is just wasting money. Also, what guarantee do you have that he will be an effective pitcher? How did that work for Miller who also had a shoulder injury? Did he get his velocity back? If Prior is throwing under 92 what good is he to the Cubs in August or September if the Cubs are in a pennant race? Will the Cubs have the room to let him work the kinks out if he ever does come back that early? All I can see from posters that want Prior to stay is that he'll regain his form and be back to normal and make 15 to 20 starts and what I'm saying is not logical? I think that's just wishful thinking for a player you guys love and hope he reverts to his old form somehow. I like Prior and I'd LOVE to have him back to pitch like he did but imo he will never be that pitcher again and I'm not deluding myself into thinking he will. Does he have potential, sure since he was a heck of a pitcher but I do not think he will be an effective pitcher in 2008 if he pitches at all and imo he wouldn't sign with the Cubs (for 2009 and beyond) again if he did regain a partial amount of his old form.

 

I'm not saying that the $3M might be a bad investment. It might very well be so. In the context of the Cubs' budget, the ~$3M for Prior isn't a lot of money. It's like 2.4% of a $125M budget. While that money might be wasted, it might also be a tremendous investment which leads to a bunch of wins. I think the risk is worth the potential reward. Second, Prior is very unlikely to get a raise in arbitration; he didn't pitch at all last year. More than likely, he'll make less than he did in '07. My point is that the Cubs have lots of money, and they've taken risks on pitchers in the past -- and Prior's upside is so much greater than Miller or Dempster it's not even funny. Why let him go for nothing?

 

As for the chemistry... we don't know whether or not he will return. What I'm saying is that the Cubs shouldn't make a decision on whether or not to tender him a contract on that basis. They should tender him a contract based on the chance that he'll return to form. Or, perhaps they can throw him into a deal and get an upgrade somewhere else. Cutting him now means you get nothing.

 

Cuse, you're certainly entitled to your opinion on whether or not he'll regain his form. So am I. But neither one of us are doctors and knows whether or not he will regain that form. I could throw all your questions right back at you -- what guarantee do you have that he'll suck, what guarantee do you have that he won't be incredible, etc. The point is that no one knows how he'll be. I'm willing to take a small gamble, in financial terms, that he'll be able to come back and be an effective pitcher. Actually, I think it's a no-brainer.

[Bruno7481]

No matter what you think of Hendry, I don't think he'd non-tender Prior if there was a possibillity of bringing him back. I understand the Cubs position, wanting another year on the deal. The Cubs have paid Prior good money for nothing the last few years. Its obvious Prior doesn't want to come back here, it doesn't even matter anymore who's fault that may or may not be. If they know Prior doesn't want to be here, and he won't be in position to pitch a full season, it is not unreasonable at all to want an extra year.

 

It is too bad it has to end this way. I just think if there was a way to repair this the Cubs would tender him an offer. They obviously have a better handle on the situation than most of us do.

[MADD_DOG_31]

Bye Bye Mark

 

really liked you in '03 but not a bit sad to see you go now.....go out to California and eat away at someone's payroll there with no production

 

good riddens

[BCVM22]

Bye Bye Mark

 

really liked you in '03 but not a bit sad to see you go now.....go out to California and eat away at someone's payroll there with no production

 

good riddens

 

Good riddens indeed. Towel-throwing bum.

 

Right?

[CUBZ99]

Bye Bye Mark

 

really liked you in '03 but not a bit sad to see you go now.....go out to California and eat away at someone's payroll there with no production

 

good riddens

 

Good riddens indeed. Towel-throwing bum.

 

Right?

 

I don't know how I will miss a player that hardly ever plays.

[Magnetic Curses]

good riddens, everyone!

[Mark_R]

 

Good riddens indeed. Towel-throwing bum.

 

 

The reason our Cobs won't win anything

[RynoRules]

No matter what you think of Hendry, I don't think he'd non-tender Prior if there was a possibillity of bringing him back. I understand the Cubs position, wanting another year on the deal. The Cubs have paid Prior good money for nothing the last few years. Its obvious Prior doesn't want to come back here, it doesn't even matter anymore who's fault that may or may not be. If they know Prior doesn't want to be here, and he won't be in position to pitch a full season, it is not unreasonable at all to want an extra year.

 

It is too bad it has to end this way. I just think if there was a way to repair this the Cubs would tender him an offer. They obviously have a better handle on the situation than most of us do.

 

Pretty much sums up how I feel.

 

BTW, keep in mind that I heard Levine report this; consider the source.

[Rob]

Trading or non-tendering Prior would be quite stupid.

 

He's still expected to pitch next season, and we could certainly use a #5 starter of his caliber late in the season. His value in that role is worth the salary for this season, and trading him for next-to-nothing or non-tendering him for the salary relief isn't likely at all to be of any use to us.

 

If getting rid of him gives you some sort of perverse emotional gratification, congratulations. But there is no good reason to be rid of him from a logical standpoint... unless you honestly believe he'll fake being injured the entire season in order to avoid pitching.

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

I'm not aware of any comments made by Bruce Levine on Prior not wanting to come back but I did just hear Hendry being interviewed on Chicago Tribune Live (Comcast Sports Net --Direct TV) and he indicated that a decision has not been made, in terms of what the Cubs will do. He said both sides were in a difficult position and that he certainly could understand any decision or position that Prior might make on his future...but that it wasn't appropriate for him to comment on which way they were going to go. Hendry said that the two sides would continue to talk and that a decision would probably be made in a couple of hours. One thing I noticed that he did NOT say was anything like he said when they were wanting to sign Woody, like: "Oh, we really want Kerry (in this case, Mark) to come back" or anything similar to that.

[mdwilla]

I've been too almost every Prior game wort mentioning and it's gonna be sad to see him leave with the Cubs gettting nothing in return. All the time Prior was thrown under the bus for his injuries, now we find out the problem and find and we non tender him. We are a major market franchise non tendering a guy like Prior is mistake him returning is a gamble worth taking.

[Rob]

I'm not aware of any comments made by Bruce Levine on Prior not wanting to come back but I did just hear Hendry being interviewed on Chicago Tribune Live (Comcast Sports Net --Direct TV) and he indicated that a decision has not been made, in terms of what the Cubs will do. He said both sides were in a difficult position and that he certainly could understand any decision or position that Prior might make on his future...but that it wasn't appropriate for him to comment on which way they were going to go. Hendry said that the two sides would continue to talk and that a decision would probably be made in a couple of hours. One thing I noticed that he did NOT say was anything like he said when they were wanting to sign Woody, like: "Oh, we really want Kerry (in this case, Mark) to come back" or anything similar to that.

 

In other words, he's not saying he's going to non-tender him, simply so that there's that bit of doubt that causes a GM to actually hand over a crappy prospect for him.

[mdwilla]

A little good news late in the game.

[Mizzou]

Well this is going to suck if he's officially done as a Cub. But as I've said before, if Prior wasn't willing to agree to a second year then I completely understand Hendry's reasoning. Can't say I'm happy about it, but I also can't blame him.

[Post Count Padder]

I think it's dumb to just non-tender him. If he's gone, at least try and get something for him, even if his value is low.

[CubColtPacer]

I think it's dumb to just non-tender him. If he's gone, at least try and get something for him, even if his value is low.

 

The Cubs have been shopping him hard the last couple of weeks. If they can get anything at all for him, they'll deal him before the deadline.

[Rob]

I think it's dumb to just non-tender him. If he's gone, at least try and get something for him, even if his value is low.

 

The Cubs have been shopping him hard the last couple of weeks. If they can get anything at all for him, they'll deal him before the deadline.

 

Teams are much less likely to offer anything for him when they think he might come without a prospect cost a couple weeks later. If anything, tendering him a contract should bring his value up.

[The Voice of Reason]

I think it's dumb to just non-tender him. If he's gone, at least try and get something for him, even if his value is low.

 

Hendry said he tried to gauge interest at the winter meetings in a Prior trade and there was none.