Astros offer a deal to Prior

[wrigley23]

tiger...you really think soriano is a good leadoff hitter, we have an effective closer & that we don't have a lineup full of whiff kings? Did you watch the playoffs last year?

[CyHawk_Cub]

Seems like the type of thing a classy guy like Mark would do.

what?

 

Look at the way Kerry handled himself while rehabbing - and once he was healthy again. IMO - Mark's a jerk.

 

Have you met Mark?

 

I have. I don't think it's much of a stretch to call him a jerk. I just don't think that he deserves any venom for it. He's not malicious, he's just not a people person.

 

Yup...that was my experience as well when I met him a couple years ago. He's just not a very, umm, "warm" person, at least towards those he doesn't know. Hard to blame the guy. He's been in the spotlight since his early teen years, so I'm sure he's had plenty of posers around. I don't feel a great loss now that it appears certain he's gone; as others have said, 2003 was a long time ago; we need to move on....

[Transmogrified Tiger]

tiger...you really think soriano is a good leadoff hitter, we have an effective closer & that we don't have a lineup full of whiff kings? Did you watch the playoffs last year?

 

Yes, I also watched the regular season. "Leadoff hitter" is not a position, Soriano is fine there(others would be better, but it's not a "problem" that needs fixing). Dempster was fine as a closer last year and we have no less than 3 guys easily capable of replacing him in house if he gets hurt/implodes. And lastly, I don't care how many times the Cubs strike out if the production is there, and even then, they were 11th of 16 NL teams in K's. It's a matter of perception not being reality.

[RynoRules]

The decision was solely up to the Cubs.

 

Sorry, that is not the case:

 

The Cubs did offer a contract, just not the one that Prior wanted.

 

From the facts we have its safe to conclude that this was a mutual decision, IMO. The Cubs did not want the risk, Prior did not want to play for the Cubs for any longer for whatever his reasons are.

 

I wish we had him back, but I get why the Cubs made the decision they did. It makes sense on both sides, IMO.

 

Sorry, but you're wrong. The Cubs made the decision not to offer arbitration. That's the only fact that matters. The story that they couldn't get Prior to agree to what was undoubtedly an extremely team friendly contract does not make it a mutual decision. If I offer $20,000 for a Mercedes and they don't take it, that doesn't make it a mutual decision.

 

Yes it does.

 

Whether or not the sides agree on value is another issue, but if they agree to disagree and move on (apparently the case with Prior), that's a mutual decision:

 

Cubs: Mark, we will offer you a one year contract for $1 mill plus incentives if you reach certain goals. Team option for the second year.

 

Mark: Jim, that is not good enough. I want a two year guarantee for $3.0 mill each year, plus incentives if I reach those goals you mentioned.

 

Cubs: We cannot agree to that, Mark. Your history of health issues is a problem for us. It doesn't warrant that kind of commitment.

 

Mark: Fine, but I don't agree. Please do not offer me arbitration, just non-tender, b/c no matter what happens at arbitration, I am walking after 08'.

[Guest]

Seems like the type of thing a classy guy like Mark would do.

what?

 

Look at the way Kerry handled himself while rehabbing - and once he was healthy again. IMO - Mark's a jerk.

 

Have you met Mark?

 

I have. I don't think it's much of a stretch to call him a jerk. I just don't think that he deserves any venom for it. He's not malicious, he's just not a people person.

 

Yup...that was my experience as well when I met him a couple years ago. He's just not a very, umm, "warm" person, at least towards those he doesn't know. Hard to blame the guy. He's been in the spotlight since his early teen years, so I'm sure he's had plenty of posers around. I don't feel a great loss now that it appears certain he's gone; as others have said, 2003 was a long time ago; we need to move on....

 

Guess I had a different experience when I met him, but then again my friend was a classmate of his at USC.

[CuseCubFan69]

Seems like the type of thing a classy guy like Mark would do.

what?

 

Look at the way Kerry handled himself while rehabbing - and once he was healthy again. IMO - Mark's a jerk.

 

Have you met Mark?

 

I have. I don't think it's much of a stretch to call him a jerk. I just don't think that he deserves any venom for it. He's not malicious, he's just not a people person.

 

Yup...that was my experience as well when I met him a couple years ago. He's just not a very, umm, "warm" person, at least towards those he doesn't know. Hard to blame the guy. He's been in the spotlight since his early teen years, so I'm sure he's had plenty of posers around. I don't feel a great loss now that it appears certain he's gone; as others have said, 2003 was a long time ago; we need to move on....

 

Guess I had a different experience when I met him, but then again my friend was a classmate of his at USC.

 

I think a lot of players that might be shy come off that way. I don't have the numbers to prove it though.

[RynoRules]

Seems like the type of thing a classy guy like Mark would do.

what?

 

Look at the way Kerry handled himself while rehabbing - and once he was healthy again. IMO - Mark's a jerk.

 

Have you met Mark?

 

I have. I don't think it's much of a stretch to call him a jerk. I just don't think that he deserves any venom for it. He's not malicious, he's just not a people person.

 

Yup...that was my experience as well when I met him a couple years ago. He's just not a very, umm, "warm" person, at least towards those he doesn't know. Hard to blame the guy. He's been in the spotlight since his early teen years, so I'm sure he's had plenty of posers around. I don't feel a great loss now that it appears certain he's gone; as others have said, 2003 was a long time ago; we need to move on....

 

Guess I had a different experience when I met him, but then again my friend was a classmate of his at USC.

 

I think a lot of players that might be shy come off that way. I don't have the numbers to prove it though.

 

:lol:

[inari]

tiger...you really think soriano is a good leadoff hitter, we have an effective closer & that we don't have a lineup full of whiff kings? Did you watch the playoffs last year?

 

Don't care, we've got a handful of options, don't care, yes.

[SouthSideRyan]

 

Guess I had a different experience when I met him, but then again my friend was a classmate of his at USC.

 

Friends at USC??

 

On a related note, are you just not going to bother watching the Rose Bowl?

[Sammy Sofa]

As it's only been pointed out once so far, how is it Prior's fault that Houston has offered him a contract?

[SouthSideRyan]

As it's only been pointed out once so far, how is it Prior's fault that Houston has offered him a contract?

 

If he woulda showed some loyalty to the Cubs, the Astros contract offer would be highly illegal.

[CubColtPacer]

As it's only been pointed out once so far, how is it Prior's fault that Houston has offered him a contract?

 

That's the part of this thread that I don't understand. Prior is free to go wherever he wants. If Houston is the best situation for him, then Houston is the best situation. I doubt it will be, and I doubt he'll go anywhere in the division. If he does though, it will just be be a business decision, just like the Cubs made a business decision in letting him go.

[nilodnayr]

As it's only been pointed out once so far, how is it Prior's fault that Houston has offered him a contract?

 

That's the part of this thread that I don't understand. Prior is free to go wherever he wants. If Houston is the best situation for him, then Houston is the best situation. I doubt it will be, and I doubt he'll go anywhere in the division. If he does though, it will just be be a business decision, just like the Cubs made a business decision in letting him go.

 

IMO Houston is a pretty good destination for him if you look at their rotation. Whenever he wants to come back, they are 100% guaranteed to have a spot for him. There are a few other teams like that (Balt, Wash, Fla off the top of my head), but not a ton. He should be picking a team that doesn't just have 4 sure things and a 5th starter opening because frankly, by the time he comes back theres a decent chance someone has taken that spot. There aren't a lot of teams that go into the year with 3+ NOT-sure things in their rotation.

[wolf stansson]

Whenever he wants to come back, they are 100% guaranteed to have a spot for him. There are a few other teams like that (Balt, Wash, Fla off the top of my head), but not a ton.

Stl...

[cheapseats]

I prefer to focus on tangible data points. The fact is, as immense as his talent was/is, Mark Prior has NEVER pitched a full season of professional baseball. Not once.

 

That depends on what you consider a "full season."

 

He was in the top 10 in innings pitched in 2003, and he was in the top 8 in total pitches. Heck, in 2005 he was #39 in total pitches.

 

Prior might still be going strong if, say, Ron Gardenhire were manager instead of Baker. Johan Santana has consistently been in the top 25 in MLB in total pitches, but he's always in the middle of the pack when it comes to pitcher abuse points.

 

If I were Prior, I would feel no loyalty for a club that used me in such a way as to damage my body and limit my ability to earn a living in the future.

 

Dusty Baker likely cost Prior millions of dollars. Exploratory surgery indicated that Prior had probably been pitching hurt since 2003:

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/04/26/under.theknife/index.html?eref=si_mlb

[cheapseats]

Whenever he wants to come back, they are 100% guaranteed to have a spot for him. There are a few other teams like that (Balt, Wash, Fla off the top of my head), but not a ton.

Stl...

 

Will Carroll has suggested that Duncan might be good for Prior.

[wolf stansson]

Whenever he wants to come back, they are 100% guaranteed to have a spot for him. There are a few other teams like that (Balt, Wash, Fla off the top of my head), but not a ton.

Stl...

 

Will Carroll has suggested that Duncan might be good for Prior.

I'm skeptical. He's done so well with Prior lite...

[mul21]

Whenever he wants to come back, they are 100% guaranteed to have a spot for him. There are a few other teams like that (Balt, Wash, Fla off the top of my head), but not a ton.

Stl...

 

Will Carroll has suggested that Duncan might be good for Prior.

I'm skeptical. He's done so well with Prior lite...

 

I have to assume you're referring to Reyes?

[cheapseats]

Whenever he wants to come back, they are 100% guaranteed to have a spot for him. There are a few other teams like that (Balt, Wash, Fla off the top of my head), but not a ton.

Stl...

 

Will Carroll has suggested that Duncan might be good for Prior.

I'm skeptical. He's done so well with Prior lite...

 

Yeah, but Carp's injury a few years ago was very similar to Prior's. And Larussa/Duncan have been pretty smart about how they've used Carp.

[wolf stansson]

Whenever he wants to come back, they are 100% guaranteed to have a spot for him. There are a few other teams like that (Balt, Wash, Fla off the top of my head), but not a ton.

Stl...

 

Will Carroll has suggested that Duncan might be good for Prior.

I'm skeptical. He's done so well with Prior lite...

 

I have to assume you're referring to Reyes?

Yes.

[mul21]

You know, looking at those 2 situations, there are a lot of similarities, especially in their attitudes. They both seem fairly detached and a little anti-authority.

 

I don't think Prior would be a good fit with Duncan, unless of course he comes back with a lesser arsenal than he was previously working with and Duncan helps him adapt to a new style of pitching so he can be remotely effective.

[SCCubbieFAN]

how funny this entire thread will be if Prior ends up re-signing w/the Cubs.

[YearofDaCubs]

how funny this entire thread will be if Prior ends up re-signing w/the Cubs.

It would be hilarious, but I doubt it happens.

[Guest]

 

Guess I had a different experience when I met him, but then again my friend was a classmate of his at USC.

 

Friends at USC??

 

On a related note, are you just not going to bother watching the Rose Bowl?

 

Oh, I will. But I'll root for the grass. At least Illinois is better than Ohio State, Michigan or Wisconsin.

[SCCubbieFAN]

how funny this entire thread will be if Prior ends up re-signing w/the Cubs.

It would be hilarious, but I doubt it happens.

 

 

yeh, I doubt it happens too. but it sure will be a hoot if he does. :lol:

 

stranger things have happened. none of us knows the deal the Cubs offered Prior other than it being an incentive laden one with a team option for a 2nd yr, and for all we know Prior's agent may be the one who pressed/convinced him to reject it and hope the Cubs would not offer arbi so he can test free agency. if the deal the Cubs offered him turns out to be the best one offered and the Cubs are still willing to offer it, well...........