CuseCubFan69

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.

The fans did not boo him for his season stats. They booed him because he was exactly the opposite of what this team needed, he had a horrible start, he got picked off repeatedly, he threw the ball directly into the ground or 100 feet over the cutoff man, AND HE WHINED ABOUT THE FANS IN HIS FIRST WEEK IN UNIFORM. I'm not going to say I approve of the booing, but this is a completely different situation. God that was funny watching him throw the ball almost straight down! Good times.

Was this article written before the Cubs signed Fukedome because the OF's doing fine right now?

Look out Keith Hernandez! No play for Mr. Gray!

It's more of that the Cubs could afford to overpay for Tejada because a SS might be the missing piece to a long playoff run. The Astros aren't going anywhere with Tejada, and so they basically traded away a few possible promising prospects for a couple of mediocre seasons and maybe 1 lucky playoff berth. Who's to say they are done dealing? Maybe the since the Cubs have stepped it up they might too. The Astros have used up many of their pieces just in this deal however. They probably don't have enough left to make any more than 1 major trade without tapping into their current major league roster (which of course would be counterproductive to being better next year). Their farm system was terrible to begin with, and they just gave up a few of the more attractive pieces of it. I see. They could always ride the rocket for 30 million for a months work.

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.

It's more of that the Cubs could afford to overpay for Tejada because a SS might be the missing piece to a long playoff run. The Astros aren't going anywhere with Tejada, and so they basically traded away a few possible promising prospects for a couple of mediocre seasons and maybe 1 lucky playoff berth. Who's to say they are done dealing? Maybe the since the Cubs have stepped it up they might too.

That's an assumption. But him coming back and pitching 10-15 starts isn't? I think I have his past history on my side of the assumption while the other side of it is wishful thinking. There is no past history of Prior coming back from surgery. That type of surgery is different for Prior because he's Mark Prior? Doesn't it take a year? Thats absurd. What an ignorant statement. Yes, what you just wrote is, I agree. Yea that makes sense. How can you say because its Prior it will take a year? Prior has never had surgery until now, so you have no clue at all what his recovering ability is like. Im sure you will point at how long it took Prior to come back from other injuries and still be horrible. Well when his arm was still hurt he wasnt actually recovering, but still trying to pitch. Now that he has had his injury fixed once and for all, how in the hell can you think you know what his recovery time is? Let me guess its the steroids again huh. If you could read the thread you'd see I was saying to the poster "just because it's Prior doesn't mean he'll come back any earlier than other players". Notice the question mark at the end of the sentence? And the steroids should actually help the recovery time!

I think a lot of that could be determined by how Fukedome reacts to the booing. I am quite curious to see how much of a leash the fans give him.

That's an assumption. But him coming back and pitching 10-15 starts isn't? I think I have his past history on my side of the assumption while the other side of it is wishful thinking. There is no past history of Prior coming back from surgery. That type of surgery is different for Prior because he's Mark Prior? Doesn't it take a year? Thats absurd. What an ignorant statement. Yes, what you just wrote is, I agree.

So is this a bad trade for the Astros because Tejada isn't that big of an upgrade over Everette but he is a big enough upgrade over Theriot if the Cubs acquired him?

huh? It's what I'd offer. I think he's asking what you're paying him. Is it 2 for 10 with a 1 bonus if he reaches his incentives? 2 Yrs 10M, Team Option for a 3rd Yr at 11M. Sounds like that might not have even got it done though :( You might have to add that 3rd year as mutual to make it work or player option.

USS said Petrick in another tread. Didn't they move Veal to the pen? Veal is still in the rotation as of now. He might move there soon. Petrick is probably going to stick in the pen due to the injury history. Behind Hart is Mateo and then probably Veal/Samardzija on the depth chart (if Gallagher is traded). Do you think that giving up 2 pitchers leaves the Cubs with enough depth to cover injuries?

"On Fukudome's personality and attitude: He's a competitor too. Kind of a throwback guy. No dyed hair, jewelry, image enhancements. Buzz cut, square jaw, intense eyes. Not that those things make you a good or bad player, but fans will be turned on by his serious approach." http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/05/mike_plugh_on_k.html So now he's Pete Rose!

I've heard rumors of Astro fans hiring Tonya Harding to stop Wade from this madness.

USS said Petrick in another tread. Didn't they move Veal to the pen?

I'd love to make a (modest) wager on this. Hey, I always admit when I'm wrong....I don't have a problem with that. If he does pitch, it'll be in September for a team that signs him to a 2 year deal. I think he gets a 1 year deal somewhere. If he thinks he's going to pitch this season, there's no reason for him to lock himself into a 2nd year at the price he'd likely be offered. I think it would take something along the lines of 2/12 to get him signed and I don't see any team doing that.(And with the report mentioned in VOR's post, they may be right not to.) It could be a big incentive deal for 2009 though. It still makes him young enough to get a huge deal if he does well for 2010 and beyond. I'm not sure a lot of teams want to pay for his rehab and gamble he'll sign with them later.

Well one thing good about Grobe is that he's old enough to remember when Michigan actually was good! He would be a solid choice.

And for Rocket, nothing else.

The 2 pitcher thing kind of bugs me. It takes away a lot of depth for just a decent 2nd baseman.

I'd love to make a (modest) wager on this. Hey, I always admit when I'm wrong....I don't have a problem with that. If he does pitch, it'll be in September for a team that signs him to a 2 year deal.

That's an assumption. But him coming back and pitching 10-15 starts isn't? I think I have his past history on my side of the assumption while the other side of it is wishful thinking. There is no past history of Prior coming back from surgery. That type of surgery is different for Prior because he's Mark Prior? Doesn't it take a year? I thought you were talking about Prior coming back from injury. Prior's surgery was when? Back in May or something? Well actually I'm talking about both. Trust me, he will not pitch in 2008. If he does indeed sign with someone else and does well after that I wouldn't blame Hendry at all since Prior, from what I've read, doesn't want to be in Chicago anyways so it's a moot point.

That's an assumption. But him coming back and pitching 10-15 starts isn't? I think I have his past history on my side of the assumption while the other side of it is wishful thinking. There is no past history of Prior coming back from surgery. That type of surgery is different for Prior because he's Mark Prior? Doesn't it take a year?

Again, I'm fine with a 3 deal if they can trade him. Now, I have a question regarding players on the DL, can you trade him once he's on it? Because if the Cubs can't deal him and he's on the DL they may be stuck with him.

The Cubs spent 2.5/yr on Neifi Perez. The Cubs spent $6 million over 2 years on Glendon Rusch. $3 million isn't much to roll the dice and see what you can get out of someone with the potential of Mark Prior. But he's not staying. Also, wouldn't it be a smart move to not repeat past mistakes? Just because they've made some foolish moves in the past doesn't mean they should continue making them. That's only a good point if you are under the mistaken assumption that keeping Prior would be a mistake. You gamble on potential greatness, or even goodness. Those foolish moves were wasting money on guaranteed crap. Gamble on what? The Cubs pay for rehab the whole year and then he leaves....what on earth are the Cubs getting out of this great potential? Assuming he could come back in June, he would be able to potentially give them 10-15 starts. It also buys you time to mend fences. I don't see him coming back that early plus he'd have to get X amount of starts in the minors. I would sign him to a 3 if I could trade him but I really don't see him coming back before September if at all in 2008. Plus, if Prior feels that the Cubs treated him poorly as a few have wrote, what's the incentive to help the team and get injured again? He'll work with House or whomever he is working with and get ready for 2009 imo.