Prior and Cubs settle at $3.65 million

[bravest]

sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;slug=ap-cubs-priors

CHICAGO (AP) -- Mark Prior and the Chicago Cubs agreed Friday to a $3.65 million, one-year contract, $900,000 more than the salary he would have earned under the contract he voided in November.

Prior was 18-6 in 2003, when the Cubs were within five outs of reaching the World Series, but dropped to 17-11 over the past two season. A sore elbow caused him to start last season on the disabled list, and when he came back he was hit in the elbow by a line drive. He finished 11-7 with a 3.67 ERA.

Under his previous contract, he had the right to terminate his deal once he became eligible for salary arbitration. He had asked for $4 million in arbitration and had been offered $3.3 million.

If he can stay healthy (and by his health record it's a pretty big if), it's not a bad deal for the Cubs.

Chicago has four players remaining in arbitration: right-hander Carlos Zambrano, center fielder Juan Pierre, left-hander Will Ohman and infielder Jerry Hairston Jr.

[ChisAto]

we NEED all four of them, because our bullpen needs help, and we are not going to help ourself with getting rid of one of our decent pitchers

[sep]

It doesnt matter, Prior and Wood can never go through an entire year without any major injuries. Therefore the Cubs will never go anywhere.

[bmaster]

sepsportsfanatic said:

It doesnt matter, Prior and Wood can never go through an entire year without any major injuries. Therefore the Cubs will never go anywhere.

Oh yeah, there was only that whole 2003 season. Think before you post next time.

[sep]

bmaster said:

Oh yeah, there was only that whole 2003 season. Think before you post next time.

And the last two have been so good.

[detroitbasketball]

2003 was a fluke...

[ChisAto]

Hey, one of these years they will have to get back into form, if I have to assassinate Steve Bartmen or make sure Mark Prior dosen't pitch in Colorado, I'll do it ;D

[JackTheRipper]

Wood is overrated and Prior will be on the DL within the first month. After that, it's all down hill for one team in Chi-town.

[Sportsbuck]

Prior is good, you can't help taking a line drive off of the elbow. But the Cubs need to beef up their lineup. It's just not that intimidating. You need to bring in a power hitter, because ever since Sosa's corked bat incident, there has yet to be that type of player for that orginization.