Mark Prior News

"Mark Prior tapped his right forearm and smiled. “I can still feel the goose bumps,” he said yesterday. On an October night at Wrigley Field five years ago, Prior supercharged a sellout crowd, which returned the favor. "

"Step into the San Diego Padres' clubhouse, and you find catcher Michael Barrett chatting near the entrance. Around the corner sat Greg Maddux's locker. A few steps away, Glendon Rusch had dumped his equipment. When Mark Prior popped out of the trainer's room with an ice pack strapped to his shoulder, it was time to get our bearings straight."

"Mark Prior's agent gives the Astros high marks in their pursuit of the righthander, but it's clear Houston will have to overcome some serious geography issues to beat out the San Diego Padres."

"In an effort to add depth to their starting rotation, the Astros made an offer to free-agent pitcher Mark Prior on Monday."

"The possibility of the Yankees and Mets competing for a big-name pitcher always puts sizzle into a free-agent chase, but it remains to be seen how deep the two teams get into discussions over rehabbing righty Mark Prior, the ex-Cub."

"The Cubs' decision to let Mark Prior leave the organization as a free agent wasn't as difficult for general manager Jim Hendry as one might have imagined."

"Cutting ties with former pitching phenom Mark Prior might not have been easy for the Cubs, but the business decision was simple, general manager Jim Hendry said Thursday."

"For the Cubs, it was all about trying to get an option year from Mark Prior. General manager Jim Hendry said Thursday the decision not to tender Prior a contract late Wednesday was based on not being able to work out a reduced contract for 2008, plus a club option for 2009. "

"Astros general manager Ed Wade said Thursday the club has contacted the agent for righthander Mark Prior, who became a free agent when the Chicago Cubs chose to non-tender his contract Wednesday night."

"Apparently, the reports of great interest in Cubs pitcher Mark Prior have been greatly exaggerated."

"Now that Kerry Wood is in the fold for 2008, can Mark Prior be far behind? Prior is arbitration-eligible for '08 and heads into his free-agent season rehabbing from shoulder surgery in April. The Cubs hope he's back by late April or mid-May but have learned the hard way not to put any expectations on Prior's health."

"Mark Prior's season-ending shoulder surgery probably means the end of his Cubs career. Even if Prior returns to the mound next season, as the team expects, his contract status makes it unlikely he would do so for the Cubs -- the team that selected him No. 2 overall in the 2001 draft."

"Mark Prior will miss the rest of this season, but the Cubs are hoping he will be able to bounce back in 2008. Yet, with all of the problems found in his shoulder this week, there are no guarantees."