After many trips through hearsay, Mark Prior accepted the Chicago Cubs’ offer on January 27 to a one-year, $ 3.65 million deal. That’s $ 900,000 more than the salary he would have earned under the contract he voided in November. Since Prior’s final season in 2003 (18-6), he has calmed down a bit and has only managed to go 17-11 in the last two seasons. The Cubs came within five outs of reaching the World Series in 2003, due, in part, to Prior’s performance. A sore elbow put him on the disabled list early last season, and when he re-entered the normal rotation, he was hit in the same elbow by a scorching line. He finished the 2005 season 11-7 with a 3.67 ERA in 27 games.
The Chicago Cubs pitcher, whose name has been mentioned as possible commercial bait this offseason, said he wasn’t too upset by the rumors because he thought they were just that: rumors. It was rumored that he would go to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Bobby Abreu, but he did not. During the holidays, he was supposed to be traded to Baltimore for shortstop Miguel Tejada. That didn’t happen either. “It’s part of the game,” Prior said. “Obviously, when someone requests a trade, a team has to look into it. I don’t really count the rumors much unless they hear that.”[general manager] Jim Hendry ‘says o'[team president] Andy MacPhail says ‘o'[manager] Dusty [Baker] He says ‘; otherwise they are just rumors. It seems like there are a lot of MLB sources this year. Unless someone calls me and says, ‘Hey, we’re serious about this,’ there’s not much to think about because I don’t have much to say. “
If fans had anything to say about it, Prior would never wear a uniform other than his No. 22 Cubs jersey. When the right-hander was introduced to the packed crowd inside the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Chicago during the opening ceremony of the 21st Cubs Convention, he was greeted with the shout of “No trade, no trade.” Most Cubs fans remember that Prior’s 10 strikeouts in his first start were the most by any Cubs pitcher in more than 30 years. “It’s never bothered me or anything,” Prior said. “I felt like if something was going to be done, someone would have called me and said something. Otherwise, it was business as usual. Obviously I was going to pitch for someone this season, and I had to prepare.”
There was also a rumor that Prior decided to cancel the last year of his contract because he was angry at the Cubs. That was not true either. “That was something that was written into the contract,” he said of his ability to be eligible for arbitration. “That was in the negotiations five years ago. We felt it was just at that time. It was basically the last two years. [of the contract] – If I am eligible for arbitration, I have the privilege of going to arbitration. “Prior will earn more money in 2006 thanks to this forecast.
“I spent this offseason trying to fix some things and correct some clothes that I fell on because of what happened to my elbow,” Prior said. “One thing I did learn, and after reflection, is how fortunate and valuable time is when you are healthy. At any moment, anything can happen.” The other day I was at home looking [NFL quarterback] Drew Brees gets hurt and I watch Carson Palmer lose two plays in the game. It is a very fragile existence from that point of view. “He is also very aware of the business side of baseball.” From what I’ve heard, they weren’t hanging up on me and trying to get rid of me, “Prior said. He said. He’d like to stay with the Cubs.” I love playing here. I don’t feel like leaving, “he said.” I love playing in the city of Chicago; I love this town. I don’t think I could have been as lucky as I was to stay here outside of college. Not many people have the luxury of coming to a city like Chicago. It’s a great city, a great city and I love being here. It’s a great city to play baseball. “
Prior had become eligible for arbitration when he used his option to void the last year of his original contract signed in 2001. Under the original terms, he was going to earn $ 2.75 million this year. Prior had asked for $ 4 million, while the Cubs responded with a $ 3.3 million offer. The arbitration reached the figure of 3.65 million dollars. “We’re certainly glad we did,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. “Our position is to always try to work with the representative, John Boggs, to a fair conclusion to avoid the process if we can. This was something we wanted to do, and we hope that Mark has a great 2006.”
Other players eligible for arbitration for the current Cubs include infielder Jerry Hairston, outfielder Juan Pierre and pitchers Will Ohman and Carlos Zambrano. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and team president Andy MacPhail have never arbitrated with a player. Hendry said he continues to negotiate with player representatives in hopes of reaching an agreement.
Players with at least three years of MLB seniority, plus the most active 17 percent of those with two to three years of service, are eligible for salary arbitration. Mark Prior, for example, now has three years and 131 days of service in the major leagues.
How does arbitration work? Players and teams exchange figures, and if no agreement is reached between the two, the case is referred to a referee. Pierre, 28, who the Cubs acquired from the Florida Marlins for three minor league pitchers, earned $ 3.7 million in 2005. He is coming off a season in which he hit. 276 with two home runs, 47 RBIs and 57 stolen bases in 162 games. . The center fielder asked for $ 6.5 million, while the Cubs offered $ 5 million.
Cubs pitcher Zambrano made $ 3.76 million last season and led the Cubs in wins with 14. He set personal records in starts (33), innings pitched (223 1/3) and strikeouts (202). Zambrano asked for $ 7.2 million, while the Cubs responded with a $ 6 million offer. In his first season with the Cubs, the 29-year-old Hairston made $ 1.8 million last season. He hit .261, hit four home runs, 25 doubles and had 30 RBIs. Hairston asked for $ 2.6 million in 2006, while the Cubs offered $ 1.95 million. Ohman, 28, is seeking $ 775,000, while the Cubs offered $ 500,000. Ohman, who has three years and 40 days of service in the majors, made $ 320,000 in 2005 on his return to the majors. The left-hander, who has spent a lot of time on the disabled list due to three elbow surgeries, was 2-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 69 games.