Mark Prior signs with hometown San Diego Padres
The News
On Wednesday Mark Prior got a second chance. Prior signed a $1 million, one year contract with the San Diego Padres laced with incentives that could earn the 27- year old an additional $4.5 million. It is unlikely he will see the field enough to reach those incentive as he is scheduled to miss the beginning of the season, putting a return date at the end of May, but more likely around the All- Star break. Prior has been sidelined by numerous injuries throughout his brief career. He missed the 2007 season with the Chicago Cubs after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder April 24. He last pitched in 2006, going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA while being limited to nine starts because of shoulder pain.
Despite all the injuries he has suffered, Prior remains a great bargain for San Diego. Prior finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2003, his first full season in the big leagues, when he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts. That post- season Prior teamed with Kerry Wood nearly pitching the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. Prior held a 3-0 lead into the eighth inning against Florida in Game 6 of the NL championship series before the Marlins rallied for eight runs and an 8-3 victory at Wrigley Field.
Prior became a free agent when the Cubs declined to offer him a 2008 contract before the Dec. 13 deadline. Mark claims to have received offers from numerous clubs, but narrowed it down to San Diego and Houston before opting to return home to San Diego. Prior joins a strong pitching rotation including Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux & Randy Wolf who is also recovering from off- season shoulder surgery.
Fantasy Outlook
In all likelihood Prior wont pitch until the end of May at the earliest, with a post All- Star break debut more likely. Prior is definitely a huge question mark for fantasy owners, the last time we saw him in 2006 he just didn't look right, often losing command of his pitches and just lacking the stamina he possessed in his previous seasons (2003-2005). That being said, we all remember what he is capable of, and when healthy Prior was right up there with Johan Santana, Josh Beckett and Chris Carpenter. Due to name recognition some owners will likely draft Prior way above his actual value hoping for a huge return. My advice would be to hold off on Prior unless he is available around round 17 and up. There are just way too many question marks with him and his possible return. That being said last season we saw pitchers like Brad Penny, Tim Hudson, Kelvim Escobar and Ted Lilly consistently being drafted after round 14 so don't take a gamble when there is a safer bet available. If you do take Prior he will be playing in PetCo which has been the friendliest park to pitchers since it's opening. Also working for Prior is that unlike in Chicago, Prior wont be put in that 'Ace' role and will only be truly needed as a back of the rotation starter taking a lot of pressure off of him and his arm. The Padres also possess one of the better bullpens in the National League so Bud Black wont be asking Prior to pitch 7.0- 9 innings each time he takes the mound. On top of that Prior will also be picking the brains of some of the top pitchers in baseball in Peavy, Young, Maddux and Hoffman... That just could not hurt. I know someone will overpay for Prior, you just have to determine for your sake is the risk worth the potential reward?
On Wednesday Mark Prior got a second chance. Prior signed a $1 million, one year contract with the San Diego Padres laced with incentives that could earn the 27- year old an additional $4.5 million. It is unlikely he will see the field enough to reach those incentive as he is scheduled to miss the beginning of the season, putting a return date at the end of May, but more likely around the All- Star break. Prior has been sidelined by numerous injuries throughout his brief career. He missed the 2007 season with the Chicago Cubs after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder April 24. He last pitched in 2006, going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA while being limited to nine starts because of shoulder pain.
Despite all the injuries he has suffered, Prior remains a great bargain for San Diego. Prior finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2003, his first full season in the big leagues, when he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts. That post- season Prior teamed with Kerry Wood nearly pitching the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. Prior held a 3-0 lead into the eighth inning against Florida in Game 6 of the NL championship series before the Marlins rallied for eight runs and an 8-3 victory at Wrigley Field.
Prior became a free agent when the Cubs declined to offer him a 2008 contract before the Dec. 13 deadline. Mark claims to have received offers from numerous clubs, but narrowed it down to San Diego and Houston before opting to return home to San Diego. Prior joins a strong pitching rotation including Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux & Randy Wolf who is also recovering from off- season shoulder surgery.
Fantasy Outlook
In all likelihood Prior wont pitch until the end of May at the earliest, with a post All- Star break debut more likely. Prior is definitely a huge question mark for fantasy owners, the last time we saw him in 2006 he just didn't look right, often losing command of his pitches and just lacking the stamina he possessed in his previous seasons (2003-2005). That being said, we all remember what he is capable of, and when healthy Prior was right up there with Johan Santana, Josh Beckett and Chris Carpenter. Due to name recognition some owners will likely draft Prior way above his actual value hoping for a huge return. My advice would be to hold off on Prior unless he is available around round 17 and up. There are just way too many question marks with him and his possible return. That being said last season we saw pitchers like Brad Penny, Tim Hudson, Kelvim Escobar and Ted Lilly consistently being drafted after round 14 so don't take a gamble when there is a safer bet available. If you do take Prior he will be playing in PetCo which has been the friendliest park to pitchers since it's opening. Also working for Prior is that unlike in Chicago, Prior wont be put in that 'Ace' role and will only be truly needed as a back of the rotation starter taking a lot of pressure off of him and his arm. The Padres also possess one of the better bullpens in the National League so Bud Black wont be asking Prior to pitch 7.0- 9 innings each time he takes the mound. On top of that Prior will also be picking the brains of some of the top pitchers in baseball in Peavy, Young, Maddux and Hoffman... That just could not hurt. I know someone will overpay for Prior, you just have to determine for your sake is the risk worth the potential reward?
posted by Aaron Sobel at
1:13 PM
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