Mark Prior Joins Padres

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http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/padres/2007-12-26-prior_N.htm


SAN DIEGO (AP) — Mark Prior and his hometown San Diego Padres agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract on Wednesday, making him the second postoperative pitcher to join the team in less than a month.
Prior, whose once-promising career has been sidetracked by various injuries, missed the 2007 season after undergoing right shoulder surgery on April 24. He last pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 2006, when he made nine starts and went 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA.
The 27-year-old right-hander, who was 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 2003, can earn another $4.5 million in performance bonuses.
"Mark Prior is a competitor and is working hard to regain the form that made him one of the great young pitchers in the game," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. "We are confident he is going to help us in our rotation this season. It's exciting that Mark is coming home to San Diego to pitch for the Padres."
Prior graduated from University of San Diego High School and was the second pick in the June 2001 draft, out of Southern California. He is 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA in five big league seasons.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: MLB | Major League Baseball | World Series | SAN DIEGO | Chicago Cubs | Padres | ERA | Mark Prior | Prior
He became a free agent when the Cubs declined to offer him a 2008 contract before the Dec. 13 deadline.
If healthy, Prior could join a deep Padres rotation that includes NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, 347-game winner Greg Maddux and 6-foot-10 right-hander Chris Young (3.12 ERA). San Diego led the major leagues with a 3.70 ERA this season and came within one victory of its third consecutive playoff berth.
Earlier this month, the Padres agreed to a one-year deal with left-hander Randy Wolf, who is coming off shoulder surgery in September.
In 2003, Prior nearly pitched the Cubs to their first World Series appearance since 1945. He took 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.
Florida also won Game 7 in Chicago and went on to beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.
 

Snitch hater
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Surprised he wasn't in the Mitchell report. Good gamble for the Pads. If he pans out, not bad for a 5th starter. If not, not much lost
 

powdered milkman
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Surprised he wasn't in the Mitchell report. Good gamble for the Pads. If he pans out, not bad for a 5th starter. If not, not much lost
agree great gamble
 

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Surprised he wasn't in the Mitchell report. Good gamble for the Pads. If he pans out, not bad for a 5th starter. If not, not much lost

You surprised me on that one...I was counting on a Reggie Bush bust comparison
 

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You surprised me on that one...I was counting on a Reggie Bush bust comparison

At least Prior at one time was one of the best in his sport at his position and was an All-Star. Bush never has been nor will be. Prior is FAR more accomplished than Bush
 

gerhart got hosed
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Now that he doesn't have the Cubs disease, he will probably be awesome and go on to win the Cy Young next year.
 

powdered milkman
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Now that he doesn't have the Cubs disease, he will probably be awesome and go on to win the Cy Young next year.
lol....one of the reasons why it was a good gamble
 

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At least Prior at one time was one of the best in his sport at his position and was an All-Star.


Might want to hold off on the "One of the best in his sport" talk unless you are basing that on one season. In 2003 he went 18-6 and was an all-star. That was a long time and a lot of surgeries ago. Other then that he is 6-6, 6-4, 11-7 and 1-6. Not exactly living up to all the hype that one season and his college career created. Aside from one season he has been an underachiever and a malcontent. The only good thing about him is that he went to USC.

When he was sent down in 2007 after a career accomplishing absolutely nothing ( Aside from 1 season) he didnt exactly come off as a good teammate when he said to the Chicago Tribune “I’m just an employee. The goal now is to go down and help that team win and try to make the Triple-A All-Star team. Maybe I can get invited to the Futures Game or something. I’m still 26.” Kind of a dick thing to say when the Cubs showed a lot of patience with him and were forced to make the move because he could not contribute at the MLB level.

Bush has also struggled and not lived up to the hype created. The book is still out on Bush is some peoples eyes, just not the narrow minded ones.
 

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the pads are now a lock to win the simulated world series.
 

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Surprised he wasn't in the Mitchell report. Good gamble for the Pads. If he pans out, not bad for a 5th starter. If not, not much lost


This pains me, but I agree with you. Petco alone should help him as long as he stays healthy. That's a lot to ask of him.
 

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Always rooting for Mark, but middle relief is most likely the best that can happen here. He may get tried as a starter, but there is absolutely no sign of success given recent performances.
 

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Prior was never one of the best in his sport, look at how many one-year wonders there have been in pitching. Only time would have told if hitters were going to make the proper adjustments.

Prior got a steal making a mil in this deal. Overpaid. He probably throws 50 IP max in the majors this year.

calos solva j ust got like 50 mil over 4 years
the padres got a steal
think about the trash pitcher u will get for 1mil these days
prior atleast has an upside
if he blows big deal
 

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Great sign for both Prior and the Padres.

Average pitchers become incredible in San Diego's huge park and the other big parks in that division. Prior needed a pitchers' park and he got the best in the game.

He will likely have an ERA under 4 and will get a big offseason contract somewhere else.

Perfect park for Prior.
 

Rx. Junior
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Great sign for both Prior and the Padres.

Average pitchers become incredible in San Diego's huge park and the other big parks in that division. Prior needed a pitchers' park and he got the best in the game.

He will likely have an ERA under 4 and will get a big offseason contract somewhere else.

Perfect park for Prior.



:missingte:missingte:missingte:missingte:missingte No he wont! He will never be healthy again hes a bitch!!!
 

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