Prior to San Diego?

by elgato on Dec 1, 2007 11:08 AM CST

The San Diego paper is reporting that the Padres are among the clubs trying to trade for Prior. Here's the link.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20071201/news_1s1padres.html

I have a feeling this is going to happen next week, and I think it might be the best thing for all parties. The Cubs will probably get a better return from San Diego than from any other club -- mainly because it's Prior's hometown and because Towers thinks he could get a discount, based on this report.

I like this, too, because Prior would be nowhere near the Brewers or Cardinals or anybody else in the Central. I know there are some Padre haters on this board, but I'm not among them, and I could passively root for Prior to make a comeback and get a fresh start.

The Clement thing is interesting, too. I had wondered if the Cubs might make a pitch to Clement, because I know he was highly thought of by Cubs management.

Last thought. Let's say Prior and Clement end up in San Diego. The Padres would have three-fifths of the 2004 Cubs rotation. Maybe they can sign Glendon Rusch, too.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I'm going to guess

the next week or so is going to be a wild ride. If they trade Prior, it could end up being one of the smaller transactions when it is all said and done.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 11:14 AM CST 0 recs

Actually...

I'm pretty sure this gives the Cubs less negotiating power, assuming the Prior people likely are putting out there that there are only a limited number of teams that he'd do a multi-year deal with. I hear this, and can see Towers and Hendry playing chicken all next week, with Hendry possibly needing to tender a contract to get Towers to blink.

by Damen Jackson on Dec 1, 2007 11:14 AM CST 0 recs

interesting

But I'm not sure I agree with your assumptions. I'm not sure this means Prior's people have given the Cubs a list of teams.

by elgato on Dec 1, 2007 11:17 AM CST up 0 recs

I'm a little surprised

at Towers giving direct quotes about Prior in the manner he did. Usually you don't see that from a GM before the try and acquire a player through a trade. Not sure whether it means a deal is immiment, but it something seems odd about it.

I don't know how good the communication is between Prior's representatives and the Cubs, but if you look at who is driving the bus for Prior (his dad), there is little doubt they have had an agenda for a while and see the world through jaded lenses.

If you can get something of value, go ahead and move past this chapter that is really getting old.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 11:36 AM CST up 0 recs

I thought the same thing about Hank

Steinbrenner and his comments regarding Johan Santana. It used to be that this sort of thing violated the tampering rules. Maybe not now.

by davidalanu on Dec 1, 2007 5:39 PM CST up 0 recs

It's never been tampering

it just has not been customary for a GM to talk about a player they have interest in trading for they way Towers did.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 8:55 PM CST up 0 recs

I'm not suggesting that they have...

and frankly, they shouldn't. It's much easier to announce advertise something like that through backchannels.

by Damen Jackson on Dec 1, 2007 11:43 AM CST up 0 recs

IF those 3 propsects are indicative...

.....of what Prior will garner, than maybe they are better off holding on to him and see what they can get for him at the trade deadline. It can't be any worse than those 3 prospects. Leblanc is probably the best of the 3 prospects, but he's a lefty much as the same as Marshall, except Leblanc's best pitch is his change-up.

Huffman is intriguing because he's a high OBP guy with some decent pop and was the Padres 2nd round pick in 2006.

"Thanks bro, see ya later" Tony Larussa to Jupiter cops after being informed he was asleep in the middle of an intersection.

by lemon20pie on Dec 1, 2007 11:29 AM CST 0 recs

Waiting for the deadline could be risky

because if Prior has a setback, his value will plummet.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 11:37 AM CST up 0 recs

Not sure how it could plummet

any lower than it is now, if that's all the Cubs can get for Prior.

I do agree though that how low his value is now not trading him could backfire and they end up getting nothing for him.

I don't know, I think they should trade him and get something for him but at the same time, you want to get something better than that. Someone like Chase Headley:) Than trade ARam for a LH CF or RF or Solid #2 and bingo, Cubs would win NL and head to World Series. See how easy that is:)

"Thanks bro, see ya later" Tony Larussa to Jupiter cops after being informed he was asleep in the middle of an intersection.

by lemon20pie on Dec 1, 2007 11:49 AM CST up 0 recs

I'm basing my assumption

on the fact everything has appeared to go fine since the surgery. If he has a setback in April or May which puts his rehab on hold, you really have to question whether he will ever be close to what he once was.

Remember, we are talking about a shoulder problem, and they can be much less predictable than what we have seen with other injuries like TJ surgery.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 1:11 PM CST up 0 recs

It's a risk either way, but if he comes back and

can throw with any semblence of a reasonable pitcher, then his trade value will be 10 times what it is now....and who knows-if the Cubs are winning and Prior has some fun with his mates (he'll know who half of his teammates will be over the next 5 yrs given all of the multiyear deals) and has a change of heart, maybe he decides to stick around for a little while. Regardless, it would seem that his value couldn't be any lower now, and it's not much of a risk to wait. I don't see any reason to push this right now.

by LuisSalazar on Dec 1, 2007 2:28 PM CST up 0 recs

Everything has been fine but

he hasn't started pitching yet.

by rlpete on Dec 1, 2007 2:30 PM CST up 0 recs

I know

and it could be thats a good thing.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 2:47 PM CST up 0 recs

I really should make this my signature:

A-Ram has a full No Trade Clause.

by Flatley on Dec 1, 2007 6:47 PM CST up 0 recs

Sidewalk Tampering!

Here are links to stats on the three players mentioned in the article.

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Rayner-Contreras.shtml
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/L/Wade-Leblanc.shtml
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/Chad-Huffman.shtml

Leblanc (AA starter) looks like the most valuable to me, followed by Huffman (AA RH OF) and Contreras (A-ball secondbaseman).

Geo! (clap-clap-clap) Soto! (clap-clap-clap)

by zambranofan on Dec 1, 2007 11:29 AM CST 0 recs

I don't think any of those are on the table...

...for Prior, but if they are...

Yeah, I'm going to borrow everyone's favorite catchphrase: Do it now, Jim!

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Dec 1, 2007 11:44 AM CST up 0 recs

do you mean you favor the deal

for one, two or all three? I don't think one of these guys is nearly enough.

by elgato on Dec 1, 2007 11:50 AM CST up 0 recs

That article...

... sounds kind of generic. Sure, Towers is "interested", and as noted, he's actually spoken to Prior because they live near each other.

As noted elsewhere, if Prior were non-tendered, all 29 other teams would be lined up to get him. Maybe Hendry should take a page out of Bill Veeck's old book -- set up a booth in the lobby of the hotel in Nashville, put a "Prior Sale" sign up there, and let everyone line up to make offers.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 1, 2007 12:01 PM CST up 0 recs

respectfully disagree, Al

I don't think Towers would have talked about Prior at all if he were only interested in a passing way.

by elgato on Dec 1, 2007 12:04 PM CST up 0 recs

I also believe that this could happen

and is a very real possibility. It makes sense for both sides and I've always questioned Prior's desire to be in Chicago. I think he's the type of player that could do with out all the attention and hoopla and intensity from us fans.

and obviously all his family is in So Cal and he wants to pitch in So Cal. I think this gets done.

"Thanks bro, see ya later" Tony Larussa to Jupiter cops after being informed he was asleep in the middle of an intersection.

by lemon20pie on Dec 1, 2007 12:15 PM CST up 0 recs

I haven't gone so far as to assume...

...that the Padres are offering real, live prospects for the remainder of Mark Prior.

But the notion that it's possible that we could trade him for more than a Mike Fontenot type is something I hadn't really considered before. We already snagged one of the Padres top-10 prospects for the remainders of Michael Barrett, and got Jose Ceda for Todd Walker. Would be interesting to see if we could try to make a hat trick out of it.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Dec 1, 2007 1:17 PM CST up 0 recs

I'll be the first one

to toss my hat if that happens.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 1:18 PM CST up 0 recs

Padres top prospects

ANyone have any more insight or a list of the Padres top prospects?

"Thanks bro, see ya later" Tony Larussa to Jupiter cops after being informed he was asleep in the middle of an intersection.

by lemon20pie on Dec 1, 2007 12:06 PM CST 0 recs

Baseball America and John Sickles...

...don't have their current Padres lists out. But I found some old lists.

Kevin Goldstein had Huffman as the tenth best prospect in the Padres system. He's number seven on the BA list and by Sickles. Rayner Contreras makes #18 on Sickles list.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Dec 1, 2007 12:30 PM CST up 0 recs

Thanks for the links

So it appears that Huffman is the best prospect of the 3. He's put up good OBP numbers throughout college and 2 seasons in Minors, but as Sickel's mentioned, he appears to be a tweener and maybe his future is 1st base in the NL.

The padres had a kid in the AFL this season who's name was Will Startup. Maybe the Padres could throw him in any pending deal with the Cubs, just for the name itself.

"Thanks bro, see ya later" Tony Larussa to Jupiter cops after being informed he was asleep in the middle of an intersection.

by lemon20pie on Dec 1, 2007 12:48 PM CST up 0 recs

The Cubs will be looking to get

a prospect ranked around 15-25. It has changed, but I'm not sure of BA's listing for the Padres since they haven't done it yet, but the 15-25 ranked players in the Padres organization in 2007 were David Freese, Wade LeBlanc, Kevin Cameron, Paul McAnulty, Matt Bush (former number one overall pick who basically sucks), Luis Cruz, Felix Carrasco, Andrew Brown, Sean Thompson, Matt Buschmann, and Mike Eckstrom. I'm guessing the Cubs would have to send a little money to San Diego if the wanted a prospect ranked in the 15-20 range as well.

One slim (very slim) possibility is that they could get Kyle Blanks in return. He was ranked 29th by BA in 2007 in the Padres organization, but he'll be in the top 20 easily now. He posted a .920 OPS in High A as a 20-year old hitting 24 home runs. He's a HUGE man weighing nearly 300 pounds. He's a first baseman so the Padres don't really have much use for him and his weight at that age has to be a huge issue.

He'd immediately be a Cubs top 10 prospect and might have a chance to take over for DLee in a couple years if he keeps his weight down.

Not at all likely, but here's to hoping...

by Maddog on Dec 1, 2007 2:47 PM CST up 0 recs

Is there any scenario in which the Cubs could get

Headley? I have a hard time putting my finger on the value of prospects in ML trades. Would Headley for DeRosa and Prior be something SD would consider?

by DGU on Dec 1, 2007 12:11 PM CST 0 recs

I facetiously mentioned Headley above

It certainly would take more than Derosa and Prior for Headley.

Than what do you with the hole vacated by Derosa?
Can Headley play the OF?

"Thanks bro, see ya later" Tony Larussa to Jupiter cops after being informed he was asleep in the middle of an intersection.

by lemon20pie on Dec 1, 2007 12:19 PM CST up 0 recs

I'm assuming

that Headley can't play 2B or the OF or the Padres wouldn't be considering trading him or moving Kouz for him (given that they have holes at 2B and the OF). Kevin Goldstein's scouting report says he has great instincts but isn't as athletic, so that would seem to confirm that 3B is his position. I don't so much think the Cubs could use Headley as much as they could flip him in a deal for, say, Brian Roberts (a left-handed middle IF with speed and OBP). Apparently the Red Sox want Headley, too, so maybe Jed Lowrie would be available.

I know your mention was facetious; I'm just wondering if the Cubs could actually fill enough of the Padres holes, that a quantity instead of quality trade could get it done, similar to the Milledge trade. So, if the Cubs offer Murton, DeRosa, Patterson, and Prior, the Padres get their LF, their 2B, and a roving utility guy who can play 2B if Patterson bombs as well as their SoCal pitching project. If you were SD, what would you give back for that haul?

by DGU on Dec 1, 2007 1:01 PM CST up 0 recs

How is this not tampering?

by cubstoseriesby100 on Dec 1, 2007 1:06 PM CST 0 recs

Because Mark Prior is not...

...a free agent. You're allowed to discuss trade targets.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Dec 1, 2007 1:08 PM CST up 0 recs

Your right

it's by no means tampering. With that said, it certainly isn't common to get direct quotes from a GM regarding a player they would target in a trade.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 1:16 PM CST up 0 recs

reply

What direct quotes are you referring to? Unless I missed something, and I very well could have because I skimmed the article, the only thing he was quoted on was that Prior lives in the area. He never said anything at all about interest in him.

by kanderber on Dec 1, 2007 1:22 PM CST up 0 recs

Unconfirmed reports indicate Jim Hendry...

...has been recently spotted taking walks in Nagoya, Japan. ;-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Dec 1, 2007 1:31 PM CST up 0 recs

I know he didn't say

I am targeting Mark Prior in a trade, but he did say "he lives here, which is good" and he has spoken to him. Usually, a GM does not want his quotes about a certain player in an article that discusses their interest in him. I am not saying this is completely off the wall, just not something you see very often.

It could be the writer of the article gave Towers the wrong impression of what he was going to write as well.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 1:45 PM CST up 0 recs

I don't think you can assume...

...those three prospects are in play for Prior. Read this paragraph from the article again:

"Towers and Cubs GM Jim Hendry have made three trades over the past two seasons. Sending Prior to the Padres, the Cubs probably would dip into the San Diego farm system a third time. This year, the Cubs inquired about Single-A second baseman Rayner Contreras, Double-A pitcher Wade Leblanc and Double-A left fielder Chad Huffman."

----

Assuming the Padres interest in Prior is relatively recent, I don't think you can automatically connect the Cubs interest in those three prospects with a possible Prior deal. My guess is those prospects were among the players discussed when the Barrett deal went down, and/or possibly the previous two Cubs/Padres trade - the article mentioned three in the last two years, but off top of my head, I can't recall the other two (Todd Walker?)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Dec 1, 2007 1:25 PM CST 0 recs

The Padres have mumbled

about their desire to acquire The Employee for months. Earlier stories have speculated that he would come very, very cheap -- and that he'd possibly fare well, (if he's healthy) away from the 'nasty' Chicago media and their 'demanding' fans. (It's a Mission Beach Love-In for the native son!!!)

I say -- "Surf's Up!" If you can get a bag of balls for this fragile head case, do it.

The Padres are going to have the worst every-day line-up in the NL West next year, anyway. Unless Greg Maddux can rub some of his "injury-free" luck off on The Employee, this guy's career is probably over, anyway.

And the Cubs will have a bag of balls, so it's all good.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Dec 1, 2007 2:50 PM CST 0 recs

Honestly

I don't think you are far off.

Although I have marveled at his abundance of talent, I have never been enammored with his attitude. I also don't feel it's good for your young developing pitchers to be around that.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 1, 2007 5:01 PM CST up 0 recs

If all we can get for him is a sack of balls...

...then we may as well just try to salvage him ourselves. If, however, we can get actual talent for him? A top-20 prospect?

Then hell, I'll pay freight myself.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Dec 1, 2007 5:37 PM CST up 0 recs

I'd agree.

That would trade the possibility of having a 29-year-old pitcher come back a year and a half from now, for the possibility of a 21- or 22- year old pitcher (or other player) producing at the major league level in the same time frame.

Hell, yes. Do that, but ONLY if you get someone of that caliber.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Dec 1, 2007 6:22 PM CST up 0 recs

reply

A year and a half from now?

by kanderber on Dec 1, 2007 7:01 PM CST up 0 recs

Hold onto him...

and see what he has. I know he's not in love with playing for the Cubs,to say the least, but he has no choice. I would hate to have what happened to the Jays with Chris Carpenter happen to the Cubs.

They were tired of his injuries, and he was scheduled for Tommy John, so they let him walk.

The Cardinals pounced, paid him during his rehab, and he was great (until he got hurt again). But the bottom line is that the Jays didn't get anything for Carpenter, and he was a low-risk guy for the Cards.

Nobody's forcing the Cubs to trade him. If Prior's being a #$%@% then take him to arbitration, get what you can out of him if he can come back in May or June, and deal his sorry ass at the deadline to one of the many pitching hungry teams out there!

Cubs chances in '08? Beats the FUK-U-DO-ME!

by Hugest Canadian Cubs Fan on Dec 1, 2007 9:13 PM CST 0 recs

Prior

I think this was Prior's plan going back 2 years ago. It would be great if he was near is old form and happy to be a Cub, but neither are probably true. Especially the latter. Knowing how Hendry deals, he'll probably make the trade with Towers and throw in a extra couple of million.

by Comfortably Numb on Dec 2, 2007 9:10 AM CST 0 recs

Prior won't be traded....might as well extend him

Super Mario Galaxy! Get it NOW!

by TheBeerBaron on Dec 2, 2007 10:39 AM CST 0 recs

The question is if Prior WANTS an extension...

if Prior was willing to sign a 2-year deal, I'm sure the Cubs would be interested. But it sounds as though Prior is more interested in getting to free agency after 2008. That's less interesting to the Cubs, and hence the trade speculation has begun.

by SouthernCub on Dec 2, 2007 11:17 AM CST up 0 recs

Whats the chance we have a better idea

what Prior can actually do by the trade deadline? I'd rather trade him then because I think his value would be higher for the following reasons: 1) we have a more clear idea how the rehab is going and a more clear understanding of what to expect as far as his performance 2) contenders needing pitching will be willing to give up more to get him for the "stretch run". then let them deal with extending him or letting him go FA. Of course this assumes the risk of a setback, and him having no value at all, at which point i'd say his career is over. I'm just willing to take that risk to get something more for him or use him ourselves as opposed to getting nothing for him and then him rocking again for some other team.

by philadelphiacub on Dec 2, 2007 11:49 AM CST 0 recs

Something tells me

the Cubs have drawn a line in the sand with Prior. It's either you give us the opportunity to bring you back (with an option for 09) or it's time to move on.

IMO, that would be the right move considering the history here, and you really determine whether the guy has any interest in being here.

Although it's true his value could be higher if he is pitching decently by May and is healthy up until the break, but it could also go the other way if he has a setback.

Let's face it, Prior and his continous rehab has been a soap opera side show for 4 years now, and I don't think it's something the Cubs want to endure again if Prior is not willing to give them another year when he could be more healthy.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 2, 2007 2:23 PM CST up 0 recs

The line was drawn publicly

but that doesn't mean, just like with the Yankees and A-Rod, that we wouldn't just offer him one year arb if no good deal presented itself and he refused the 2 year deal (which he apparently is). I highly doubt we just non-tender him.

by DGU on Dec 2, 2007 2:26 PM CST up 0 recs

If Prior refuses the 09 option

they may go ahead and tender him so they can trade him and get something in return.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 2, 2007 2:40 PM CST up 0 recs

could the Cubs trade him

after they've tendered him a contract, but before an amount has been agreed to? I'm just wondering if he could be traded with arbitration pending.

by elgato on Dec 2, 2007 2:42 PM CST up 0 recs

I believe they can

n/t

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Dec 2, 2007 5:07 PM CST up 0 recs

The Padres are about to sign...

a Dodger sore-armed pitcher

...with Prior and Clement still on their radar. Apparently, this team wants to lead MLB in bargain-basement injured pitchers, with dreams that amazingly, they will all be healthy at the same time. (I wonder what they did with Shawn Estes?? I probably should check their 40-man roster. If they finally cut him, or he retired, I've missed it.)

I'm unclear if this is the height of stupidity, or a creative use of not a lot of salary.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Dec 2, 2007 7:22 PM CST 0 recs