Mark Prior done for the season...again

The pitcher that some clamored for the Royals to sign and give guaranteed millions to is already done for the year and he hasn't pitched in a single game. He's having season ending shoulder surgery and the Padres won't know when or if he'll be able to pitch again until after the surgery. Prior, who hasn't pitched in a MLB game since Aug. 10, 2006, will receive all of his $1M guaranteed salary and none of the $4.5M in performance bonuses.

I wonder how much guaranteed money some team is going to donate to the Mark Prior Rehab Fund next year.

almost 4 years ago Scott McKinney 16 comments 0 recs |

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Read More: fleeced, Mark Prior (P - NYY)

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Prior and Mike Sweeney in the same week?

Ken Griffey, you are on notice!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 2, 2008 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

Darn,

you beat me to the fanpost.

Got to say though…I wouldn’t mind the Royals putting some money into the Mark Prior Rehab Fund just in case he can ever hobble his way to the mound again. At one million with incentives, he wasn’t a bad gamble for the Padres.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jun 2, 2008 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

It's like giving $1 million away

You might as well give it to a deserving charity. There’s no way I’d waste $1 million on this guy ever again. I’d consider $500K plus incentives.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2008 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes,

but that’s not really the issue it? The question isn’t whether the money goes to charity or to Mark Prior.

I’m just saying that Prior will have next to no leverage next year, and if he can be had on the cheap than a think a year-plus-team option contract is a good idea for team looking for pitching (almost everyone). If Prior can be half as good as he was before, he’s still a plus. The odds of a full recovery are long, but what with the ridiculous cash teams shell out for the Carlos Silvas and Jason Marquises of the world, I’d be willing to go up to a million.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jun 2, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess

If Prior can be half as good as he was before, he’s still a plus.

But the issue is how good he might be, it’s how much he might play. What are the odds that he throws a single pitch in a MLB game next year? I’d say 10% and that’s being very charitable considering he hasn’t pitched since 2006 and he’s having season ending surgery this week. And then what are the odds that he manages 40 ip? 1%? Is that 1% chance worth $1M at this point? Maybe. But I wouldn’t do it.

The odds of a full recovery are long, but what with the ridiculous cash teams shell out for the Carlos Silvas and Jason Marquises of the world, I’d be willing to go up to a million.

Over the last two years, has Prior been worth even 1/11th of Carlos Silva? 1/1000th? The # of innings one can pitch is relevant, particularly when one of them usually manages zero innings pitched.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by Scott McKinney on Jun 2, 2008 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions

No doubt

he hasn’t been worth bubkis for the last two years. The reason you’re signing him is on the off-chance that he pitches 150 effective innings for you after rehabbing, and that possibly gets his career back on track. Long shot? Yes. But look at how good he was when he was healthy. Teams are always going to want to take a shot at letting a guy with Prior’s ability get back in the game. Given that most FOs regard a million as chump change, apparently, I’d take the risk. I don’t even think it’d take a million next year, though. More like 750k and a team option year(s).

As to how healthy he’ll be…yes, of course that’s the issue. That’s why you make the low-risk, low guarenteed salary investment. I fail to see what harm it would do, in other words, for any team, and the potential reward is that you see something akin to early career Prior. That probably won’t happen, but teams spend millions of dollars on guarenteed mediocrities all the time. Why be the team to go out on a limb-and this makes sense especially if you have nothing to lose as a second division team-and be the team to take the 750k risk?

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jun 3, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

My guess

I don’t even think it’d take a million next year, though. More like 750k and a team option year(s).

This year, it took $1M plus big incentives (something like $4.5M) and no option year. Because he was once great, I still think someone will sign him next year to a 1-year deal with significant incentives and no option year. $750K sounds about right. But he would want a make-good opportunity which he could possibly turn into a bigger FA payday the next year. And I think someone will be willing to give him that guaranteed $750K without any option year attached.

Would I do it? I guess so. I mean $750K is next to nothing nowadays. I mean we’re giving nearly that much to Tsao who is similar always injured pitcher with probably less talent.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by Scott McKinney on Jun 3, 2008 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

this will allow the padres o focus more on getting huber playing time

by Freneau on Jun 2, 2008 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

focusing on the important things

more Huber!!!!!!!

Success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed. - Emily Dickinson

by buddyball on Jun 2, 2008 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

He may be gone, but he will always be the starting DH in my heart

This will never grow old

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Jun 2, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

i wanna interview huber...

... my first and last playerinterview

by Freneau on Jun 2, 2008 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you SURE????

“not much to say about myself… im a pretty laid back dude..i play a game for a living, so i like to work hard. Im a big believer in if u work hard for what u want<< u just never know.. i value my family and friends, and have learned that what goes around comes around…so if u want to know anything else….find out for urself..”

He’s a quote machine…