Clement won't be ready for Opening Day

Surprise, surprise. Though, who really is surprised by the news from the St. Louis Cardinals that right-hander Matt Clement will not be ready by Opening Day.

Pitching coach Dave Duncan broke the news, saying it wasn't a physical setback but lack of strength in his pitching shoulder.

Clement is trying to make a comeback from surgery, almost a year and a half ago, on a torn labrum and rotator cuff.

When free agency had first started, there was a lot of talk that Clement was going to end up back with his former team the San Diego Padres. The Padres must have seen something in his medical reports that kept that signing from happening. It wasn't the fact that they didn't want a pitcher coming off surgery, they've got 2 of those in Mark Prior and Randy Wolf not to mention Glendon Rusch who's returning from a blood clot.

Prior to be ready sooner than expected?

According to GM Kevin Towers, Mark Prior is coming along faster than previously thought.

The Padres didn't expect to have Mark Prior until possibly June, but he's now throwing off a mound which means he could be ready as early as May.

Towers spoke at a luncheon at the San Diego Hall of Champions, and when he was asked about Prior's progress he responded: "Todd Hutcheson told me that if he keeps along with the progress that he is having now, that he could be ready for a Minor League rehab assignment when we start our season."

That's good news for the Padres. If Prior is ready to make his rehab assignment at the start of the 2008 season, it could help the team that is typically a slow starter the first month.

Padres agree to terms with Ledezma

According to a team press release, the San Diego Padres have agreed to terms with left-hander Wilfredo Ledezma on a 1-year contract. The announcement was made by General Manager Kevin Towers.

Ledezma is one of the candidates to fill the 5th spot in the Padres rotation until Mark Prior is ready to go, which isn't expected to be until late May or early June.

Rangers eyeing Colon?

Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News weighs in on Bartolo Colon. He's of the opinion that if Colon takes an incentive laden contract, that he may be worth the risk.

Respectfully, I don't know if I agree. Colon pitching in one of the biggest hitter's parks in all of baseball wouldn't help the Rangers much, especially if he can't stay healthy.

On the flip side of the coin, if Colon comes back firing bullets and reverts back to his better self, then the Rangers got the best out of him for a cheap deal. I think Colon and Mark Prior are the same boat, they both want to prove they're on the comeback trail, but they're both high risk signings.

Prior signs with the Padres

12.26.07 11:45am PST

ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the deal includes a $1M base salary with incentives that could bring the deal over $3M total.

12.26.07 10:34am PST

According to Ken Rosenthal, Mark Prior has signed a 1-year deal with the San Diego Padres.

The terms of the deal have not been released.

Mark Prior Update

12.24.07 3:09pm PST

North County Times' Dan Hayes weighs in on free agent Mark Prior's decision between the Astros and Padres.

Baseball-Rumors: I hear that Prior is deciding between the Astros and Padres at this point. Are the Padres going to lose out on yet another free agent or will Prior take the pitcher's ballpark and less money?

Dan Hayes: I do believe Mark Prior is going to accept the Padres' offer if it comes down to common sense but I haven't been able to get a hold of his agent for the past week. Even if Houston makes an absurd offer, Prior would still have to spend all of his games pitching in a hitter's park. I think that's going to deter him especially because he's looking for a one-year deal and to establish that he's a good pitcher again. If that's his true aim, wouldn't he want to pitch half his games at Petco?

12.23.07 8:50am PST

According to the Houston Chronicle, free agent right-hander Mark Prior has narrowed his choices to the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres.

Prior is currently a San Diego County resident and has been doing all of his rehab there, both work in the Padres favor at this point.

12.21.07 1:00pm PST

The Rangers, after reviewing Prior's medical records, have pulled out of the bidding, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.The Rangers had been said to be serious contenders for him prior to this.
12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Prior to decide between Houston, San Diego

12.23.07 8:50am PST

According to the Houston Chronicle, free agent right-hander Mark Prior has narrowed his choices to the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres.

Prior is currently a San Diego County resident and has been doing all of his rehab there, both work in the Padres favor at this point.

12.21.07 1:00pm PST

The Rangers, after reviewing Prior's medical records, have pulled out of the bidding, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
The Rangers had been said to be serious contenders for him prior to this.

12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Rangers out of bidding for Mark Prior

12.21.07 1:00pm PST

The Rangers, after reviewing Prior's medical records, have pulled out of the bidding, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.

The Rangers had been said to be serious contenders for him prior to this.

12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.
The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Padres front-runners for Mark Prior

12.20.07 7:51pm PST

According to Buster Olney, the Padres are the front runners to land former Cub Mark Prior, who is currently a San Diego County resident.

The Padres, says Olney, have offered a 1-year deal with a modest base salary that includes incentives to Prior, who could make his decision in the next 24-48 hours.

12.18.07 10:44pm PST

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

San Diego is a logical destination for Mark Prior?

Ken Rosenthal puts his 2 cents in on Mark Prior. He is of the opinion that Prior's logical destination is with the San Diego Padres, not only because of Petco Park being well known as a "pitcher's park" but because he's originally from Southern California.

The problem with that idea is, the acquisition of Edmonds puts the Padres payroll up to $73M, which is only $2M below their ideal payroll of $75M, but I don't think the Padres can ask Prior to take a San Diego discount, especially if he is getting bigger offers from Houston, St. Louis or any other club.

Astros, Cards interested in Prior

Mark Prior is certainly getting a lot of interest around the major leagues, even for a guy who hasn't been healthy for the last few seasons.

The Astros already have an offer out to the right-hander, even after signing minor league right-hander, and former Padre, Jack Cassell.

Larry Borowski reports, that after the Cardinals traded Jim Edmonds, it may have freed up cash to spend on another starter or even a risk with high reward pitcher like Prior.

Nats interested in Prior, Jennings

The Washington Nationals, still interested in obtaining starting pitching, have made it known that they are interested in both Mark Prior and Jason Jennings.

Both pitchers coming off shoulder injuries would be a risk for any team, but there are teams that think that the reward highly outweighs the risk.

Padres looking to deal for a starter

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune reports that the Padres could deal for a starter before the end of the Winter Meetings. The 2 names mentioned are the Cubs' Mark Prior and Blue Jays' Josh Towers, who the Padres tried to acquire before last year's trading deadline.

Mark Prior is a very close neighbor of Padres' GM Kevin Towers and has made it well known that he would like to pitch for the Padres, but you have to wonder about Prior's health and ability to stay healthy for even half a season.

Josh Towers is a young pitcher who can throw strikes, but does not have near the upside as Mark Prior.

Mark Prior Rumors

12.2.07 8:52pm PST

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Union Tribune weighs in on Mark Prior. The Cubs are hoping to sign him to an incentive laden 2-year deal, but that seems unlikely. The Cubs and Padres will continue their negotiations when the Winter Meetings kick off Monday morning. If the Cubs are unable to re-sign Prior, they may try to get 3 prospects from the Padres in return for the right hander.

12.2.07 2:08pm PST

According to an post on MLB4u.com that I read earlier this evening, the Cubs may be asking for Rayner Contreras, Chad Huffman or Wade LeBlanc in return for Mark Prior. LeBlanc is a young left hander who's expected to be in the Padres' rotation in either late 2008 or to open 2009. Huffman is one of the better outfield prospects in the Padres system and could take a run at the left field job come Spring Training in 2008.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, on his weekly chats, he thinks the Cubs will non-tender Prior, so the Padres may not have to give up any of their prospects to acquire him.

Padres still have interest in acquiring Matt Clement and Mark Prior

In an article in today's San Diego Union Tribune, Tom Krasovic writes that the Padres still have a lot of interest in acquiring both Matt Clement, who's a free agent, and Mark Prior, who is still under contract with the Chicago Cubs. According to Krasovic, the Padres have had trade talks with the Chicago Cubs, after learning that Prior wants to sign with San Diego and will be more agreeable in negotiations with the team, especially since Towers and Prior are almost next door neighbors.

As for Matt Clement, he's made it known that he would like to return to the Padres and re-establish his career, after having injury plagued seasons in Boston. According to the Red Sox, Clement was ready to go during the playoffs, but they did not have room in their rotation and did not want to throw him out there in a big game without knowing how he would handle it.

Mark Prior update

According to an post on MLB4u.com that I read earlier this evening, the Cubs may be asking for Rayner Contreras, Chad Huffman or Wade LeBlanc in return for Mark Prior. LeBlanc is a young left hander who's expected to be in the Padres' rotation in either late 2008 or to open 2009. Huffman is one of the better outfield prospects in the Padres system and could take a run at the left field job come Spring Training in 2008.

According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, on his weekly chats, he thinks the Cubs will non-tender Prior, so the Padres may not have to give up any of their prospects to acquire him.