Mark Prior Wants to be Ready by Opening Day, and in a Cubs Uniform

August 26, 2007 by cubsnet

When we last heard from Mark Prior -- or at least about him -- we discovered that his arthroscopic shoulder surgery revealed significant damage to his labrum. He spoke to Cubs reporters for the first time since that April surgery yesterday and we learned the following (S-T; D-H):

--He is in "Phase 2" of his recovery

--He has not started throwing yet, but should start in late October.

--Prior will not be full strength by the opening of spring training, but wants to be ready by opening day.

--He wants to play for the Cubs.

--The Cubs are likely to tender him a contract. If they do, they will have to pay him a minimum of $2.86M because they can only cut his salary by 20% under the collective bargaining agreement.

That is still a significant amount of money for a pitcher who might end up not being able to contribute much and then only as a relief pitcher, when the Cubs have already committed approximately $97.8M to 14 players on the 40-man roster.

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