This deserves a longer article, but the topic is so worn out, it's hard. The Cubs have non-tendered Mark Prior, allowing him to become a free agent. Four years ago, the Cubs could be said to be Prior's team, given his stature on the mound and in front of the microphone. What followed was seemingly endless spring training Prior watches. There will be no "Prior Watch" in 2008. But I will be watching him, hoping he can come back with some semblance of success from the significant shoulder damage he sustained.

Good and bad out of the Winter Meetings in Nashville:

Bad: Felix Pie, Sam Fuld, Tyler Colvin, and Jeff Samardzija are "untouchables," according to Jim Hendry. All four are nice prospects, but why would any of them be off-limits in a trade?

Good: Lou Piniella says that Ryan Dempster does not have a starting rotation spot locked up. Kevin Hart, Sean Gallagher, and Sean Marshall will get opportunities as well.

Bad: Ryan Theriot has locked up the starting shortstop spot for 2008, according to Piniella. If Dempster is going to have competition, why won't Theriot? What harm exists in letting Ronny Cedeno compete for the starting job in spring training?

Good: The Cubs are exploring a trade for Baltimore Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, reports the Baltimore Sun. Roberts just turned 30 and has had .305, .264, .285 EqA's the past three seasons with good defense. Another Cubs Blog has more on Roberts rumors.

Good: A number of teams are interested in Mark Prior, hopefully driving up the asking price.

Who Knows?: The Cubs obtained Twins relief pitcher Tim Lahey in today's Rule 5 draft. Lahey, 25, had a 3.45 ERA in 78.1 innings in double-A last year, with 56 K's and 33 BB's. Another Cubs Blog has more on Lahey. The Cubs lost swingman Randy Wells, who had a 4.52 ERA in 95.2 innings for triple-A Iowa last year, striking out 101 and walking 41.

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.

Now that Mark Prior is out for the year following shoulder surgery, it will be interesting to see when we hear the first mention of his returning as a reliever. He's certainly spent enough time in "bullpen sessions" to get used to the idea.

Carlos Gomez looks at changes in Mark Prior's mechanics, with video, from 2001 to 2004 to 2007, at The Hardball Times. It's an interesting study. Gomez comes up with a specific suggestion for Prior.

Mark Prior was scheduled to pitch five innings in a game in extended spring training today, followed up by a start for triple-A Iowa next week. Surprise, surprise, he left early, reports the Chicago Tribune. (Hat tip: 1060west.) If we're not at the point where Mark Prior injury updates are no longer "news," we're awfully close.

"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." -- Mark Prior, on his demotion, as quoted by the Daily Herald. Though there is definitely some frustration in Prior's comments: "There’s not much I can say. I’m a controlled player. I do what I’m told."

. . . unless your name is Mark Prior, who will be sent there to start the season. Prior threw 3 innings today, allowing 3 unearned runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. (Prior was clearly hurt by some bad outfield defense today.) He is still throwing in the mid-80s. The Sporting News' Stan McNeal thinks that Prior's once-supposed perfect mechanics "have been flawed all along," based on an anonymous coach who "refused to give details and wouldn't go on the record." Perhaps. Perhaps it was the line drive to the elbow, the collision with Marcus Giles, the heel problem, or too many pitches thrown. Likely, some combination.

In any event, the pitcher formerly known as The Franchise is now a minor leaguer. A rich minor leaguer, but still a minor leaguer.

Jim Hendry says this: "We'll make a spot for him when he's ready, I promise you that." It is better to not make promises unless you know you can keep them. Prior is now on the outside looking in. Not only does he need to improve at Iowa, someone in the rotation will have to falter. That's possible, even likely, but not certain.

As sad as it is to see Mark Prior not doing well in Spring Training, it is important the Cubs really get the "Prior/Wood" monkey off their backs. Prior is in need of extended work to hopefully regain his form and confidence. He should (and likely will) be sent to the minor leagues. Lou Piniella is thankfully not burdened by the franchise's all too common tendency to deny reality. He would be doing less than his job not to give Mark Prior a chance to get better, which can best occur out of the limelight.

While Mark Prior became The Franchise in 2003, it was Angel Guzman who shined in spring training that year. Of course, everything unraveled for Guzman mid-season 2003. Now that things appear to have unraveled for Prior, Guzman is once again firing strikes in spring training. A 5th starter's job is up for the taking, and Guzman had his manager saying this after today's game:

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Since 1993, when Mark Grace lost in an arbitration hearing, the Cubs have always settled up with arbitration-eligible players before the process went before an independent arbiter.

The Cubs' thinking is that it's an ugly process that usually causes hard feelings between the player and the team.

Star pitcher Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs are still far apart in their negotiations but have plenty of time to iron things out. Zambrano's hearing date is Feb. 20 in Phoenix.

Cubs, Prior reach $3,575,000, 1-year deal - Right-hander Mark Prior and the Chicago Cubs agreed on a one-year deal Wednesday and avoided salary arbitration.

[Chicago Sun-Times]

No expectations, no pressure, right? That's where we are with Mark Prior, writes the Sun-Times' Chris De Luca:

Success for Prior these days, though, means simply staying healthy. If he can do that -- and Prior seems to hit a magical stumbling block in Mesa -- then the Cubs will consider the next step, with no guarantees beyond another test on the mound.

And in Prior's world, where he has faced nothing but expectations and pressure -- real or imagined -- this might be the best situation he has faced.

We've gone from a situation where this appeared to be Prior's team, even with the presence of Sammy Sosa, to Prior almost being an afterthought. He was Robo-Prior. Now he is the textbook example of unreliability.

As Wrigleyville and FearlessBear note, arbitration figures are in:

Carlos Zambrano: $15.5M
The Cubs: $11M
Last year: $6.5M

Mark Prior: $3.875M
The Cubs: $3.4M
Last year: $3.65M

"The Chicago Cubs and reliever Will Ohman agreed Tuesday on a $2.5 million, two-year contract," reports the AP. "Ohman will get $900,000 next season and $1.6 million in 2008." He also has the opportunity for bonuses based on games pitched and games finished. (Hat tip: Rob G. at The Cub Reporter.)

Ohman's contract moves the Cubs' 2007 payroll to approximately $102.8M and committed 2008 payroll to $87.2M. Carlos Zambrano and Mark Prior still need to sign contracts.