Prior to the AL West?

[wrveres]

Did i see Tejada named a top 5 player? Did the top 15 or so retire?

lol ...
Hootie made a funny

[raiders_umpire]

If this deal goes down, I think it will be more of economics with the Cubs not being able to resign Prior then the Cubs not thinking Prior will amount to anything good at all.

[Pogotheostrich]

With Boras as his agent I don't see Prior signing a long-term deal with the Cubs. He's waiting to be a FA and cashing in. The Cubs meanwhile have D. Lee becoming FA after the 06 season and I'm pretty sure C-Zam hits FA the same year as Prior.

[bellings]

I haven't seen the link posted yet, here it is:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5189112

There is more discussion about why the deal is stalling (prospects) and a possible BoSox 3-way trade.

[bigken117]

this would be a huge trade if it were to happen.
But if the Cubs were to trade him because they don't think they'll be able to afford him, and C-Zam and D-Lee, it doesn't make sense Oakland would take him on if they're already afraid of what Zito will cost next season.

[Dmville]

the Cubs 2006 Payroll is expected to be close to 100.00 million, and that is a lot of bling for a Newspaper company to be handing out. Especially in the midst of an internet news free for all has casued subscriptions to drop all across the world. very few people get there news from the newspaper anymore.

FWIW, they own about 25 newspapers, 25 TV stations, including WGN, and they sell 3 million Cubs tickets a year. And they have actually embraced the internet pretty well.

I agree they are spending alot, but they have it and have proven they are willing to spend to win in the last few years, now they just need to win . Especially now that the Southsiders have won, I see them really making a push. They saw that parade and all the hoopla for a team that no one in Chicago supposedly cares about and they are licking their chops.

And I honestly believe Baker needs this team to be very near the top of the division early in the season to keep his job all year. Another .500 at the break will not do, injuries or not.

[BeefSandwiches]

Latest rumor via Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000 this morning...

Cubs have offered Prior, Patterson and Rich Hill in exchange for Tejada and Erik Bedard.

No link because it was a radio report and I haven't been able to find it anywhere, but Levine is usually on the inside with both Chicago ballclubs.

[Music2004Man]

Which team do you guys think they are talking about in the AL West? Could it be the Angels with a heap of prospects going the other way?

A's websites are saying that they have heard radio reports stating that it is the A's, in which Zito and possibly spare parts goto Baltimore. Prior to Oakland, Tejada to Chicago.

I can't understand Prior going to the A's because it would improve them slightly over having Zito but they still have to trade Prior by the end of the year. I could see Beane making the move though so he had a better trading chip at the trade deadline. Prior's price could be through the roof at the deadline. Can you imagine a contender adding a guy with Prior's talent.

[Mustangs989]

To put simply I'm not a big fan of this trade. I have read that if Tejada is traded then he will become a FA after 06. Not sure if that's true or not. Like Hootie said Tejada is not the top 5 player that he is often made out to be. I'm not sold on Prior wanting out after this year like some of the WC guys want us to think. It's definetely a possibility but I have a hard time seeing Hendry let Prior walk after this year, 07 he is probably gone though.

[Eagle Baseball]

Latest rumor via Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000 this morning...

Cubs have offered Prior, Patterson and Rich Hill in exchange for Tejada and Erik Bedard.

No link because it was a radio report and I haven't been able to find it anywhere, but Levine is usually on the inside with both Chicago ballclubs.

As a cub fan this trade is appealing to me. They are not give up Pie or Guzman. Hill might be good pitcher but I don't like 6'5" curve ball pitchers, give me the old number 1 out of those guys. Priors wins have gone down and there is always rumors of guys who are built like him whose numbers have gone down the last two years. Bedard is serviceable.