Mark Prior... SD

[B-Chad]

Anyone willing to take a flyer on Prior this year? I mean he did have all last year off so maybe he'll come into the season healthy. Also have to love him pitching in PETCO. However, he is still Mark Prior, and it is still very unlikely he can stay healthy for any period of time, however, he clearly had the stuff to be a true stud ace, any chance anyone gives him of recapturing any of that? Any word on his recovery, velocity, location, all that good stuff? Kind of curious to see what he does this year, the kind of guy I'd like to grab in the last 3-5 rounds of my draft with the hopes he can contribute this year. Any insight, feedback, banter in general is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[jetlag]

if he was healthy through spring training and no one else still available has the slightest bit of upside... I might take a late round flier on him. After all, the whole ex cub thing might be just what he needs to jumpstart his career. Or his arm will fall off.

[jrad32]

If I had a spot at the end of my auction I would consider throwing a buck at him, but I wouldn't go two.

[Yoda]

The key thing to watch is his velocity. I dont' think he is coming back for the first few weeks so until there is more news on his progress, he is not draftable.

[BravesGuy]

I would not draft him. He's just one to keep an eye on and nab off the free agent pool if he shows some signs of life.

[KSJayhawk]

I probably wouldn't pick him up unless it was a pretty deep league. Too much risk in a shallow league when there are other upside pitchers to be taken. If you don't mind the risk, then feel free to take a chance. Great pitcher if he could stay healthy, but I wouldn't gamble on much more than a small handful of wins and 75K.

[CadensDad]

I will have him as a target in my NL league but in a mixed I'd have to pass on him

[The Big Train]

Won't be wasting a pick after hearing this...

Padres right-hander Mark Prior is expected to throw off a mound within the next week, and club officials believe he might start a minor-league rehabilitation assignment in April and return in early May.

Prior's agent, John Boggs, advocates a more cautious approach.
"I would hope we wouldn't try to expedite things," Boggs says. "As far as I'm concerned, we didn't want to be in a position where he'd be rushed into duty."

Prior, 27, missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder April 24. He could be major-league ready by mid to late May, according to the timetable outlined by his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews.

"To do it before that starts to cross boundaries of being prudent," Boggs said. "I'd like to see him by the end of May, June 1. I don't want to see it before then. Then I think you're trying to hurry something that shouldn't be hurried.

"We looked at different clubs and the Padres assured us they weren't going to rush the process. Mark has got to get to the point where his confidence is at a zenith, where he's not thinking about his arm, but thinking about getting outs."

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7744 ... rone-Prior