Cubs sign Prior, avoid arbitration

[Phuck the Cubs]

The Cubs signed Mark Prior to a one-year, $3.65 million contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Prior, who opted out of the final year of his original five-year deal to take his chances in arbitration, wound up getting $900,000 more than the $2.75 million he was scheduled to earn in '06.

 

Prior asked for $4 million in arbitration, while the Cubs offered $3.3 million.

 

"We're certainly glad to have it done," general manager Jim Hendry said. "Our stance is always to try to work with the representative (agent John Boggs) to a conclusion of fairness, to avoid the process if we can.

 

"This is something we wanted to do, and hopefully Mark can have a great 2006."

 

Prior opted out of the contract before his name was dangled in trade rumors with Baltimore, knowing he could make far more in arbitration. He remains Cubs property through 2008.

 

The Cubs continued negotiating with four others who filed for arbitration: Carlos Zambrano, Juan Pierre, Jerry Hairston and Will Ohman. The costliest signing will be Zambrano, who asked for $7.2 million, while the Cubs offered $6 million.

 

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