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After many trips through the rumor mill, Mark Prior accepted the Chicago Cubs’ offer on Jan. 27 for a one-year, $3.65 million contract. That’s $900,000 more than the salary he would have earned under the contract he voided in November. Since Prior’s defining season in 2003 (18-6), he has calmed down a bit and has only managed to go 17-11 in the last two seasons. The Cubs came within five outs of reaching the World Series in 2003, due in part to Prior’s performance. A sore elbow put him on the disabled list early last season, and when he rejoined the regular rotation, he was hit in the same elbow by a searing line drive. He finished the 2005 season going 11-7 with a 3.67 ERA in 27 games.

The Chicago Cubs pitcher, whose name has been mentioned as a potential trade bait this offseason, said he wasn’t too bothered by the rumors because he thought they were just that: rumors. It was rumored that he would go to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Bobby Abreu, but he did not. During the holidays, he was supposed to be traded to Baltimore for shortstop Miguel Tejada. That didn’t happen either. “It’s part of the game,” Prior said. ‘Obviously when someone asks for a trade, a team has to look into it. I don’t really value the rumors much unless you hear that.'[general manager] Jim Hendry ‘says gold'[team president] Andy MacPhail says ‘o'[manager] dusty [Baker] He says’; otherwise they are just rumours. There seems to be a lot of MLB sources this year. Unless someone calls me and says, ‘Hey, we’re serious about doing this,’ I don’t have much to think about because I don’t have much to say.”

If fans had anything to say, Prior would never wear another uniform besides his No. 22 Cubs jersey. When the right-hander was introduced to the packed crowd inside the Grand Ballroom at the Chicago Hilton during the opening ceremonies of the 21st Cubs Convention, he was greeted with the chant: “No trade, no trade.” Most Cubs fans remember Prior’s 10 strikeouts in his first start was the most by any Cubs pitcher in more than 30 years. “I’ve never been flagged or anything,” Prior said. “I felt like if something was going to be done, someone would have called me and said something. Otherwise, it was business as usual. Obviously I was going to pitch for someone this season, and I had to prepare myself.”

There was also a rumor that Prior decided to void the final year of his contract because he was angry with the Cubs. That wasn’t true either. “That was something that was written in the contract,” he said of his ability to be eligible for arbitration. “That was in the negotiations five years ago. We felt like it was right at the time. It was basically the last two years.” [of the contract] – if I am eligible for arbitration, I have the privilege of going to arbitration.” Prior will make more money in 2006 because of this foresight.

“I’ve been spending this offseason trying to fix some things and correct some clothes that I fell into because of what happened with my elbow,” Prior said. “One thing I’ve learned, and on reflection, is how lucky and valuable time is when you’re healthy. Anytime, anything can happen.” The other day I was at home watching [NFL quarterback] Drew Brees gets hurt and I see Carson Palmer lose two snaps in the game. It’s a very fragile existence from that standpoint.” He’s also very aware of the business side of baseball. “From everything I’ve heard, they weren’t hanging on me and trying to get rid of me,” Prior said. He would like to stay with the Cubs “I love playing here. I have no desire to leave,” he said. “I love playing in the city of Chicago; I love this town. I don’t think I could have been as lucky as I was to drop in here outside of college. Not many people have the luxury of coming to a city like Chicago. It’s a great city, a great town and I love it here. It’s a great city to play baseball.”

Prior had become eligible for arbitration when he used his option to void the final year of his original contract signed in 2001. Under the original terms, he was set to earn $2.75 million this year. Prior had asked for $4 million, while the Cubs responded with a $3.3 million offer. The arbitration reached the figure of $3.65 million. “We’re certainly glad we did,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. “Our position is always to try to work with the manager, John Boggs, to a fair conclusion to avoid prosecution if we can. This was something we wanted to do, and we hope Mark has a great 2006.”

Other current Cubs arbitration-eligible players include infielder Jerry Hairston, outfielder Juan Pierre and pitchers Will Ohman and Carlos Zambrano. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry and team president Andy MacPhail have never gone to arbitration with a player. Hendry said he continues to negotiate with player representatives in hopes of reaching an agreement.

Players with at least three years of major league tenure, plus the oldest active 17 percent of those with two to three years of service, are eligible for salary arbitration. Mark Prior, for example, now has three years and 131 days of Major League service.

How does arbitration work? Players and teams exchange figures, and if no agreement is reached between the two, the case is referred to an arbitrator. Pierre, 28, whom the Cubs acquired from the Florida Marlins for three minor league pitchers, earned $3.7 million in 2005. He is coming off a season in which he hit .276 with two home runs, 47 RBIs and 57 stolen bases in 162 games. The center fielder asked for $6.5 million, while the Cubs offered $5 million.

Cubs pitcher Zambrano earned $3.76 million last season and led the Cubs in wins with 14. He set career highs in starts (33), innings pitched (223 1/3) and strikeouts (202). Zambrano asked for $7.2 million, while the Cubs responded with a $6 million offer. In his first season with the Cubs, the 29-year-old Hairston earned $1.8 million last season. He hit .261, hit four home runs, 25 doubles and had 30 RBIs. Hairston requested $2.6 million in 2006, while the Cubs offered $1.95 million. Ohman, 28, is seeking $775,000, while the Cubs offered $500,000. Ohman, who has three years and 40 days of major league service, earned $320,000 in 2005 on his return to the big leagues. The left-hander, who has spent a lot of time on the disabled list due to three elbow surgeries, was 2-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 69 games.

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