Mark Prior Will Lose a Year of Major League Service Time

As if spending the next several months rehabbing his arm and pondering what could have been wasn't bad enough, here's another little nugget for Mark Prior to digest: from MLB's perspective, his year of agony won't even count. From the Chicago Tribune:

Because Prior was on the minor-league disabled list instead of the Cubs' disabled list at the time of the surgery, he will not accrue any major-league service time in 2007. That means he won't be eligible for free agency until after 2009, even if he returns for the entire 2008 season.

Of course, even if he makes it back to the field, there's no guarantee that the Cubs won't just cut him loose before he even hits free agency.

But the Cubs will have the option of non-tendering Prior instead of paying him another $3.4 million to $3.5 million in '08, as he likely would get in an arbitration hearing, based on his current $3.575 million salary.

Hendry declined to discuss Prior's future in the organization.

"You have to let the rehab process take place," Hendry said. "Obviously, we think a lot of Mark. ... Like always, you do everything in the best interests of the club. You make the decisions we have to make down the road."

Is it me, or is Hendry doing his best to leave the door open for throwing Prior to the curb? Not that I can blame him, really. Loyalty aside, Hendry has to consider the team's ownership situation, which is completely in flux and has already thrown a monkey wrench in Carlos Zambrano's contract talks -- and unlike Prior, Z is still healthy! If the team is going to be sold at the end of the season as planned, there's no real reason for Hendry to comment on Prior's future now, especially if it turns out he'll be $3.5 million worth of dead weight.

(via Ben Maller)

Previously at the Fanhouse
Mark Prior is Out for the Season
Is the Tribune Sale Killing Carlos Zambrano's Contract?
Mark Prior's Story Gets More Depressing
Mark Prior Is Hurt Again