San Diego, CA (My Sportsbook) - The San Diego Padres have agreed to terms with pitcher Mark Prior on a one-year minor league deal, the club announced Tuesday. The Padres also signed infielder Chris Burke to a minor league deal, and extended both players an invitation to spring training. Prior signed with the Padres before the 2008 season, but didn't pitch and underwent right shoulder surgery this past June. He also missed the 2007 season after having surgery on the same shoulder in April of that year. The talented but oft-injured Prior last appeared in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs during the 2006 season, when he went 1-6 with a 7.21 earned run average. Over his five-year career with the Cubs, Prior is 42-29 with a 3.51 ERA, 757 strikeouts and 223 walks, while limiting opponents to a .235 average in 106 starts. He went 18-6 with a 2.43 earned run average in 2003, fanning 245 in 211 1/3 innings, but has yet to regain that form since. Burke played in 86 games last season with Arizona, posing a .194 batting average. In five seasons with the Diamondbacks and Houston, Burke is a .241 hitter in 445 games. |
