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Former ace pitcher Mark Prior has signed with the San Diego Padres in a deal worth $1 million for one year with $4.5 million in performance bonuses. Prior was looking at several teams including the Astros and Mariners after being released from the Chicago Cubs. Injuries have side tracked him for the last couple of years but if he can get back to his 2003 numbers where he went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts then the Padres have won on a gamble.

I love Prior as he had good stuff before the injuries and at 27 he should be able to come back and get to a higher level of pitching. He was born in San Diego and should be a great fit in the strong pitching rotation. Prior joins ace Jake Peavy, Greg Maddux, and Chris Young and the team led the major leagues with a 3.70 ERA. If Prior can become an ace again, the Padres would have an outstanding one-two punch in Peavy and Prior. This is a great signing for the Padres and should help them reach the postseason. As for the Cubs, they let go a good pitcher who could become just as good as Carlos Zambrano but have resigned Kerry Wood. Ted Lilly is also itching well for them but to let go of Prior is just not sensible.

In a weak free agent market for high quality pitchers, the Seattle Mariners look desperate to bolster their rotation by signing Carlos Silva to a deal worth somewhere around 10 million a year for four years. Silva can be considered mediocre to slightly above average at best and is not worth that kind of money. Last year Silva went 13-14, yes a losing record, had 89 strikeouts, and 4.19 ERA. He is not a fast ball throwing, strikeout pitcher but more of a sinker and defense guy.  Once again the Mariners have wasted money on pitching. Mark Prior or Erik Bedard are much better potentials.

The LA Dodgers have acquired one of Japan’s better pitchers in 32 year old Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda was one of the highly sought after players in the off season and brings a strong pitching game much like Daisuke Matsuzaka. Kuroda’s has a 3.69 career ERA and 103-89 record and his 2006 ERA of 1.85 was outstanding in a hitting league. The deal for Kuroda was worth $35.3 million for 3 years and includes a $7.3 million signing bonus. The move should help the Dodgers pitching staff who already have Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and Chad Billingsley.

The Chicago Cubs continue to build a power hitting club by adding Japanese star Kosuke Fukudome, who is considered one of the best outfielders in Japan. The deal is worth $48 million for four years. Fukudome gives the Cubs and outstanding hitter in right field who bats left, can play defense as well, and will compliment the Cubs right handed power hitters Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez.

Alex Rodriguez broke his last record contact of $252 million for 10-years with the Texas Rangers by signing again with the New York Yankees for an astonishing $275 million 10-year agreement. Baseball contracts keep getting ridiculous and A-Rod is not a good post season player. Since coming to New York, he has been a great addition by hitting homers and driving in runs but has not been the key component the Yankees would hope to help them back to the World Series. A-Rod had a chance to go to many other teams but decided to stay with the Yankees. What the Yankees really need is some good pitching and team leadership. Well Jeter is still there at least.

Aaron Rowand has signed a 5-year deal worth 60 million dollars with the San Francisco Giants which gives the team a Gold Glove winning center fielder with decent hitting power. Rowand was part of that Philadelphia Phillies that came back to overtake the Mets and make it to the playoffs in the 2007 season. His numbers for 2007 include 27 homeruns, 89 RBIs, 105 runs, and 6 stolen bases. The signing allows the Giants to either keep Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum or place them back as trading bait.