Mark Prior’s latest comeback attempt will be with the Reds, as John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the oft-injured right-hander is in camp today after inking a minor-league deal.
That means Prior is reunited with Dusty Baker, who managed the Cubs back when Prior was looking like a future Hall of Famer and allowed him to rack up huge pitch counts that would be pretty shocking by current standards for young arms.
“He called me and asked for a chance,” Baker told Fay. “I talked to [general manager] Walt [Jocketty]. He says he feels good. He feels like he has some unfinished business. This is gives him one more chance or a chance at closure.”
Prior is 32 years old now and hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2006. He spent last season at Triple-A in the Red Sox’s organization, throwing 25 innings with a 3.96 ERA and 38/25 K/BB ratio as a full-time reliever.