Have you heard? The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers are in competition for the services of a free-agent pitcher. Yep, the two teams are reportedly finalists for Mark Prior, who is attempting a major-league comeback at the age of 30.
Prior has not pitched in a big-league game since 2006 after a series of shoulder problems derailed his once-promising career. Prior has a 42-29 career record with a 3.51 ERA in five seasons. He has unsuccessfully attempted comebacks in both the Texas and San Diego organizations, and did pitch briefly in the Texas minor-league system in 2009.
Prior was drafted 43rd overall by the Yankees in 1998, but did not sign.
It would be a nice story if Prior were to make it back to the big leagues, even briefly, but I would not count on it. He has tried and failed too many times already.
You want news about that other free-agent pitcher the Yankees and Rangers are vying for? Check the latest Cliff Lee news in the MLB Free Agency StoryStream.
The Yankees had reportedly been interested in Matt Diaz as a reserve outfielder, since Marcus Thames has bolted to Japan. That will not happen, though, since Diaz has signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Can't blame the guy, there are a lot more at-bats for him in Pittsburgh than there would be in the Bronx.