The Cubs and pitcher Mark Prior have agreed on a one-year contract worth $3.575 million dollars.  Prior was asking for a raise from $3.65 million to $3.875 in arbitration.

Prior is coming off an injury-shortened season in which he was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts.  Since making his Major League debut in 2002, Prior owns a 42-29 career record with a 3.51 ERA in 106 starts. His 10.37 strikeouts per nine innings is the highest rate for any Cubs starter in franchise history (minimum 500 innings). Chicago selected Prior out of USC with the second overall pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.

Look for the Cubs and Carlos Zambrano to sign a deal and not head to court over it.