As rumors of a blockbuster deal involving Mark Prior and Miguel Tejada circulated Thursday around the Internet, all was quiet at Wrigley Field.

General manager Jim Hendry declined to comment on continuing trade talks between the Cubs and Baltimore Orioles after a FoxSports.com report indicated Prior was at the center of multiplayer talks that could bring Tejada to the North Side.

While no trade appears imminent, there is little doubt the Cubs are at the front of a short line of potential suitors if the Orioles decide to part ways with their All-Star shortstop.

FoxSports.com, quoting an unnamed source, reported the Cubs’ aggressive pursuit of Tejada stalled over their insistence the Orioles include promising left-hander Erik Bedard. Likewise, the Cubs reportedly refused to give up center-field prospect Felix Pie or a top pitching prospect, believed to be left-hander Rich Hill.

The Baltimore Sun reported in Friday’s editions that both Corey Patterson and Todd Walker were mentioned in potential deals with Prior for Tejada, but the Orioles had no interest in either player.

The FoxSports.com report also mentioned a long-shot option–a three-way deal involving the Cubs, Baltimore and Boston that would send Tejada to Chicago, Manny Ramirez to Baltimore and Prior, Patterson and Ronny Cedeno to Boston.

Hendry has been talking with Baltimore about acquiring Tejada for the last two weeks, since Tejada voiced his frustration over the direction of that organization and asked to be traded. Conventional wisdom was Tejada wasn’t going anywhere, but sources indicate Baltimore management is so upset over his remarks it is determined to move him before spring.

Whether Prior would be the Orioles’ primary target is questionable, however. Orioles owner Peter Angelos may not be sold on Prior because of his history of injuries. He also knows the team’s recent fiascos involving the acquisitions of Albert Belle and Sammy Sosa.

The Orioles may be holding out for Carlos Zambrano, one of the Cubs’ few untouchables. If so, the trade talks are dead.

Only a year ago, the idea of the Cubs trading Prior would have been unthinkable. He was considered one of their building blocks after a stellar performance in 2003, when he went 18-6 and helped lead the team to within five outs of the World Series.

But with three years left before he’s eligible for free agency, Prior now has a questionable future in Chicago. He has suffered through elbow problems for parts of the last two seasons, going a combined 17-11 with a 3.82 earned-run average, and admitted in 2004 he wished the Cubs were more upfront about his elbow soreness when they sidelined him in the spring with Achilles’ tendinitis. He went only 6-4 in 21 starts.

After a strong start last season, Prior was sidelined for a month after a line drive hit him on the elbow May 27. Before the injury Prior was 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts, holding opposing batters to a .194 average and yielding only 2.0 walks per nine innings. But after returning from the injury, Prior went 7-6 with a 4.07 ERA in his final 18 starts, giving up 3.4 walks per nine innings and seeing opposing batters hit .244.

Though Prior signed a $10.5 million, five-year deal after the Cubs drafted him in 2001, he’s arbitration-eligible this winter and could leave as a free agent after 2008.

Having been burned by Kerry Wood’s arm problems after signing him to a three-year, $32.5 million deal before the 2004 season, the Cubs may debate whether Prior deserves a long-term contract with his history of elbow problems.

Tejada, who turns 30 in May, has four years and $48 million left on a six-year deal he signed with Baltimore in 2004. He hit .304 with 26 home runs and 98 RBIs last year, following a career-best .311-34-150 the year before.

The Cubs have plenty to spend and basically would be giving Tejada the money targeted for free agent Rafael Furcal, who signed with the Dodgers.

Bedard, who turns 27 in March, went 6-8 with a 4.00 ERA last year and has a career mark of 12-18 with a 4.31 ERA. He would figure to be a No. 4 or 5 pitcher in the Cubs’ rotation, which, obviously, would be depleted if they dealt Prior.

MIGUEL TEJADA
(8 seasons with A’s and Orioles, not including 26 games as 1997 call-up)
GAMES 154*
AVERAGE .282
HOME RUNS 27
RBI 105
STRIKEOUTS 85
WALKS 47
FIELDING% .970
ERRORS 22
*-played in all 162 last five years

Source ChicagoSports