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Mark Prior Signs With New York Yankees

The New York Yankees may have missed out on Cliff Lee, but they wasted no time pilfering Mark Prior away from the Texas Rangers. Prior, a minor league free agent, signed a minor league contract with the Bronx Bombers and earned a Spring Training invite. If Prior makes the Yankees roster, he'll earn $750,000 with an additional $750,000 in incentives available to him.

Prior signed with the Rangers in September as a relief pitcher and made one appearance in Oklahoma City, Texas' AAA affiliate. Prior allowed two hits, a walk and struck out two in his lone outing as a member of the Rangers organization. 

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Despite the fact that Prior is now a Yankee, it's tough to root against him. Arm injuries derailed his career after a brilliant start. Since 2003, Prior has suffered  injuries to his Achilles tendon, elbow and shoulder. Prior last appeared in the majors in 2006 as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Before signing with the Rangers, Prior had been pitching in the Independent Golden Baseball League in California as a member of the Orange County Fliers. 

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After having Kerry Wood on their team last year, Mark Prior in the organization this year - is it time for the Yankees to get the band back together and trade for Carlos Zambrano too? Rumor has it that New York just might do that. 

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Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.