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MESA, Ariz. -- Mark Prior's start Wednesday at HoHoKam Park will be his last in a Cubs uniform for quite a while.
Manager Lou Piniella confirmed Tuesday that Wade Miller has sewn up the fifth starter's spot, leaving no room for Prior on the 25-man roster.
Piniella also said he received "encouraging" news about the status of Kerry Wood, who was to begin anti-inflammatory treatment because of right shoulder soreness. Piniella said Wood may be pitching off flat ground in a few days, which suggests the Cubs aren't fearful of any structural damage with his latest injury.
With Prior and Wood gone, Angel Guzman is expected to lock up the final bullpen spot. Wood will head to the disabled list and Prior will go to Triple-A Iowa to work on gaining consistency. Before Tuesday, Piniella had left a small opening for Prior, and was clearly tired of answering questions about him.
"How do you want me to describe this thing?" an exasperated Piniella said Tuesday morning. "You want a crack in the door, or do you want [me] to finalize it?"
Asked for a final decision, Piniella finally said Miller "is going to be our fifth starter, OK? He has pitched well in camp. He has earned a spot, period."
Although Prior still is recovering from arm problems that bothered him last year, there is no specific injury to cite in assigning him to the disabled list, so the Cubs have no choice but to option him to Iowa. He still will collect his $3.575 million salary, though a demotion would be the first for a pitcher who rocketed into the majors after only nine minor-league starts in 2002.
Piniella said pitching coach Larry Rothschild already has spoken to Prior about his situation. Miller simply outpitched Prior in the battle for the fifth spot.
"Let's be fair to Miller too," Piniella said. "I don't know what else to do."
As for Wood, Piniella said "a lot of the soreness and pain is gone," and he would be evaluated on a daily basis. Wood is headed for the disabled list with what the Cubs described as shoulder "fatigue," although Piniella said he might be able to start a throwing program soon.
"Whatever he can do, we'll allow him to do," Piniella said. "Maybe, maybe [he'll throw] on the side. Maybe."
That's three "maybes," so nothing is written in stone.
Wood has not spoken to reporters since his last outing on Friday and was not available Tuesday. The Cubs would prefer Wood speak for himself, but no one has forced him to do so thus far.
While no one in the organization was saying in January that Wood would not be able to start the season on time, the Cubs continue to insist he wasn't necessarily in the game plan for April.
"Remember, our posture with Prior and Wood has been the same," Piniella said. "It hasn't changed since we got here. Whenever they're ready, they're ready. I've seen some nice improvements from Mark. He has worked hard.
"The other kid (Miller) has pitched well. In fairness, what do you do?"
TFG
