Very quietly, Mark Prior was released by the San Diego Padres.

Just hearing the name Mark Prior brings back flashes of so many memories regarding Chicago Cubs baseball. Prior and Kerry Wood owned the city of Chicago. They were the future. They were going to take the Cubs to the promised land. Big arms with big egos. Great stuff with energy and ability. Prior and Wood. Wood and Prior. Everyone had their favorite among the two. Electricity in Wrigley Field. It was on their right arms that the future of baseball on the north side of Chicago would forever be altered. The Cubbies would be World Champions because of them! But. One really good year for both. Maybe two, but who's counting? One playoff series nightmare and a few lousy arm problems later and both supermen are mere afterthoughts in today's game. Wood is struggling as the closer for Cleveland and Prior is....released. Now they will be part of baseball lore. They will forever be etched in Wrigley Field "what might have been if..." stories. If that damn kid just didn't reach out and grab that ball in left field. If they would have stayed healthy. If maybe Dusty didn't use them so much. Well, frankly, if the Cubs had been worthy they would have won more games. They weren't and they didn't. It certainly wasn't all on the shoulders of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

And so, San Diego thought they would take a flyer on Prior's broken down arm. Why not, what did they have to lose? What if he was able to return to be even part of the original edition Mark Prior. At worst, he would sell tickets. At best, he would help a struggling pitching staff. But his arm could not return from the wear and tear his pitching mechanics helped cause early in his career.

It didn't happen for Prior in San Diego. It probably won't happen with another club. It's sad when you think how fragile a big league career can be.

Quick Notes:

Brian Matusz won his first game as a big league pitcher for Baltimore. He was a little shaky with his control, but he pitched himself out of some jams and stayed very calm and collected in his five innings of work. Matusz uses a combination of fastball, slider and change-up almost to perfection. As I mentioned in an early piece I wrote for Minor League Report on Rotowire.com, Matusz uses his breaking pitches at any time in the count. He gives the Orioles a very good arm in the rotation. It was surprising to see him called up this early, but he is more than capable of getting out big league hitters. Good start, Brian Matusz.

The Indians promoted Jess Todd to the major league club and will use him out of the bullpen. That's a huge vote of confidence for the righty. Todd was the player to be named later in the deal that sent Mark DeRosa to St. Louis.

Brandon Allen, the left-handed hitting first baseman acquired by Arizona from the Chicago White Sox for reliever Tony Pena is really on fire for AAA Reno in the Diamondbacks organization. He has found his home run swing and he is putting lots of pressure on Josh Whitesell and Chad Tracy of the parent DBacks. Look for my report on Brandon Allen on Rotowire within a couple of weeks. I like his power potential.

Is it possible Jeff Clement has found new life with the Pirates organization? Most scouts were higher on Clement's bat than his ability to be a big league catcher. The Mariners gave Clement some opportunities to play at the big league level and he never really caught fire. He may now just be beginning to be the player many saw when he signed. If so, that's another good prospect for the Pirates rebuilding, rebuilding, rebuilding project.

Chris Tillman had some command issues and struggled a bit in his initial starts for the Orioles. He gave up 4 homers in two games. It takes time for young pitchers and hitters to adjust to much better players at the big league level. The difference in quality, maturity, experience and overall performance between the high minor leagues and major league baseball is profound. Patience is required with every player called up.

It looks like Kyle Blanks was born to play the outfield. Well, not really. But Blanks is having a nice start to his major league career in San Diego. He's hitting the ball with some authority and he longs like he belongs. His best position is first base, but he isn't going to supplant Adrian Gonzalez.

Just a reminder-players can still be traded. Now, however, they have to pass through waivers. Look for some deals to go down between now and the end of August. Names like Carl Pavano and Jamey Carroll come to mind. Or maybe even John Garland. I have even heard talk of Adam Dunn being moved later this month to an American League team where he could slot nicely as a Designated Hitter. But where?

Paul Byrd is still out there looking for a place to pitch.

Will all those first round draft choices sign before the August 17th deadline? Many deals may not be concluded until the final minute. That's happened before. Some deals may not even get done at all.