Prior eyes return by Opening Day 2008

PHOENIX -- Looking relaxed and admittedly relieved, pitcher Mark Prior met with Chicago writers Saturday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder in April.

Prior is not throwing yet, but he said he's in "Phase 2" of his rehab that he hopes will have him ready by Opening Day 2008.

"Strengthening and trying to get back to where you want to be before you start throwing," he said.

Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery on April 24, and Prior said his throwing program should begin "six months after surgery."

Prior, the one-time co-ace of the Cubs' starting staff, pitched in spring training, but discomfort finally forced him to have surgery. Andrews repaired several areas.

"My labrum was torn pretty significantly," Prior said. "They debrided (cleaned up) my cuff, more wear and tear. I had a little tear in my capsule that was fixed. They're very, very confident, once they found what they did, that they were able to fix it."

Although Prior said surgery wasn't the preferred option, he is relieved Andrews found what was causing the discomfort.

"Obviously, it wasn't a road that we wanted to go down, but it was road that knowing now, looking back, and what they found, it's a road that was kind of inevitable," he said.

"Fortunately for players today, we have the benefit of modern medicine. If we get hurt, we can get it fixed and get back out there and play."

The rehab is likely to have some fits and starts, but Prior said he's looking forward to getting ready for the 2008 season.

"I'm excited about throwing without pain," he said. "I know that coming back and rehab is going to be a lot of tests and going to be some struggles, but I'm looking forward to rebounding well. Certain things I can already tell I feel a lot better than I did beforehand."

Prior is making $3.575 million this year on the major-league disabled list. He is arbitration-eligible this winter, and the Cubs likely will tender him a contract. If Prior is on a major-league roster all of next year, he will have enough service time to become a free agent in the fall of '08.

"I'd love to play here," he said of the Cubs. "My goal right now is obviously to come back as a starter . That's what I've done and what I really enjoy doing."

If Prior indeed is with the Cubs, next spring training could be another filled with "Prior updates."

"They say a year from the surgery," he said of pitching again. "That puts me in April. Am I coming into spring training like a normal guy that's throwing bullpens? I would probably say probably not.

"But hopefully there's some sort of throwing program that leads me to Opening Day."

Maybe Tuesday? Alfonso Soriano was all smiles again as his rehab from a right-quadriceps strain nears an end. It's possible he could play in Tuesday's opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.

"Basically, he looks good," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "Originally we thought around the first of September, Labor Day weekend. So he's a bit ahead of schedule. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if he's in the lineup on Tuesday."