Mark Prior weighs in on a heated debate surrounding a Chicago Cubs legend

Sammy Sosa stands among the best players ever to wear a Chicago Cubs uniform. He is the all-time leader in home runs with the Cubs with 545 and is sixth all-time in rWAR with the Cubs with 58.8. Sosa is also the only player in MLB history with three 60-homer seasons.

However, due to a number of issues, such as the corked bat incident of 2003, leaving the clubhouse early during the final game of 2004, and most importantly, his association with the PED scandal of the 1990s and 2000s, The Cubs have not invited Sosa to return to Wrigley Field or team conventions after his retirement even though some of his contemporaries, such as Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmeiro, have participated in ceremonies with their old teams.

Former Cubs' pitcher Mark Prior weighed in on the matter on the Waddle and Silvy podcast, expressing his surprise that the Cubs have not yet brought Sosa back for events.

More than enough time has passed, Sammy Sosa needs to be welcomed back by the Cubs.

Tom Ricketts has stated that the ball is in Sosa's court and must first apologize for taking PEDs while playing before he can be welcomed back to Wrigley, even though Sosa never tested positive on an official PED test and continues to deny ever using PEDs.

It's time the Cubs welcome Sosa back to the Friendly Confines. The only evidence that Sosa took PEDs is the 2003 test leak that was supposed to be anonymous. If David Ortiz, who was also on the list, can get elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, the least the Cubs can do for Sosa is to invite him to throw out a first pitch at a future home game.