Whether it's simply to catch up on the past or plot for the future, new Cincinnati Reds' manager Dusty Baker has been chatting with his former Cubs' co-aces, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. "I talked to Mark Prior [Wednesday], and I've heard from Woody and some other guys," said Baker, who will turn his focus to managing the Reds once his current gig as an ESPN analyst ends after the World Series. Both pitchers could become free agents this offseason, and the Reds are starved for pitching. Wood, 30, is eligible for free agency after completing a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Cubs this season. He came off the disabled list Aug. 3 and went 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 22 outings as a middle reliever. If the right-hander wants to return to a starting role, he likely would have to do that elsewhere. Prior, who missed the entire 2007 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, is eligible for salary arbitration. Prior, 27, made $3.575 million this season and couldn't be paid less than $2.86 million next season because major-league rules forbid cutting a controlled player's salary more than 20 percent.