'Down to one team' on Peavy
LAS VEGAS -- Padres GM Kevin Towers stopped by the media room today along about the time Cubs GM Jim Hendry was here. (Both men were here to listen to Greg Maddux's retirement speech.) No, they didn't make that trade for Jake Peavy. They talked, but not to each other.
Towers, who is much more effusive about trade talks than is Hendry (Towers gets called "Tampering Towers" from time to time by his peers), said the Peavy situation is "down to one team," and that team is the Cubs.
The two GMs have not had formal trade talks yet, but Hendry joked that he'd probably talk with Towers before the winter meetings end on Thursday.
Towers did say his club needed pitching, making one wonder if there was anyone on the Cubs or in their system (such as Mitch Atkins or Donnie Veal) that he's asked about. But he did say more than one club was involved in trying to make this deal work.
While other media outlets have termed the talks "on life support" or "on again" or "off again," Towers termed them "ongoing."
There is no deadline to get things done, but Towers did say: "If we weren't to have made any progress in the next three or four days, as I said earlier, I think that's the time where we need to come out and make some sort of statement that he's going to stay with us."
That doesn't mean a trade will have to be done, because it probably won't be by then, but Towers wants to see "progress" by the end of the week or he'll end talks in fairness to Peavy.
He also said he knows Hendry has other things to worry about, such as getting a left-handed bat. That, once again, is Job 1 as the Cubs see it.
"Where our focus is really Peavy, I think he has a couple other things that he has to focus on here as well," Towers said of Hendry.
I'm hearing from Cubs people that nothing of substance is getting done on moving pitcher Jason Marquis to the Rockies.
More later.
I too heard the radio report. It was more or less saying the Cubs know the players they would be willing to part with but there are obstacles such as ownership and the involvement of additional teams.
On a side note I think this move is NOT what Hendry should be focusing on but it's typical Cubs. This team couldn't hit or field in the postseason and lacks leadership. Hendry needs to stop running around with his blank checks and focus on building an actual team versus making moves that appease the masses and give us a ridiculous payroll.
Is anyone else concerned about the fact that Towers is desperate to move Peavy? Yes, they may have payroll concerns but Peavy is affordable based upon today's baseball contracts and can be a cornerstone for years to come. How come other teams such as the Yankees or Red Sox are not trying to pry into the conversation? Yes, he has his no-trade clause but if the Yankees or Sox dangled a new contract with "now" money he surely would be tempted unless he has a mistress in Chicago or something. I'm just trying to think cautious. Hendry has handcuffed this team already with the contracts of Soriano and D-Lee. Why does he always have to make a splash versus building a team from the ground up? It's not often you can throw pieces together and win a world series.....the Yankees know that.
Just a thought about no more Wood, while I love Marmol, want to rest 45 - 50 saves on this guy ? He was so good in a 2 inning role how do you replace that ? Wood drove you crazy but at least he was a veteran who knew how to pitch. Not always well, but Marmol has had a few tough weeks as well. I am just not convinced yet.
I think Wood did more than a creditable job. I'd want the Cubs still to find some way to bring him back if he doesn't find that three-year deal to his liking out there. I don't see it happening, but just because the Cubs did not offer arbitration doesn't mean that can't bring Wood back. But I feel the chances are very slim of that happening. Your concerns are well placed.
Still want Peavy, do you realize he has a bad shoulder? Minor if you want to call it that but do want to throw 63 million at this guy ? And I just love everyone quick to kick Marqius out, he has only thrown 200 innings and won 10 games the last 8 years and I am not a Marquis guy but you have to know you have a 200 innning guy before you give him away. Could Marshall be that guy , maybe..Peavy didnt throw 200. Look the Cubs have much more pressing issues rather than a starter.
This Peavy thing is just like the Roberts deal that was said to be done and never happened.
The Cubs have to have someone who can get on base...OBP people. Peavy does not do that for the Cubs, they have starting pitching..
Everything I have read is the Cubs get a lefty first, no one out there I like, before Peavy comes on board. If the Cubs are indeed handcuffed with salary, get it right.
I don't know if Hendry has ever done a deal with Ricciardi, but he might want to see if Toronto is interested in Marquis+cash. There is a plethora of left-handed relief pitching up north.
Can you clarify if we need to have approval from new ownership like FoxSports is saying?
They spout it off like it's fact, but it seems to me like it isn't a problem if we already have a set budget (that has been rather public).
The Cubs' player payroll budget is pretty well set for 2009. They do and they have run things past prospective owners and all seem on board with what the Cubs are doing under the aforementioned budget. Much of Hendry's doings have been predicated on moving someone like Marquis to make a Peavy trade possible. Now, if they go well above their budget, they'd no doubt have to consult with the prospective buyers. But I've not heard any hard and fast rules on getting things "approved" by new owners.
This sounds very similar to the Roberts debacle of last year. Where everyone in baseball assumes a deal will get done, and it will drag on and on and on. I don't see this wrapping up by Friday based on the fact that the Cubs would have to:
1. Sign a left handed bat, and given their fiscal restraints they can't blow anyone's socks off like they did the past 2 years.
2. Trade and get more prospects/pitching with a 3rd team that satisfies Towers.
3. Move Jason marquis, and with free agents still out there, no team will trade away players when they could sign a better talent for less money, unless the Cubs eat a huge portion. Which could negate step #1 or step #4.
4. Finally get back to Towers and get this done, assuming all of previous 3 work out. Very rare.
The only thing the Cubs can hope for, is that Towers sees the Cubs making progress and extends the deadline a bit further. IF not, Hendry may be bedside again trying to get deals done.
A radio station in Chicago that loves throwing stuff out there, is reporting that 5 players have been agreed upon........
Five names may have been talked about, but if they had been agreed upon, there would be a deal. Nothing is close, at this moment, to getting done because all names (and all teams) have not been through the process.