Update 3:04: Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reports that the Cubs are saying that they’re “not even close” to a trade for Peavy:
No deal for Peavy can be completed until the Cubs’ new owner is identified; the new owner would need to approve the addition of the four years and $63 million remaining on the pitcher’s contract.
Ken goes on to point out that the Cubs need to clear payroll by moving Jason Marquis. He also points out that the Cubs are still concentrating on acquiring a left-handed hitter such as Raul Ibanez or Bobby Abreu.
Original Post…
In a report for the Chicago Tribune, it seems like the previously mentioned multi-team deal, including the Orioles, Padres, and Phillies, which would bring SP Jake Peavy to the Cubs, is getting close to done:
That’s because two general managers -– the Padres’ Kevin Towers and the Cubs’ Jim Hendry — are working hard to make it happen. If it doesn’t happen, it’ll become one of the few trades -– maybe the first — that couldn’t be made when BOTH general managers were motivated to get it done.
Towers told reporters on Monday that the Cubs were the only team he is continuing to talk to about Peavy and that making a Peavy trade was his full focus at the winter meetings. He then went out and proved it by working to facilitate a potentially four-team trade that would send Mark DeRosa to Philadelphia and Felix Pie to Baltimore and bring back pitchers Garrett Olson, J.A. Happ (the Northwestern product) and Sean Marshall for the Padres.
If you ask me, this is getting a little scary. As I heard Evan Roberts say on WFAN during his midday show, it’s somewhat confusing to see the World Series Champions (ugh) help out another team that’s already a contender get a bonafied ace, and frankly, become a favorite to go to to the Fall Classic.
Make sure to keep your browser here all week, as we’ll be covering rumors and deals as they surface. Also, don’t forget to visit us on Twitter as we’ll be throwing up nuggets of info the moment we get them.
Pete Lappin (3)
