For anyone still hopeful of getting this done, the problem with that analogy is neither the Yankees or Red Sox emerged with Santana in the end. When they walked away, they stayed away. You have a point. But, Santana didn't have a full NTC, either. Peavy can name what team he will be traded to, or he can demand that he not be traded at all. Fact. The Padres opened up this can of worms with Peavy. He has all the cards and he can play which ever one he wants. Towers can spend the next 2 months working out this brilliant 10 for 1 package that the Angels are ready to sign off on, and Peavy can chuckle and say, "NO DEAL, KEVY". Towers gave Peavy every impression that he was being dealt to the Cubs. So much so, that Peavy was singing "Go Cubs Go" in a Vegas bar during the winter meetings, which gives the impression that Peavy is not only fine with a trade to the Cubs, but that he felt comfortable with it. Towers has kicked Peavy in the nads by turning what appeared to be a done deal trade to the Cubs into a dead end. What hasn't helped Towers in all of this is just how public he has been through the entirety of the negotations. He has basically shown Peavy a level of disrespect that Peavy can use as his own leverage against Towers. I saw a Rotoworld blurb that mentioned that it's possible that Peavy is so mad at Towers at this point, which favors Towers, as Peavy could expand his list of teams just so that he can be rid of the Padres organization. That's a reasonable assumption. But, Peavy seemed to have his heart set on the Cubs. Towers may just have to go back to Hendry with his tail between his legs. When that happens, I'm guessing Hendry will require that it be a much more private negotiation, since these latest dealings sound like Hendry got more and more fed up with Towers' games.