JWCUB

2:02pm: Tom Krasovic says the Padres are not seeking J.A. Happ or Chris Coste as has been previously rumored. Also, Ronny Cedeno is not the Padres' first choice to replace Khalil Greene at short. Krasovic adds that the Braves apparently are now happy the Padres didn't take their offer for Peavy.

Milton Bradley Rumors: Tuesday By Tim Dierkes [December 9 at 8:33am CST] According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Cubs are in "intense discussions" with Milton Bradley. The Cubs are known to have met with Bradley Sunday; the Rays lunched with him yesterday. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ Go Hendry!!

Yeah, I think he did, but I was too lazy to bump it. :-$

Cubs meet with Bradley in Vegas Monday, December 8, 2008 | Print Entry Posted by Enrique Rojas Looking to fill one of its biggest holes, the Cubs met with free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley, a source linked to the negotiations told ESPNdeportes.com. The source informed that the meeting took place Sunday night at a hotel in Las Vegas, but did not report if the team made a formal offer. Bradley, 30, batted .321 with 22 home runs and 77 RBI in 126 games with the Rangers in 2008. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=winter_meetings_2008

6:47pm: Troy Renck says the Rockies told the Cubs they didn't have room in the budget for Marquis. The Rox may attempt to acquire a starter via trade, using Huston Street and Luis Vizcaino as chips.

:thumbsup: http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/12/cubs-keep-pitch.html Meaning I will be glued to NSBB all night.

5:33pm: Roch Kubatko says the O's are still interested in Pie, but may only get him for Olson straight up if Olson is to be flipped to San Diego in a Peavy trade. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

5:06pm: Cubs manager Lou Piniella asked Seattle reporters today whether Ibanez can play right field.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Monday By Tim Dierkes [December 8 at 11:44am CST] 11:44am: Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs and Padres did not talk about Peavy on Sunday but will today. He's heard the Padres might be concerned with Vitters' hand/wrist. It is Vitters wrist.

Astros Willing To Trade Tejada By Tim Dierkes [December 8 at 11:04am CST] According to Ken Rosenthal, the Astros are willing to trade Miguel Tejada. Teams are interested in him as a shortstop and third baseman. Rosenthal figures the Twins, Dodgers, Giants, and Angels could be matches. He adds that the Astros realize they'd have to eat some of Tejada's $13MM for '09. Richard Justice figures it'd require eating at least half. Rosenthal says the Astros are not inclined to trade closer Jose Valverde. And Justice figures Ty Wigginton could be tough to move as his salary climbs toward $10MM. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

When does Levine usually start his updates on ESPN1000? Did Mr. Miles say he would log in to NSBB and give us any updates?

Cubs Rumors: Hermida, Bradley, Roberts By Tim Dierkes [December 8 at 1:33am CST] Before trying to complete a Jake Peavy deal, the Cubs want to find a left-handed hitter. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times outlines a few targets. Wittenmyer says Jeremy Hermida is high on the Cubs' list (they're not alone). They're also eyeing free agent Milton Bradley, who declined the Rangers' offer of arbitration last night. Manager Lou Piniella likes Raul Ibanez, and Wittenmyer likes Bobby Abreu. The Cubs are still fond of Brian Roberts. They also might consider acquiring a shortstop, which would create a surplus at second base. The Cubs discussed Khalil Greene with the Padres before he was sent to St. Louis, even though Greene bats from the right side. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

1:14am: Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times says the Cubs first want to trade Jason Marquis and acquire their left-handed hitting outfielder before Peavy. Wittenmyer's sources do believe the Cubs will eventually acquire San Diego's ace. However, his sources say the Tom Krasovic report about a five-for-one framework being in place is exaggerated. Wittenmyer hears that the Orioles would be willing to swap Garrett Olson for Felix Pie; the Cubs would then send Olson to the Padres in the Peavy deal. 12:54am: According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, Padres GM Kevin Towers "envisions a way to do a [Jake Peavy] deal now only with the Cubs." We've heard rumors of the Padres and Cubs trying to rope in the Orioles or Rays as a third team. Heyman adds that Peavy would approve a trade to Chicago "without any significant reworking of his contract or other major concessions." Does that imply that the Cubs would not have to guarantee Peavy's 2013 option ($22MM) or grant him a full no-trade clause? Keep in mind that despite all the virtual ink that will be spilled on Peavy over the next four days, Jayson Stark sees "just about a zero chance" he's dealt at the Meetings. Still, the Cubs and Padres seem to already have a framework in place involving Sean Marshall, Kevin Hart, Josh Vitters, and maybe Ronny Cedeno. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Angels could still make a deal for Peavy The Los Angeles Angels figure to be major players in Las Vegas. If Mark Teixeira signs elsewhere, they could consider free agent outfielders Manny Ramírez, Adam Dunn, or Pat Burrell. Don't discount them as a player for Jake Peavy, with the chips — young shortstop Brandon Wood, righty Ervin Santana — to give to San Diego, according to the Boston Globe. They'd love to use Chone Figgins as their Tony Phillips, playing various positions, so Colorado third baseman Garrett Atkins could be on the radar. Catcher Jeff Mathis is trade bait. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/rumors;_ylt=Ar33nkdewRyubvgfx4Qxmr8RvLYF More on the Angels.

Cafardo likes the Angels and Brewers as dark horses for Jake Peavy http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Quick question. Do the meetings actually start tonight, or tomorrow?

Peavy To Cubs On Life Support? By Nat Boyle [December 7 at 12:54pm CST] A brief update on the Jake Peavy situation from the indefatigable Jon Heyman: "'The Peavy thing isn't dead, but it's on life support," one person familiar with the Cubs' dealings said.'" Heyman also notes that the Cubs are looking at left handed hitters such as Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, and Raul Ibanez among others. Jake Peavy and a left handed hitting outfielder are high priorities for the Cubs going into the Winter Meetings. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Says Olney, "Look, [Jake] Peavy is going to be traded, and what will be left is a team looking at a long rebuilding process." http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ :shock: Do ya think so Buster???

To start the 2009 season.

With $27.5 million committed to four players and talk that the payroll could be near $40 million in 2009, GM Kevin Towers still might have salary trimming to do and said last night he will revisit talks with the Cubs on Padres ace Jake Peavy, who is due $11 million next year as part of a four-year, $63 million guarantee. The Padres and Cubs have discussed a five-for-one deal that could involve a third team. The Padres like their chance of getting the Cubs' best prospect, third baseman Josh Vitters, and major leaguers such as starting pitcher Sean Marshall and reliever Kevin Hart, plus talent from a third club. -- San Diego Union-Tribune http://msn.foxsports.com/rumors Nothing new.

Personally, I don't think it has anything to do with ownership at all. Hendry has his budget and he knows what he can spend. I think he just needs to move Marquis, 1) to free up money and 2) complete the package for Peavy. We also know that Hendry doesn't like leaks. It certainly doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Marquis has to go if Peavy is coming here. Besides that, Hendry has acknowledged that teams have expressed interest in Marquis. Hendry is generally recognized as a straight shooter. Towers knows that Hendry is offering up the best package he possibly can and Towers is pretty much stuck and will have to take it. At the same time, Hendry isn't going to shortchange Towers. Hendry likes to be able to negotiate with these same guys in future deals, so this will probably end up being a deal where everyone walks away about as happy as they can be given the situation. I'm still pretty convinced that a deal is already in place and Hendry just needs to find a taker for Marquis. That's pretty much how I feel there may be a player or two that are yet to be determined but the main pieces are probably set in place it is just a matter of time before Hendry makes it a go. I fully expect Marquis to be gone within the first 2 days of the winter meetings next week, and a Peavy deal short after. Marquis really isn't going to be that hard to move if we eat about 3 million of his salary and make the base around 6 million. Hendry loses some leverage if he trades for Peavy first. Granted, most of us would probably take a sack of balls for Marquis, but Hendry isn't so dumb to recognize that he can probably get more for Marquis if he doesn't necessarily "have to be traded". Another question is is trading Marquis going to be purley a salary dump, or will it have to net the other components to land Peavy.

This whole thing is so surreal to me. I mean this is Jake Peavy. Who would have guessed this back in Aug.? Not me.

I'm not Kyle, but I disagree with that statement as worded. I really wish people would learn the word "dominant." Life would be so much easier... Sorry that my spelling is not up to your standards. I'm sure you've never made any mistakes. ;)

OH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Cubs are speaking daily to the Padres about Jake Peavy. Rosenthal says the Orioles do not seem to be the third team at this time. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ So, who is the 3rd team?