JWCUB

Kyle....Would you agree with this statement? By adding Peavy, the Cubs have the "potential" to have the most dominate staff in baseball.

Would you say the same thing about the Cubs 2008 rotation?

Odds that no one in that rotation both pitches 25 starts and has an ERA better than 3.6? You realize that everyone in that rotation made 25 starts last year, and only Zambrano and Lilly had an ERA higher than 3.6. Anything can happen, but I gotta think the odds that none of them meet both of those criteria are smaller than just about every other rotation in the league (assuming the Peavy deal happens of course). Dempster is coming off an unusually good year pitching-wise, Harden is coming off the same health-wise, and Peavy leaving the the Coors Field of right-handed pitching with a 3.80 career road ERA and a 4.28 for 2008. I don't think that rotation is as good as people expect. It's deep with above-average starters, but it seriously lacks dominance. IF all 5 can stay healthy.....and we all know with the Cubs thats a big if......That would be the most dominate rotation since the Braves staff of the 90's. Three potential Cy Young Canidates: Peavy, Z, Harden Dempster coming off a career year and Lilly at #5 would be a 2 or 3 on most clubs. That's a damn good rotation.

Olney says the Cubs would love to have Adam Dunn in their lineup, but he's a stretch as a full-time right fielder. The Cubs are willing to sacrifice some defense in right, but how much? http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ Would be nice, I fear the Cubs won't have enough money for him.

The Cubs and Padres "have a basic framework in place" for a Jake Peavy deal built around third baseman Josh Vitters. Things may pick up after the Cubs' ownership situation is resolved. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ From Buster Olney. Just as Davearm2 suspected. I think the deal gets done at the Winter meetings.

It could be if Theriot is a piece going to the Pads for Peavy and Hendry doesn't want Greene in return... I think the O's would take Greene.

Regarding the Orioles' possible involvement in a trade that would send Jake Peavy to the Cubs, Perrotto says Baltimore seeks Ronny Cedeno and Felix Pie from Chicago http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ I thought the Padres wanted Ronny.

Oh for pete's sake... I strongly doubt that Hendry has ended talks with the Padres for Jake Peavy. At least not before the Winter Meetings.

Braves Preparing Five-Year Offer For Burnett By Tim Dierkes [December 3 at 9:56am CST] Will the Braves be the team to commit five years to A.J. Burnett? According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, they're preparing such an offer. Feinsand wonders if Burnett will jump at this offer without waiting to see what C.C. Sabathia does. SI.com's Jon Heyman seems to agree with Feinsand's report. He learned from Frank Wren that the Braves are in on Burnett but not Jake Peavy, and heard talk that the Braves might consider a fifth year. Wren described talks for Peavy as "pretty much" over. Thats what I like to see. The cat and mouse game continues........

Ken Davidoff says the Braves will now have less of a need for Jake Peavy or A.J. Burnett. I think, though, that they'll still aggressively try to acquire one of the two. Most of the rumored packages for Peavy didn't involve the prospects sent to Chicago, with the possible exception of Flowers. It was obvious, but I still felt the need to put it in here. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

5:34pm: Rosenthal says an announcement could come Wednesday or Thursday. He says Lillibridge is in the deal along with a young starter, but it's not Reyes. Additionally, highly regarded catcher Tyler Flowers might be the third prospect (which would improve the trade quite a bit for the Sox). Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein says Flowers profiles as an offense-first catcher, but there are questions about his ability to stay behind the plate. 5:19pm: ESPN's Peter Gammons says Vazquez is flying to Atlanta tomorrow for a physical; the deal will be finalized then. The White Sox will send Vazquez and lefty Boone Logan to the Braves for Reyes, Lillibridge, and another prospect. I'm wondering - with Reyes and another prospect gone, do the Braves still have the goods to pull off a Jake Peavy trade? With Vazquez added, the Braves should be less desperate if talks for Peavy resume.

4:53pm: Rosenthal now says the Braves are on the verge of acquiring Vazquez.

Braves In Serious Discussions For Javier Vazquez By Tim Dierkes [December 2 at 4:22pm CST] According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves are in serious discussions with the White Sox for starter Javier Vazquez. The White Sox could receive as many as three players, with Jo-Jo Reyes and Brent Lillibridge among the names discussed. Vazquez is set to earn $11.5MM in each of the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Acquiring him would definitely take some pressure off the Braves, who aim to add two quality starters to put in front of Jair Jurrjens. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ That may take them out of the Peavy situation.

You make it seem like getting rid of Marquis and a majority of his salary will be easy. Who is going to pay $9.875M for a back of the rotation starter next year? I'm assuming the the Cubs would pick up some, but I would think the team trading for him would have to pay him at least $7M next year. I'm not sure where you see that I think it would be easy. It won't be. If that is what you read into that, then I am sorry. That's not what I meant.

This is all just my opinion: Peavy has told Towers he wants to be traded to the Cubs and he will not go to ATL. Towers is just trying get Hendry to up the amount of players in a trade by using ATL. Hendry knows he has to shed payroll in order to trade for Peavy. The only obsticle is getting someone to take Marquis and most of his salary. Peavy will be a Cub, it's just a matter of when.

Jake Peavy would prefer trade to Cubs? Padres GM Kevin Towers yesterday spoke more bearishly about the prospects of a Jake Peavy trade than he has since talks began three months ago. "Atlanta has a club policy that's been in place that no one will have full no-trade protection," he said. "I don't see them bending the rules for Jake. At this point in time, that's not going to happen unless Jake changes his position on that." Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar would be part of a Peavy deal and could end up at second base if the Padres keep shortstop Khalil Greene. Some close to Peavy have expressed doubt that he would OK a trade to Atlanta, saying he would prefer the Cubs. -- San Diego Union-Tribune http://msn.foxsports.com/rumors Same old stuff..............

8:42pm: Towers gave Tom Krasovic a Peavy update. Towers believes that the Braves' unwillingness to grant Peavy a no-trade clause remains on obstacle in that potential match. Plus, a Krasovic source wonders whether Peavy would even OK a trade to Atlanta. Krasovic adds that the Cubs and Padres discussed a 5-for-1 deal, where the Orioles would be involved to route more pitching to San Diego. However, Towers noted the Cubs' current payroll concerns. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ Is money the only thing holding this up?

Cubs Still In On Peavy By Tim Dierkes [December 1 at 10:35am CST] Murray Chass snagged a good quote from Padres GM Kevin Towers regarding the Jake Peavy trade talks: "I would say the Cubs are still in it. Lou said they’re not in it, but their general manager says they’re in it. The Dodgers have bigger fish to fry. That’s not to say they might not circle back later in the winter. Our primary goal is to trade Peavy." One Cubs source spoke of a "two-year window to win," according to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune. Chass quotes Towers as seeking established players back for Peavy, which is why the Cubs would need to get a third team involved. Van Dyck says the Cubs hope to hang on to Mike Fontenot and Sean Marshall. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

I wonder if Hendry could really work his magic and get both Peavy and Roberts. That would be one hell of a blockbuster.

The Orioles have revisited trade talks with the Chicago Cubs about multi-tool outfielder Felix Pie, according to industry sources, and could end up as the third team in a three-way deal that would send marquee right-hander Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres to Chicago. Sources said that the Cubs are looking for a young pitcher in return with one possible scenario being the Orioles sending starter Garrett Olson to Chicago, who then could trade the left-hander to the Padres as part of a package for Peavy. Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is reluctant to trade his young pitching, but the Orioles have long been enamored by Pie's potential and tools. The Padres and Cubs have been looking for a third team to get involved in the Peavy trade talks because Chicago reportedly doesn't have all the y oung, major league-ready pieces that San Diego is seeking. Padres general manager Kevin Towers told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday that he might have found a third team to finish the deal with Cubs, but he declined to identify the club. The Orioles appear to be that third team, but getting a deal done probably won't be a simple process. Since the Cubs would be picking up a huge contract, it's fair to speculate that they'll have to wait to finalize the deal at least until after the Dec. 1 deadline for bids to buy the franchise from the Tribune Company. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles1129,0,3629851.story Very interesting.

--Although they have reached an agreement with Ryan Dempster, the Chicago Cubs still remain the Padres' best trading partner for RHP Jake Peavy. Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he hadn't heard from the Braves since Atlanta formally withdrew from the Peavy bidding Nov. 11. And although both the Yankees and Angels were said to be interested in Peavy, the 2007 Cy Young winner has told the Padres he prefers to remain in the National League -- and he can veto any trade. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/teamReport?categoryId=71611&type=NotesAndQuotes The bolded part is what I am intriged by. I keep going back to that and also what DonnieD told us Jake said. I think he will either remain a Padre or be traded to the Cubs. Hendry will NOT pass up the opportunity to get Peavy. From most accounts, I think Peavy has told Towers he wants to go to the Cubs. Just my opinion. And yes, I know it's an old article. I was using it for the bolded part.

Thats kinda what I was thinking.

Pads GM: 'ChancChecked in on the Jake Peavy Watch today with Kevin Towers. The San Diego Padres GM isn't giving up hope that he can find a new home for Peavy, one of the game's best righthanded pitchers whose salary is not too big for the Padres' diminishing payroll. So I won't give up asking about it. Towers disagreed with me that the best chance for a deal might still be the Braves. At the moment, he appears to be favoring the Cubs' chances. "I think there's a chance of maybe putting together a deal with Chicago,'' Towers said. "At least I know he's willing to go there.'' e' of Peavy-Cubs deal, but not soon http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/26501

Jake Peavy Rumors: Monday By Tim Dierkes [November 24 at 5:51pm CST] SI.com's Jon Heyman has the latest on the Jake Peavy trade talks, after talking to Padres GM Kevin Towers. Towers seems to think the Cubs are a more likely suitor for Peavy than the Braves. The Cubs have obstacles - their ownership/financial situation is in flux, and they'll need a third team to get the Padres the players they want. But Towers hasn't spoken to the Braves in weeks, and they may object to Peavy's desire for a full no-trade clause. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ More of the same.

By Tim Dierkes [November 19 at 10:42am CST] Dan Hayes of the North County Times talked to Jake Peavy's agent Barry Axelrod, who said there are "probably six or eight more teams we'd be willing to look at" beyond Peavy's initial preferred five. It sounds like the Cubs are still in play, but no other team is generating buzz. The Braves certainly have the goods, if they're willing to up their offer (and give Peavy a full no-trade clause). http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/