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By the way, Churchill is basically saying that nothing has "fallen apart" in terms of the percentages he gave me. He seems to think those were around the chances all along. Who knows if that's good or bad

http://csnchicago.com/pages/new_landing/?Garfiens-Winter-Meetings-Blog-Peavy-Deal=1&blockID=20047&feedID=661 This guy is a tool. How many times he is going to screw up what Towers said? He never said a deal had to be done by Thursday, he said he had to have a good feel that something couuld get done.

Did he still sound optimistic?

But did he sound less optimistic than he was earlier? What did he say?

I ask him what he has head and he respnds. It's as simple as that. He's not doing it because he wants to, he does it because I ask. He doesn't verifiy things or ask for detailed info usually because he doesn't care. He just tells me what he hears.

I don't think that's leverage, since Churchill is not a reporter and doesn't post this anywhere. They'd have no reason to lie/posture to him. He's just a friend. Who knows how legit that source is, though. Somehow word got to Churchill through some sort of media connection that the Padres say that there was 20% chance of a trade happening. How is that not trying to get leverage? Not sure why you'd assume Churchill's Padre info is coming "through some sort of media connection" rather than from someone within the SD org. DISCLAIMER: I have no earthly clue where Churchill's getting his info, except for a mention a long while ago that he knows/communicates with someone in CHC's front office. I know he has a Cubs contact, but I am assuming he is at the Winter Meetings, being a Mariners beat writer (correct?). So he has access to a lot of sources right now. churchill owns a site called prespectinsider.com. He is in no eway associated with the Mariners. He just has connections. I don't understand why you'd think the Padres would use him as leverage when he doesn't even post the info I didn't say they specifically used him as leverage. I'm saying he's probably at the meetings and heard some sort of misinformation that the Padres are putting out there. Dude, Churchill is not at the meetings. He's not a reporter. He has connections because he is friends with these guys. He just told me the Padres guy is a member of their front office and he talked to him through e-mail. He said he'd bet on Peavy staying a Padre. There is no reason whatsoever for them to lie to Churchill

I don't think that's leverage, since Churchill is not a reporter and doesn't post this anywhere. They'd have no reason to lie/posture to him. He's just a friend. Who knows how legit that source is, though. Somehow word got to Churchill through some sort of media connection that the Padres say that there was 20% chance of a trade happening. How is that not trying to get leverage? Not sure why you'd assume Churchill's Padre info is coming "through some sort of media connection" rather than from someone within the SD org. DISCLAIMER: I have no earthly clue where Churchill's getting his info, except for a mention a long while ago that he knows/communicates with someone in CHC's front office. I know he has a Cubs contact, but I am assuming he is at the Winter Meetings, being a Mariners beat writer (correct?). So he has access to a lot of sources right now. churchill owns a site called prespectinsider.com. He is in no eway associated with the Mariners. He just has connections. I don't understand why you'd think the Padres would use him as leverage when he doesn't even post the info

By the way, this was posted on another forum

I don't think that's leverage, since Churchill is not a reporter and doesn't post this anywhere. They'd have no reason to lie/posture to him. He's just a friend. Who knows how legit that source is, though. Somehow word got to Churchill through some sort of media connection that the Padres say that there was 20% chance of a trade happening. How is that not trying to get leverage? Not sure why you'd assume Churchill's Padre info is coming "through some sort of media connection" rather than from someone within the SD org. DISCLAIMER: I have no earthly clue where Churchill's getting his info, except for a mention a long while ago that he knows/communicates with someone in CHC's front office. Exactly. Churchill claims that his sources are members of FOs and people in the organization. He often refers to them by name. There is no reason they would lie to a guy who doesn't even post the info online.

He obviously has both. He has other teams well, or at least claims to

Yay it's Brian Roberts all over again Randy Johnson here we come? Seriously, screw Johnson. Why does everyone forget that we didnt need a starter to begin with, and we only went after this deal is because Peavy is a special kind of pitcher, and it wasnt an opportunity to pas up. Theres no point going after a consolation prize that nobody wants or needs. Just count your losses and go after a bat. I'm worried about the rotation Why? Johnson would be injured half the time anyway. Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster, Marquis is still the best in the division, maybe the NL. I know that even if Harden goes injury free, they'll keep him in a glass case half the time, and Marshall can sub for him. CC, Lowe, and Burnett are all but spoken for, and aside from Peavy, theres nothing else out there that would be considered an upgrade over what we already have. unless...no...Sheets? Only if we really want to relive the Wood/Prior saga with 2 oft injured aces. I never said I wanted Johnson, I'm just saying I'm worried about the rotation. Hardne is pretty much a lock to go down for an extended period, and then what if Dempster starts pitching like he has pitched his entire career? Then suddenly that rotation is looking pretty bad. Plus you have to at least be a little concerned with Zambrano's arm.

I don't think that's leverage, since Churchill is not a reporter and doesn't post this anywhere. They'd have no reason to lie/posture to him. He's just a friend. Who knows how legit that source is, though.

Yay it's Brian Roberts all over again Randy Johnson here we come? Seriously, screw Johnson. Why does everyone forget that we didnt need a starter to begin with, and we only went after this deal is because Peavy is a special kind of pitcher, and it wasnt an opportunity to pas up. Theres no point going after a consolation prize that nobody wants or needs. Just count your losses and go after a bat. I'm worried about the rotation

I don't know, but between the Stark article, Towers quotes, and what Churchill told me, it's not looking good.

Yay it's Brian Roberts all over again Randy Johnson here we come? What about the 4th that Towers just said? Who knows

From Churchill Yay it's Brian Roberts all over again Randy Johnson here we come?

I think the reason we haven't seen a Towers quote in a while is because him and Hendry are actually working on a deal, a lot of his quotes in the media were done early in meetings before they sat down and it was all posturing/negotiating through the media to try and drive up prices. Now that they have been there a few days and are sitting down he likely has less time to talk to the media and needs to get down to business with Hendry and get a deal hammered out. I think the fact neither Hendry/Towers, Towers more than Hendry, have spoken to the media today speaks volumes to the whole situation that both are trying to get a deal done and are too occupied and they don't have the time and energy to be negotiating/posturing through the media. A bunch of Towers quotes were just posted

When do they leave tomorrow?

or you need to relax if you're making the same argument as dextermorgan you need to step back and reconsider things. i also appreciate the irony of dexter telling me to relax... the guy gave up on the cubs about 624 times last year and that's just within each individual game. it was a joke and yeah, i overreact during games when emotions are running high. i don't flip out during the offseason because some guy made a joke that i didn't agree with. you're sounding like kylejrm right now.

The fact that Towers is now saying that a 4th team would probably need to be involved is kind of worrisome, because that means something probably changed.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3761236 Absolutely nothing new is in there and it almost seems like whoever wrote it is trying to create something because he hasn't gotten word from either side today on where the talks are at. The fact that ESPN is saying that a deal is unlikely to happen gives me all the more confidence I need to believe that a deal is going to happen. Just because of the fact that Derosa is being made semi-available probably strengthens the Cubs chances to get Peavy because they can weigh multiple offers from teams and take the strongest one to help them land Peavy, it might take a little longer now, and ESPN can go on the FAKE DEADLINE Towers never really set and all, but by getting more teams involved for Derosa only increases our chances of getting Peavy IMO. Well at this point there is no doubt that Hendry can have Peavy if he wants. If he's come this far and gotten this close, I wouldn't think he'd let a small difference in talent given up let this thing fall apart. I think there will still be some haggling and posturing that goes on for a couple days.

You mean right now? You need to stop getting so excited or every report that says it's close and then getting all bummed out any time someone says it might not be. Ther'es nothing really knew from Stark there. Like someone else said, it sounds like more opinion than anything else. Plus he's been pumping the "Cubs are standing firm" POV for a few days now. His source could easily be somebody from the Cubs who is putting that out there on purpose.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3761236

he was joking. you need to relax.

yes he has averaged only 33+ starts and 208 innings the past 7 seasons, that certainly screams "injury risk" to me i think he was implying that he'll become injury prone because he's going to the yankees