DonnieD

No, we didn't talk about names at all even if he would know something like that. My guess based on our conversations is 90% that he'll be a Cub.

I actually did. Monday night was a great night for me. Just before I came back and went to the casino here in our resort, we had went to another resort because my wife wanted to go to a Japanese Steakhouse there. We stopped in their casino on the way out and played Caribbean Stud for about an hour. I hit a straight flush which pays 10% of the progressive jackpot. I won a little over $6900.

Alright, I will give some details about some of the information from my “source”. I have thought about it and I don’t realistically see any of this information having coming back to hurt the Cubs chances in this trade. This is the majority of the information that I told to Raisin earlier. Some people have been really close with guesses (and now some people have been right on). I am in Puerto Rico and Jake Peavy was staying with a big group of Major Leaguers at my Resort as part of a Nike sponsored retreat. I have some pictures (actually none of Peavy though) but I can't upload them until I get home. I think all of the players including Peavy left last night. That was also the reason I wanted to wait until today, it wasn't that I was told anything would happen by then, it was that I knew he would no longer be a potential source and I didn't want things spreading into the media (however unlikely) and him to get upset with me or refuse to talk to me. Anyway here are some of the details I was leaving out. Monday night I went into the casino about midnight here. Right as I walked in, one of the guys with the Nike group got up from the seat right next to Peavy at a blackjack table. So I went and sat down in it and played next to him for close to two hours. We talked quite a bit. The first thing I said when I sat down was "So are you a Cub yet?" He chuckled and said "Not yet, but I hope I will be real soon." I showed a little bit of surprise after some of the things I had read. We small talked about it for a little while, I told him I'm from the Chicago area and we'd love to have him, etc. He expressed several times how much he loves Chicago and has heard some great things about the organization/fans/etc. He also indicated that he is aware of what a huge deal it would be to win it all as a Cub. I mentioned that the media seems to think the Braves are the front runner and he emphatically said "I am NOT going to Atlanta". Then less emphatically he said "I'll end up in Chicago." He then went into a little bit more detail about some of the information I had in my first post. He said his first choice was to be traded to the Dodgers because he just built a home in Southern California and would rather not move his family if he didn't have to. He asked Towers to trade him there and he basically scoffed at trading him within the division (I'm happy, but I don't really understand the taboo nature of that, if it would be the best deal I'd jump on it personally). Tuesday night I saw him again, I was pretty impressed because he called me by name. I asked him if he had any good news for me and he said nothing had changed. Wednesday I saw him a couple of times and we said hello, but I never got to really talk to him. I did play blackjack at a table with one of the Nike representatives who is friends with Jake (and happens to be from Chicago too). We just talked about how great it is going to be to have Jake on the Cubs and he has been told the same things by Jake (that he is most likely going to end up with the Cubs and won't go to the Braves). Then I played Roulette next to Mrs. Peavy for a while and I was asking her about it some. I asked if she had a preference where he went and she said Jake wants to go to Chicago but it doesn’t really matter to her at all. She said "Anywhere is fine, I'm just along for the ride". Then she added "I don't want to go to Toronto though". So there it is. The late night posts have been because PR is one hour ahead of Eastern Time and most of the time I am on between 2 and 3 AM here after the bars/casino are closed. To summarize, Jake wants to be in Chicago, it’s as simple as that. That is if he can’t stay in Southern California. The Angels thing scares me a little bit and surprises me because he didn’t mention them being a possibility at all, and I didn’t think to ask him. The reason I was insistent that he wouldn’t be traded to Atlanta is because he flat out told me more than one time that he won’t accept a trade there, and he was holding all the cards. Unfortunately though, I think that was the end of my stint as an “insider”. See you around the boards, Donnie

No pics yet. I may not have to. I did offer a secondary source with time stamped information that corroborates my story and goes into a little more detail. I'm not sure if he used that or just read my story and took that for what it is worth (admittedly not very much, unless you just believe me). So long story short you think that Peavy will end up being a Cub? Yes I think Peavy will end up as a Cub. I would say with the information I have, I am over 90 percent sure he will be a Cub because there are very few other real options available, and none of them make very much sense. The only way I see it not happening is if Hendry is completely low-balling Towers and refuses to give up a good value for him.

No pics yet. I may not have to. I did offer a secondary source with time stamped information that corroborates my story and goes into a little more detail. I'm not sure if he used that or just read my story and took that for what it is worth (admittedly not very much, unless you just believe me).

I don't really have a Peavy rumor. I don't know names or anything. The only solid thing I have is saying that he will NOT be traded to Atlanta and that a deal to the Cubs is close. Everything beyond that has been speculation.

Yep, I'm a big fan of his. I haven't read Tales of Adam yet. I think I'm going to have to order it online, I havne't seen it in a bookstore yet.

I didn't expect anything else. I'm glad his secret story doesn't sound absolutely bogus, but really, there was no proof he could have given. I don't think I said I was going to prove anything, I just responded to someone's request that I share my information with a mod and let them judge. Really I did it for the sanity of the board, I don't really care if anyone believes me or not. Like I said I completely lucked into this information, it isn't like I'm going to become an insider or anything and have scoops for every rumor. This is most likely a one-time thing.

Oh, it is checked and responded to.

Alright, I just PM'd Raisin since he was the only mod that contacted me. Now when he gets it he can judge for himself and give his opinion to the board.

Dang it. I really didn't plan this. I need to go to bed though, as I have to be awake in just over 6 hours. I'll wait another 3 minutes to see if a mod joins the thread. So you are sticking by your guns huh? Peavy to the Cubs? No doubt. I have complete faith in my source. I have to go, my pillow beckons. I will though, share my information with a mod when I log in tomorrow if someone PM's me. Obviously Tim would pull rank, beyond that I don't know who I should talk to. So, let me know and I will give up some information in exchange for the previously discussed vote of confidence and a promise of non-disclosure to anyone (even another mod). Good night.

Dang it. I really didn't plan this. I need to go to bed though, as I have to be awake in just over 6 hours. I'll wait another 3 minutes to see if a mod joins the thread.

If a mod replies or PM's me within the next few minutes I will gladly share my information with them, in exchange for a simple "I believe him" or "I don't believe him" statement that you guys can then choose to accept or dismiss.

Donnie, I really want to believe you man. What did your sources tell you then? Really nothing beyond "Jake wants to be in Chicago" and "Atlanta isn't going to happen". I have more to say, but the more I think about it the more it could hurt the Cubs chances of getting him. I'm a Cubs fan first and foremost so I will not risk reducing the Cubs chances of getting one of the best pitchers in MLB just to improve my credibility with the board as a whole.

Look back at the last few pages. They all pretty much confirm what I am saying. At least any of them with any credibility. Hell, many of them pretty much mirror what I am saying.

Man, you should have more faith. Even if I started this whole thing off by saying I would take it all with a grain of salt. Eventually you will all understand that I am someone who values integrity as much as anything in life. You are only as good as your word. I wouldn't stake my 5 year reputation (albeit one with few posts) on a "garbage" source. My source is VERY reputable. I trust my source more than I trust Bruce (who I have a lot of faith in) and much more than the likes of Buster Olney. Someone mentioned that I post late at night and that is obviously true, so hold your horses people, it will all make sense eventually. I did not get a chance to speak directly with my source tonight, but I did speak with a couple of secondary sources that confirmed (again) that Peavy was Chicago bound. It should all wind down in the next couple of days. Donnie

I'm gonna hit the sack for the night. I'll check in tomorrow and post any additional details.

No, I didn't ask again as I really wasn't in a position to. We really just had a 15 second conversation today, hopefully I will get a chance to get more in depth tomorrow.

I really really want to give you guys as much information as I have but I just can't. I can't give any additional details about the source because I think it would give it away and people are getting too close for comfort already.

Thanks. Good thing I don't post much, I wouldn't want to have to do a previous post background check on some of you guys.

I'm not biting on the source guesses, and nothing more than "soon" as far as when the deal is finished. As I implied, I think Towers is just going to wait until he is certain he has the best deal possible from Hendry and then Jake Peavy will be a Cub.

Absolutely, I'll provide validation for all of my claims, including pictures if necessary.

Alright, I only got to talk with my source briefly today, nothing new as far as news goes. But I did get another confirmation that Peavy will NOT be going to the Braves. End of "source news", my thoughts are that Towers is using the Braves as leverage to get the Cubs to include that one more player he wants to complete the deal. Maybe someone is leaking false information to the media that a deal with the Braves is iminent to put pressure on Hendry. So far it seems Hendry is standing pat and not caving to the pressure. Here's hoping Hendry has recognized the bluff and stays firm, because the Cubs are the only realistic destination for Peavy.

No, I didn't ask about those questions specifically though. It sounded to me like it was Cubs/Padres with only Peavy coming to the Cubs, but as I said I didn't ask too many questions, I didn't even get into names going from the Cubs to the Padres.

It could end up that way, but I doubt any of the Sesame Street characters had information this solid.