The Jake Peavy rumors picked up a little steam on Monday night. Kevin Towers was quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune as saying:
"It's really come down to one club now - the Cubs. It's going to take awhile. They have a couple of players to pick from that we are interested in but anything with them is going to potentially involve a third or fourth teams. We're focusing only on them."
Multiple reports over the weekend suggested the Cubs might be out of the running but as Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000 stated, the Cubs are still in on the Jake Peavy talks with the Padres.
According to a report from MLB.com, Kevin Towers has not "engaged Yankees GM Brian Cashman in anything that resembles a serious discussion about Peavy." The report indicated Towers has not had direct conversations with Cashman. The Padres are looking for "a Major League-ready starting pitcher" in a deal for Peavy and it would likely take another team to get involved for Peavy to pitch on the North Side (and beyond) next season.
Reports over the weekend also suggested Peavy would want his $22 million dollar option for 2013 picked up. If that is the case, the club that lands Peavy would be responsible for 5 years and $81 million dollars.
Rick Sutcliffe and Mark Grace continue to talk up Chicago and Wrigley Field to Jake Peavy according to Fred Mitchell of the Tribune.
The Rest of the Mill
Ken Rosenthal joined Ed Randall on Baseball This Morning (XM Radio) during his normal Monday time slot and the rumors of Randy Johnson to the Cubs was one of the many topics discussed. Rosenthal reiterated what Bruce Levine reported over the weekend that Randy Johnson is the Cubs back-up plan if they cannot trade for Jake Peavy or resign Ryan Dempster.
Randy Bush on Baseball This Morning
The Cubs Assistant GM was also on Monday's edition of Baseball This Morning. Randy Bush told Ed Randall that he is looking forward to getting past 2008 and putting a good club on the field in 2009. Bush talked about the Cubs struggles in October and said they would keep plugging away until they kick the door down.
Bush talked briefly about Randy Johnson and praised the future Hall of Famer. He said Johnson is a tremendous competitor but the Cubs number one priority is bringing back Ryan Dempster. Bush added the negotiations with Dempster are going well and they are hopeful they will be able to resign him.
The Cubs are looking at other alternatives in case they lose Dempster and that is where Randy Johnson figures into the equation. Bush mentioned the 'hometown discounts' that Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano took in order to remain a Cub and the feeling was they are hoping Dempster will do more of the same. Bush stated Dempster wants to stay and they want him to stay.
Randy Bush discussed Kerry Wood and the decision to 'move on' from the longtime Cub. Bush said Kerry has been a big part of the organization for the past 14 years and it was a hard decision. Wood desires a multi-year contract according to Bush and knowing that Carlos Marmol is ready to step in to the closer's role, they felt the money that would be used on Wood, would be better served spent in other areas. Bush mentioned the starting rotation and a left-handed bat.
The Cubs think Kevin Gregg is a great fit for them in 8th or 9th innings and went on to say they are very excited about the bullpen moving forward. He added certain players are going to have to step up but with Neal Cotts, Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija, Kevin Hart and Angel Guzman (Bush did not mention Chad Gaudin), along with Marmol and Gregg, they have a solid group in the pen.
Kerry Wood
John Perrotto writes a weekly column on Baseball Prospectus called 'Every Given Sunday' and while most of his column is by subscription only, it is a very good read and always worth the time. In his most recent column under the NL Rumors and Rumblings section, "breaking up to make up could be Kerry Wood, who may return to the Cubs on a low-budget contract." Perrotto went on to explain with a market flooded with relief pitching and with not a lot of interest being shown in Wood by other teams could be the factors that land Wood back in his familiar blue pinstripes next season.
Scott Miller from CBS Sports.com joined Jim Memolo on Monday night and he said it is a bad year to be a closer on the open market. Miller thinks the only team that might offer a 3-year contract to Kerry Wood is the Texas Rangers, but with Trevor Hoffman, Francisco Rodriguez, Brandon Lyon and Brian Fuentes, there might not be as much money spent on closers this winter as in years past. Miller also believes that the Cubs left a small crack in the door for Wood to return and until he signs with another team, do not count him out of pitching for the Cubs again.
CCO Updates
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Well, that's the latest....and I'm sticking to it!
You scooped me Neil..lol I was just logging on because I read that report on the Union Tribune's website....
Looks as though Jake wants to be a Cub!! It will be very interesting to see how it shakes out and what 3rd or 4th team gets involved....Should be one heck of a deal....
As for Kerry Wood...I stated in a previous post...his words of being willing to sign a one year deal with the Cubs will be tested....if they offer him arbitration--he will grab it. I'm not so sure we've seen the last of Kid K.
All this Kid K talk about being shut out by the cubs and now a possibility of returning reminds me of last year with some guy named A-Rod...Lets hope it works out the same way with Woody!!!
Neil,
Any insight on what the Cubs are trying to do to acquire Peavy? Might they be attempting to deal Vitters to a third team for a top tier pitching prospect to send to SD along with Marshall and a couple of our own prospects?
David, I think Vitters will be moved in the deal for Peavy....if it is ever made. With the news on Dempster, they will not receive the draft picks for compensation but they will on Wood and Howry, if they offer arbitration to him.
Those four picks would help replenish the farm system that will take a hit from a possible deal with the Padres.
I think Welington Castillo will be involved. It will be interesting to see who else is dealt because Felix Pie, Ronny Cedeno and Rich Hill are all out of options. Many are still high on Hill and thinks he needs a change of organizations. Some question if Hill will ever be able to pitch for Piniella.
I just do not know what other teams could get into the mix, I have not read or heard anything. Hendry traded away one of his big chips in Jose Ceda and its not like organizations will just line up to help the Cubs get better.
We need to sign Wood for the Bullpen. Gregg is replacing Howry who will replace Wood, Samardzija? Marmol Closer, still need 7th and 8th inning guys.
What does everyone think about taking a flier on Junior????
Jim, the problem with Griffey is where do you play him? His defense is just awful. I think he is American League bound.
The Cubs have to offer Wood arbitration or they lose two top draft picks--should he move on. That's a two edged sword for JH who might offer $8 mil and Wood might seek $11 mil. If JH anticipates Wood would accept or could win, he won't go after the bigger contract, lefty bat we need.
My vibes (and a rumor or two) now say Demp signs with us for 4 and about $52 mil before this week is done. Does anyone think that would end the Peavy interest? I think it could, and thereby let JH go after the big lefty bat.
Should JH be able to do incredible magic and go after Peavy too, here might be a way to do it in a three way:
Pads get good young pitcher Brandon Morrow from the Mariners, and Marshall, Theriot, Marquis and Castillo from the Cubs. (They find the Marquis, 1 year contract acceptable or we fund part of it.)
The Mariners get Hoffpauir, Fox, Guzman and Rhee from the Cubs and a top prospect from the Pads.
The Cubs get Peavy and Greene from the Pads and lefty reliever Cesar Jiminez from the Mariners.
Finally, the Cubs do a minor deal for Seth Smith as the versatile OF and lefty, power bat and sign Javier Valentin the switch hitting catcher, who hits right handed pitching fairly well.
Should we not do Peavy (my guess is we won't), I think we go after Abreu. Hinske would be the fall back. Abreu gives us the #3 lefty hitter we need and let's Theriot (SS) be a leadoff hitter ahead of DeRo (2B). I would still try to get Smith and Valentin.
JimK,
Morrow is a good idea. He's the type of guy the SD would want. Though I think Seattle would want a guy like Vitters in return and not a handful of spare parts ... maybe Vitters and Pie for Morrow and then Morrow, Marshall and Castillo for Peavy.
Junior Griffey? Randy Johnson? Piniella? Some people here are determined to re-incarnate the Seattle Mariners, TWENTY FREAKIN YEARS LATER...
Neil, forget Griffey's defense, his hitting prowess has dropped tremendously. I'd be surprised if hits more than 25HR in a season again
Baron...excellent point on Griffey's offense.