The on again, off again talks between the Padres and Cubs over a certain former Cy Young Award winner was given a new twist on Tuesday morning after a report in the Chicago Sun-Times by Gordon Wittenmyer. The Cubs' beat reporter talked with Lou Piniella this past weekend and one of the questions he posed to Piniella centered on the Cubs rumored interest in Jake Peavy and Randy Johnson.
According to the report in the Sun-Times, Piniella was asked about the Cubs still pursuing starting pitching, "such as Jake Peavy or Randy Johnson, even after the Ryan Dempster signing." Piniella told Wittenmyer, "No. Starting we don't need. We're set. We've got six good starters (including Sean Marshall), and they're all experienced. Getting Dempster back was the key. We're in good shape with our starting pitching." Piniella added they are looking to add a veteran arm to the pen and stated "we've got a lot of young kids out there."
So less than twelve hours after Kevin Towers told Jon Heyman from SI.com that "there's a chance of maybe putting together a deal with Chicago", has Jim Hendry moved away from the talks for Jake Peavy and centered on adding the left-handed bat that his skipper desires? Here's the latest....
Jake Peavy
While multiple outlets picked up the Sun-Times report and stated the Cubs are no longer interested in trading for Jake Peavy. Many still have their doubts. Bob Scanlon (former Cub and a part of the Padres TV broadcast pre and post game show), joined Joe Castellano on XM Radio Tuesday night and he thinks Piniella's comment is nothing but positioning. He said the Padres missed an opportunity to move Peavy before the free agency period began. There would have been a lot more options for the Padres with other teams but now clubs that are looking for pitching can talk to Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett.
And then there is the report from Jon Heyman on SI.com. While Gordon Wittenmyer spoke with Lou Piniella over the weekend, Heyman spoke with Kevin Towers on Monday. The bottom line is that there are only two people that really knows what is going on at this point....Jim Hendry and Kevin Towers.
The deal for Peavy could never happen and Piniella's statement could be 100% correct but the fact of the matter is that Piniella cannot comment on another team's player. Plain and simple, it is against the rules.
There is a section in the rulebook called the Tampering Rule - Rule 3(g).
Rule 3(g) Tampering. To preserve discipline and competition, and to prevent the enticement of players, coaches, managers and umpires, there shall be no negotiations of dealings respecting employment, either present or prospective, between any player, coach or manager and any club other than the club with which he is under contract or acceptance of terms, or by which he is reserved, or which has the player on its Negotiation List, or between any umpire and any league other than the league with which he is under contract or acceptance of terms, unless the club or league with which he is connected shall have, in writing, expressly authorized such negotiations or dealings prior to their commencement.
Not only can Piniella not comment, it would not be wise of him to do so. By saying the Cubs are interested in Peavy it will send the wrong message to the team, especially the players that could be involved in a deal....or, lose their job and-or playing time with the addition of a player like Jake Peavy. So while the Cubs may or may not still be talking to the Padres about Peavy, the only 'right' answer Piniella could give to that question was the one he gave...'No'.
Raul Ibanez
The Cubs are interested and according to the report from the Sun-Times, Lou Piniella likes Raul Ibanez but has not spoken with him this off-season
"He's a professional bat, and he's that type of hitter we're alluding to. And he's a great guy, no question. I like the guy."
Mike Fontenot
One of the biggest blubs in the report from the Sun-Times is that Mike Fontenot will receive time at shortstop in the spring. Piniella likes Fontenot's offense and wants to find playing time for Fontenot. "And if not, depending on what we do or don't do, we'll give him some more playing time at second."
Mark Teahen
A report in the Sun-Times on Tuesday shot down the report from Phil Rogers on Saturday that stated Mike Fontenot and-or Sean Marshall could be dealt to the Royals for Mark Teahen. Gordon Wittenmyer stated the "rumors continue to ring hollow of speculation" and either of those two players would be to "steep" for the Cubs to pay for Mark Teahen.
Bobby Abreu
The Cubs have "not yet contacted" Bobby Abreu according to a report in the Sun-Times.
Rafael Furcal
The Sun-Times verified once again that the Cubs have talked to Rafael Furcal's agent. But the A's, Giants and a third team that is rumored to have offered a 4-year deal to Furcal worth anywhere between $48 and $52 million dollars....and the third team is not the Cubs based on the offer according to the Sun-Times.
Ken Rosenthal reported on Tuesday night that Rafael Furcal met with A's officials in Oakland according to his sources.
A new name in the mill?
Jeff Passan speculated if the Cubs could be one of four teams in addition to the Rays, Red Sox and Phillies that Rocco Baldelli could be considering.
Well, that's the latest....and I'm sticking to it.
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I think the Jake Peavy matter will come to fruition in the next week or so when winter meetings take begin. Remember it was less than 10-days ago that the teams agreed to table the talks for 10-days.
On a side note, several posts have brought up the name Donald Veal and why he was not protected on the 40 man roster, and why did we not trade him for Gregg.
Well, hard to fathom trading someone who isn't even going to be protected. But if you look at the numbers, there's not much of a suprise.
The last two years at AA ball, Veal has not been a very good pitcher. In 2007 he went 8-10 with a 4.97 ERA and 11 homeruns allowed. Last year he went 5-10 with a 4.52 ERA and 19 homeruns allowed. Then to top it off, he was sent to the Arizona Fall League and he has gotten shelled. He has appeared in 10 games, and in 9 innings has an ERA of 10.00 and has walked 13 in those 10 innings. Lefties have batted .154 but righties have pounded him at .333.
Gee maybe Jim Hendry and staff know a little something about their players after all.......
I sure hope that the speculation about Ibanez don't come to fruition. Why get a guy who's already 36 years old, and also has suspect defensive skills. This would be a typical Cub move.
If we can't get creative to somehow pry a McLouth from the Pirates, then provide Hoffpauer with the vote of confidence and let him work on his defense in preparation of spring training in RF.
The next few weeks could be interesting. Depending on where Manny falls to the market may stimulate some interest in Soriano.
I actually like the idea of having Ibanez. He's a solid hitter and from what I've read a good guy and a leader in the clubhouse (something the Cubs desperately need). He's not the defensive juggernaut that Fukudome is, but he is definitely twice the offensive player. I would rather have him hitting 3rd than Lee. I'm not saying he's the answer, but his career numbers are very good and even though he's 36, he's healthy and in good shape. The past 4 seasons he's averaged 158 games played, last season he played in all 162. He's definitely durable. He should hit between .280 and .290 and in Wrigley his power numbers should be around 25+ HRs. His OBP is pretty good too. His K numbers aren't terrible, usually around 90-100, but he's not as bad as some of you make him out to be. Don't be afraid of his age, a lot of guys are putting up solid numbers these days in their late 30's.
My take on Piniella's comments are that he answered the question not asked, "Do you expect the Cubs to acquire Peavy?" And he said, "No". Lou likely gives less thought to "tampering" than JH would like, and he seems capable of being a loose cannon once in a while.
It's JH's job to imply or state that all possible doors are open. That either keeps even remote possibilities open or is a diversionary tactic that may distract other GM's.
Lou, if he had had his mind fully engaged, had a better answer than, "No"--which seems to me to be only a little less tampering than "Yes". That answer would be something like, "I'm not sure what JH may be thinking or doing" or "The rules prohibit me from commenting on questions like that, so I won't."
I'm still thinking our priority now is a good to excellent left handed bat. That could change if JH finds a way to move a contract the size of Marquis' or Dome's, and some budget room opens up. If you really want to consider a shocker, maybe Zambrano goes somewhere and we get Peavy. That is not out of the question.
Jim....check this link out. Will have more on Thursday.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=253802
You are right on with the Marquis trade. Also, Monday is a big day for the Cubs.
Blockbuster trade here.......Zambrano and Soriano to the Mets for Beltran and Reyes. Then the Cubs make a deal to the Padres for Peavy. LOl, I would make this trade in a heartbeat!!
I would even throw Theriot into the deal...
hah...
I'm out to Phoenix for Turkey Day.....probably won't partake here for a couple of days...
To everyone at the CCO....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Joe....Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. I will have a Turkey Day article...so check back.
Well, it took overtime to get a Peavy deal structured--but I was able to do it. My people talked to the Cubs' people, the Padres' people and to the Red Sox people. The key was the Yankees possible moves for guys like Sabathia and Burnett. Of course, the rule of no pain, no gain applies.
The Cubs get Peavy from the Pads. From the Red Sox they get #5 prospect Josh Reddick--a versatile lefty CF whose line was .343-17-59 with 9 SB in 312 AB's at High A--and Hunter Jones a 24 year old lefty reliever with a 7-3, 2.45 line with 18 W and 76 SO's in 73 innings at AAA Pawtucket. The young Reddick faltered some at AA, but most scouts say he will hit for average and power in the bigs and be a plus OF. Also, from the Padres, the Cubs get 23 year-old RRP, Evan Scribner who was 4-5, 2.00 with 3 W and 31 SO's in A ball.
The Padres get Marshall and Pie from the Cubs and #2 prospect RHSP Michael Bowden (AAA) and #7 prospect SS, Yamaico Navarro from the Red Sox.
And the Red Sox get..............Carlos Zambrano and top pithcing prospect Rhee from the Cubs as well as the Pad's #8 prospect, CF, Cedric Hunter.
The Cubs save $9.5 mil on the 2009 salary differential between Zambrano and Peavy. The Cubs put the money toward a top lefty bat. To Sum:
Cubs get Peavy, LOF Josh Reddick, LRP Hunter Jones and RRP Evan Scribner. Hunter Jones could help in 2009, Reddick plays in 2110 and Scribner in 2111.
Padres get Marshall, RSP Bowden, Pie and SS Yamaico Navarro. Marshall and Bowden start for the Pads, Pie gets a chance in 2009 and Navarro plays in 2110 or 11.
Red Sox get Zambrano, Rhee and Hunter. Rhee and Hunter play in 2111.