Thursday is the final day of the Winter Meetings and Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he "should know Thursday whether the much-discussed terms are finally set" in the Jake Peavy discussions. Towers and Jim Hendry met for an hour and a half on Wednesday night according to Bruce Levine and the Union-Tribune described the talks on Wednesday as "the lengthiest of a process than began several weeks ago."
Of the three names the Cubs are reportedly interested in signing to play right field and provide a middle-of-the-order-left-handed bat, the Tribune reported Milton Bradley remains as the front-runner. The Sun-Times also reported the Cubs interest in Bradley, stating he is "at the top of their list" and apparently "the interest is mutual." Bruce Levine reported that Bradley is the main guy the Cubs are interested in but he heard rumblings on Wednesday that the Cubs are talking about trading for an outfielder again.
The Sun-Times reported the Cubs have not made formal offers to either Milton Bradley or Raul Ibanez, but "the Cubs appeared to have found a little clarity on the issue of adding a left-handed bat, with talks between Hendry and the agents for Bradley and Ibanez pointing to a possible deal for one of them soon."
The Winter Meetings conclude on Thursday with the Rule 5 Draft and the Cubs are expected to lose Donald Veal. Here's the rest from the Day Three of the Winter Meetings....plus, are the Cubs interested in Chone Figgins?
Jake Peavy, Jason Marquis and Mark DeRosa
Mark DeRosa has become a hot commodity around the league after his name was leaked as possibly being available this winter. The Tribune reported, "DeRosa appears to be the key to any Peavy deal." The Twins and Phillies are apparently willing to give up top pitching prospects for DeRosa that the Cubs could flip to the Padres for Jake Peavy. So not only has Jason Marquis and his $9.875 million dollar contract, that the Cubs are willing to eat as much as half of, must be moved....DeRosa and his $5.5 million dollar contract appears on the block as well. Backloaded contracts and no-trade clauses must be things of the past for the Chicago Cubs....
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the Phillies are "the preferred" third team because of their pitching prospects. The names going to San Diego from Philadelphia for Mark DeRosa appears to be J.A. Happ and a minor league prospect.....possibly Drew Naylor. The Padres would receive Josh Vitters, Kevin Hart and others from the Cubs. The Union-Tribune described Jason Marquis and his contract as being "the sticking point" in the discussions. Bruce Levine said if the Padres end up with Marquis then they plan on flipping him to an unknown team that has interest for more pitching prospects.
According to Tim Brown, Kevin Towers "has become impatient with the Cubs failure to unload Jason Marquis and his contract." Brown implied that the Cubs not being able to have another team pay for more than half of Marquis' contract has made Jim Hendry turn to other ways to 'save money'....and that is where Mark DeRosa steps in.
The Union Tribune pointed out that the "growing interest" in Mark DeRosa "also gives the Cubs the option of arranging a deal not involving the Padres."
Yahoo Sports said the Phillies and Orioles are both involved and the following players could be involved: Felix Pie, Mark DeRosa, Garrett Olson and Kyle Kendrick.
According to a report on Wednesday night from the Star-Tribune, the Twins remain in contact with the Cubs about Mark DeRosa. The Star-Tribune is not clear as to what the Cubs would want for DeRosa. The report mentioned the Cubs desire to add a left-handed bat and the talks with the Padres for Peavy....but the Star-Tribune indicated "a separate Twins-Cubs deal for DeRosa appears to be much more of a possibility."
Chone Figgins
According to reports from the LA Times and the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs recently asked the Angels about Chone Figgins. The LA Times indicated if the Angels do not sign Brian Fuentes they could ask the Cubs for bullpen arms...and if they do not re-sign Mark Teixeira, they might look at adding a power bat.
The Sun-Times pointed to the Cubs trying to add Figgins to the mix if they lose Mark DeRosa in the Peavy trade.
Paul Bako
A third mention for the former Cub to return to Chicago on the same day.... Paul Bako has "been targeted by the Cubs" according to the Tribune to be the backup to Geovany Soto. Bako shares agents with another one of the Cubs rumored targets this winter...Randy Johnson.
2009 Payroll Breakdown and Non-Tender Candidates
According to a report from the Tribune, the Cubs are trying to figure out a way to "fit both Jake Peavy and a middle-of-the-order hitter" into their 2009 budget and the way to accomplish the task might be to make "a few subtractions" to their 2008 payroll.
Eight players have a combined salary of $100.1 million dollars for 2009:
- Carlos Zambrano
- Aramis Ramirez
- Alfonso Soriano
- Derrek Lee
- Ryan Dempster
- Ted Lilly
- Kosuke Fukudome
- Rich Harden
Kevin Gregg and Reed Johnson, both arbitration eligible, "should combine to make about $7 million." The Tribune noted the Cubs "figure to retain 11 players with one to three years of experience who would add up to about another $8 to $9 million dollars."
For the second time in two weeks, the Tribune brought up Chad Gaudin as a possible non-tender candidate and Ronny Cedeno was tossed out as a possible non-tender candidate earlier in the week.
Friday is the last day for teams to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players.
CCO Site Stuff
For those new to the site, or regulars that were more familiar with the previous design, you must sign in for your comment to post on the site without a delay. You can sign in at the top right of the main page, or by this link:
You can still comment without an account or signing in but your comment will be delayed until there is a chance for it to be approved.
For those that have not created an account. You can click on the link at the top right of the main page, or by this link:
All you need is a valid email address. You will receive an email once your account is approved. Please allow 24 hours.
Well, that's the latest for now...and I'm sticking to it!
I am a diehard Cubs fan, but the Cubs just need to pull the trigger before this deal fall apart. I know I rather Jake Peavy than Jason Marquis.
It looks like the Cubs have more leverage in this deal. I think the Padres will reduce their asking price if Hendry waits. They are in a position where they need to move Peavy, and we do not need Peavy. I would much rather see Bradley in right field, and an attempt to get a lead off hitter that can play short or 2nd. I am so tired of hearing about Peavy, and we have more pressing needs than pitching. Bring on Bradley and Brian Roberts or Chone Figgins. Then once we have them in place, go after Peavy.
the Tribune reports:
But Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune that progress is being made in the talks with the Cubs for Peavy, but added: "Jim (Hendry) and I both kind of agree that if we can't come to some sort of an agreement by Thursday, it's probably not going to happen."
...
this is like Hendry saying, "I'll worry about that later"... hehe...
Looks like we just lost Veal to the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft. This is what happens when you overvalue your prospects and refuse to deal them when they have value. If we can get top major league talent for unproven prospects like Vitters and others ... let's do it.
As much as I admire Brian Roberts, it will cost too much to get him. In the end we will have depleted our farm system and would not be able to make any deals during the season if we need to.
Hate to lose Veal for nothing in return...Even more troublesome, will Jake Peavy become this year's Brian Roberts?
It looks like he who has the gold rules the post season (still). The Yanks outbid everyone by a lot for CC and now are likely doing the same with Burnett. The Mets add K-Rod and Putz, and Santana is now urging the signing of Abreu. The Angels are reported to have 7 and $160 mil on the table for Teixeira.
The Cubs, and their considerable but not the top four deep pockets (Yanks, R. Sox, Mets and Angels) have to let Wood go and try to move Marquis to try to get the "bargain" ace, Peavy, and a top lefty bat. We know we are a top tier team, and we are playing all or nothing poker with trades and our top prospects to win now. The top quality DeRosa and the projectable top quality Vitters are one too many "tops" to get Peavy as the only top guy in return. I think JH understands that.
I read the chatter that Bradley is first on our list of lefty bats, and that firm offers have not been discussed with him or Ibanez or Abreu (probably in that order) to have everything to do with JH's budget availability. The talk of possibly going the trade route, too, fits into the money dynamics.
Bradley made $5.25 mil last year and likely is down to no less than 3 and $25 mil (so far). Ibanez might be down to 2 and $20 mil. Abreu is likely at 3 and $35 mil. (All in those behind-the-scenes preliminary discussions.)
If we do a Peavy deal and Bradley isn't signable for say 2 and $17 mil, I think we see a trade for a Teahen level lefty bat (and a decent OF too). If we don't do a Peavy deal, we might pay Bradley more, but I would hope that we can get the better all around contributor--like Abreu.
The great news about the coming season is that the gold sometimes doesn't rule who plays well over 162 games and in October.
I have had a vision, here is what will happen.
1). Cubs land Peavy, lose DeRosa and Marquis.
2). Cubs sign Bradley, who is controlled well by Lou, stays healthy, and finally establishes himself as an everyday player who can hack it.
3). Mark Texieria signs with either Washington or Boston, not with the Angles, creating a need for them to land another big bat via trade.
4). Enter the Cubs. We dangle either Lee or Soriano for them, and both guys waive their no trade clauses to play for another winner. DLee, with more value, gets traded for Figgins and Howie Kendrick.
5). With the extra salary space, we sign Adam Dunn (Before everybody goes all crazy, consider this: His OBP always approaches .400, and while he doesn't have a great batting average, a huge part of the reason the Cubs were so good last year was that everybody, except Soriano, had really high OBPs). You get this lineup:
Figgins-CF
Kendrick-2B
Bradley-CF
Ramirez-3B
Dunn-1B
Soriano-LF
Soto-C
Fontenot/Theriot-SS
Peavey/Z/Lilly/Dempster/Harden
I know Kendrick is a 2B, but I think he could also shift over to SS if need be. Or, they could ask for Eric Aybar, a switch hitting SS, instead of Kendrick,have Fontenot and Theriot platoon at 2B. Either way, we lose the oldest guys on the team (DeRosa and Lee, who both had good seasons, but can only go downhill from here), get younger and more balanced. If it doesn't work, oh well it's already been 100 years.
Looks like the Peavey deal is done accordin to mlbtraderumors.com. Hendry must have pulled out. After reading Aaron's post in the Community Post section, I wonder if Hendry is working on something alot bigger, hmmm?
well that stinks...i guess dreams never come true -crying- what could possibly be more important than getting an ace
JimK, I thought the 160M/7yrs offer was from the Nationals and their new rising star*?
*owner Lerner, whom Scott Boras courted so much...