The pending ownership changes for the Cubs and the Padres have impacted Jim Hendry's ability to trade for Jake Peavy this winter. The Cubs appeared close during the Winter Meetings but reportedly pulled out of the talks due to the Padres player demands and Peavy's rather large contract.
Since December rumors have indicated Jim Hendry remains interested in trading for Peavy but would have to receive permission from the Cubs new owner to make a deal.
A few weeks back the news surfaced that a group led by Jeff Moorad, former CEO of the Diamondbacks, would try to purchase the Padres from John Moores. Once the announcement was made it appeared Moorad would not deal Jake Peavy and try to build a team around him.
According to a report on Sunday night from the San Diego Union-Tribune, John Moores will "remain as majority owner of the Padres for three or four years, even if the ongoing negotiations with a Jeff Moorad-led group yields an agreement, according to Major League sources."
The Padres are still aiming to cut the payroll for the 2009 season to $40 million, down from $73 million on Opening Day of 2008. The Union-Tribune stated the Padres "are about $5 million over budget for the 40-man roster, having committed $31.2 million to eight players".....with $11 million owed to Jake Peavy.
The San Diego Union-Tribune also reported on Sunday night that if Jeff Moorad takes control of the front office at some point this year, Padres' CEO Sandy Alderson is expected to leave.
Bruce Levine reported on Saturday that the pending ownership change in San Diego might hurt the Cubs chances at trading for Jake Peavy. Levine gave the trade an 80% chance of happening a week ago and was far less optimistic a week later. Ken Rosenthal put the Cubs chances at landing Peavy at 10% last week due to the fact Jeff Moorad would probably want to keep Jake Peavy and rebuild around him.
While Kevin Towers has been very vocal throughout the winter, Sandy Alderson has been consistent in his stance, even in recent days Jake Peavy would be with the Padres on Opening Day.
Everything could have changed if these reports are accurate...but the bottom line and the most important move that must be made for the Chicago Cubs this off-season is to have a new owner in place as soon as possible.
The feeling here in San Diego is that Peavy is still leaving. The report broke today as you mentioned that Moores would gradually turn the team over to Moorad while holding majority interest for a few more years. That salary cut is still needed and likely to mean Peavy is still gone. It is stated they are 5 million over the budget, and they still have a few areas to address, including a second baseman. The trade with the Cubs gets Peavy off the books and fills their needs without alot of salary being taken back.
Another indication that Peavy is likely to still leave was his agents comment that should Peavy go to another team he would likely skip the WBC and stay with his new team instead.
I do think at the end of the day, this trade gets made. I think any of oue new owners will give the blessing to get Peavy and I think truly thats all this is waiting for.
I believe Jake is going to be a Cub.
This budget change will take the Padres from the 19th payroll to probably the 29th. Do we as CUBS fans have any idea how luxurious it is to be faithful to a larger market team?
I watched the game last night on MLB network also. Pretty Interesting. It's amazing that was 18 years ago already. wow. A few things struck me.
It was great to hear Harry and Steve again. Harry was the best, without a doubt. He made the game sound so exciting, as opposed to plain vanilla boring broadcasters like Joe Buck, who put you asleep. I think he is the worst. I can't stand him.
Also, the one thing I noticed that I kept looking for that I am so used to now is the box on the top of the screen that has the score, count and inning. That was such a great idea.
And boy was Three Rivers stadium an ugly stadium or what ? Sheesh. PNC is so beautiful that I had forgotten how ugly that old astro-turf bowl was.
Gee, Barry Bonds must have still been in puberty back in 1991, because he got so much bigger as the years went on. haha. What a fraud that guy is. Pathetic.
Anyways, that ending was so "Cub" wasn't it ? :-)
Thank God we have a real team these days.
Go Cubs.
Am I the only one that is going to have problems getting excited about this team next year, whether they start off good or not???
After last year's dissappointment, I kinda got the attitude of, "I'll believe it when I see it".
Doesn't help that they haven't made many moves to improve the team(except the milton bradley signing).
Well see.
We are minutes away from the announcement of this years inductees for the Hall Of Fame. Obviously Rickey Henderson is a no-brainer. Best lead-off hitter of all time! Hey, aren't the Cubs in the market for a lead off hitter?? You wouldn't mind waiting another 5 years for election, would ya Rickey? My guess is it will also be a special day for one Lee Arthur Smith. Now that a few closers have been recognized in recent years, how can you not put the pitcher who until Trevor Hoffman passed him, was the all time saves leader? I think he gets the call. It could also be the shot for Bert Be Home Blyleven. I think he definitely is deserving. Almost 300 wins (287), 3700 strikeouts, 242 complete games, and more suprising to me a career ERA of 3.31. Many critics point to his 250 losses. But, cmon his ERA shows he wasn't getting bombed. The losses were a result of the number of years spent playing for crappy Twins and Indians teams. He definitely should be in. There is debate as to whether Jim Rice gets over the hump and makes it in on his last year of eligibility. I'm torn on Rice. On one hand I think he deserves to go, but on the other I just don't think he was that special. I do think Andre Dawson should be voted in, because I think the Hawk possessed more tools than Rice. Not only could Dawson hit for power, before Montreal tore his knees to hell he had great speed. I just think he displayed more than Rice did over a longer period. I liked watching Tim Raines play as I grew up and some say he was the Rickey Henderson of the NL. While he was very good and very similar, I don't think in the end he was quite as good as Rickey. Dale Murphy had a good career, but I just don't think it was Hall worthy. One interesting player in the final year of eligibility is Tommy John. He has never gained much in the way of votes, and is unlikely to stage a miracle this year. But, the guy was just 12 wins short of the "magical" 300 mark (288), pitched 22 years and had a very unique and major surgery (at the time) which is now referred to as Tommy John Surgery. He not only had this major surgery, but won 164 games after it. Also, compare him to another lefty that many would argue is going to be a Hall of Famer, Randy Johnson. In 21 seasons Johnson has 295 wins. Likely to pass 300 but not by much. Johnson has 100 complete games compared to Johns 162. John ha6 46 shutouts compared to Johnson 37. I think Tommy is a definite Hall of Famer.
Well Henderson and Rice made the Hall. Hawk and Blyleven were in the mid-60's percentage wise and didn't make it. As Jennifer Flowers said when comparing her experience to Monica's, "Close, but no cigar."
Tommy John got just over 30% of the votes. He and the very much deserving Gil Hodges are two Indiana native sons who deserve better. We do have eight in the Hall, and (I know) that most of you know they are: two famous Cubs, Mordecai (three finger) Brown and Billy Herman, Edd Roush, Oscar Charleston, Max Carey, Sam Thompson, Chuck Klein and Sam Rice.
As far as roster changes go, things are getting a little whacky. Besides the possible "no interest" group I mentioned on a prior topic, the Yankees are trying to move the highly productive Xavier Nady. He's a solid player who would bat 3rd for most teams. On another front, there's talk that (somehow) Abreu ends up in Cinccinnati.
A deal whereby we get Peavy would be whacky too. It would be the rare instance where a player wouldn't go elsewhere and the Pads have to move him--seemingly at all costs. I do think that JH has a couple of moves left that will be focussed on Little People for the 25 man roster and/or new faces for the farm.