Several reports on Tuesday night indicated once Jim Edmonds clears waivers on Wednesday he will sign with the Cubs. Felix Pie appears to be the odd man out and will likely be sent down to Iowa to continue to work on his swing. Reports also indicated that Reed Johnson and Edmonds be platooned in center while Pie patrols the outfields of the Pacific Coast League.
If Edmonds is signed, could Pie be traded instead of optioned back down to Iowa? According to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune Tuesday night (hat tip to Matt Haggard) if Edmonds signs with the Cubs they will have “a surplus of outfielders — two of whom the Padres have shown interest in before, Felix Pie and Matt Murton.”
Rumors surfaced over the winter the Padres were interested in Matt Murton, Kevin Towers (the Padres’ GM) mentioned Murton’s name himself on several occasions. And rumors of a possible trade of Felix Pie to the Padres for Kahlil Greene have been floating around for the last few weeks. The San Diego Union Tribune mentioned Kevin Towers was (or still is) in Chicago. According to the report the Cubs “could be asking for Kahlil Greene in exchange for Pie — probably a deal-breaker.”
Trading Felix Pie should not be in option if they take a flier on Jim Edmonds. Pie in Iowa as an insurance policy is better than Pie in a Padres’ uniform.
As mentioned for the last two days, the Jim Edmonds debate should be over one way or another on Wednesday. He will either be Carlos Zambrano’s newest teammate or not.
Stay Tuned….Will Post a ‘From the Wire‘ report as soon as the news surfaces on where Jim Edmonds officially landed.