Is a deal near for Peavy?
LAS VEGAS - The end could be near as Padres general manager Towers and Cubs general manager Jim Hendry are to speak at least one more time before the meetings end Thursday.
Towers has gone as far to tell reporters that he will know one way or the other by then if a deal is to be had.
"We had more dialog today than any other day," Towers said of his talks with Hendry. "We'll know tomorrow [Thursday]. Before we check out of this hotel ... we'll know if we have a deal. This has been the entire focus of baseball ops [operations]."
Towers said for the first time Wednesday that, in all likihood, a fourth team would need to be involved in a deal with the Cubs and the Phillies to ensure the Padres get in return the package of players, Major League-ready pitching as well as prospect, they want for Peavy.
"[Getting] a number of players fills more holes, but there has to be a couple a guys in this deal who can make an impact on our team soon," Towers said.
Towers thinks the only thing holding up the deal is the need for the Cubs to move one or two contracts - namely pitcher Jason Marquis and his $9.875 salary and possibly second baseman Mark DeRosa and his $5.5 million salary for 2009.
The Cubs could ask the Padres to assume part of Marquis' salary, something that Towers would rather not do. However, he said Wednesday that under the right circumstances and the right return of players, he would consider it.
The Phillies are said to want DeRosa and are thought to be willing to trade left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ, 26, who was 8-7 with a 3.60 ERA at Triple-A Lehigh Valley a year ago. Happ profiles as the kind of pitcher the Padres like - a strike-thrower with strong control - and one who could slide into the starting rotation in 2009.
There are some reports that 24-year-old Kyle Kendrick, who was 11-9 with a 5.49 ERA with the Phillies last season. A Padres source said one rumored deal that would land the Padres shortstop Jason Donald or pitcher Carlos Carrasco from the Phillies was entirely false.
The Cubs could offer a package of third baseman prospect Josh Vitters and possibly an outfielder, Felix Pie, in return as well as a reliever Kevin Hart.
-- Corey Brock
I think this is insane. This should be a no-brainer for Jim Hendry. Yes you lose DeRosa and possibly Marquis but the Padres are giving the Cubs a break by taking Felix Pie because he has not owned up to his potential, which is what usually happens on the North Side of Chicago. But as a die hard Cubs fan, no matter who it costs, they need to make this deal before it's too late. And if you lose DeRo, you have Fontenot waiting at 2nd. This deal shouldn't even be thought about by the Cubs. Take it! If they don't, then that shows that they are not committed to winning a World Series because if they did, then they would go out and get the best players out there, no questions asked.
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