"With just two days left before exclusive negotiating time runs out on teams and their free agents, all three Cubs free agents the team would like to bring back -- pitchers Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood and backup catcher Henry Blanco -- appear headed to the open market first, if they come back at all.

Meanwhile, the Cubs and Atlanta Braves are said to still be deeply involved in trade talks with San Diego on former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, possibly with the Cubs and Padres engaging a third team in that efforts to help make all the pieces fit. And ESPN.com reports that Cubs third base prospect Josh Vitters -- the third overall pick in the 2007 June draft -- could be the centerpiece of a Cubs package, a report that appeared to be based on a San Diego source.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry declined comment on specifics regarding the Peavy talks or the status of talks with his free agents.

But the Cubs have made no secret of their interest in Peavy, whom the Padres say could be traded -- somewhere -- by the winter meetings 3½ weeks from now, with some suggesting by Thanksgiving. And Hendry's strong relationship with San Diego general manager Kevin Towers suggest the Cubs could be in strong position in the Peavy sweepstakes.

Conversations Tuesday with more than a half-dozen baseball sources, inside and outside the organization, pointed to at least a few likely facts and issues:

• • The Cubs' payroll should rise from the $130 million level at the end of this season, possibly by enough to fit both Peavy ($11 million in '09) and Dempster (potentially more) into the budget;

• • The Peavy saga should be resolved -- regardless of his destination -- before the Cubs' top in-house priority (Dempster) is;

• • And Peavy's history of shoulder and elbow issues (albeit, no surgery) and extra-care/rest requirements could make him a particularly tough fit for the Cubs, considering he has four years, $67 million guaranteed remaining on his contract; is expected to require full no-trade status and the $22 million option for 2013 to be picked up in order to approve the trade; and the Cubs already have similar care/rest issues with starter Rich Harden."