Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Big package needed to acquire Adrian Gonzalez

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November 18

SI.com

"Adrian Gonzalez: Any acquiring team would have to put together a tremendous package for the superstar player with the most reasonable multiyear contract in baseball ($10.5 million over the next two years). The silliest rumor so far had Gonzalez possibly going in a three-way trade with Paul Konerko going to the Angels and prospects to the Padres. Beyond the fact the Angels have a great first baseman in Kendry Morales, Konerko's high contract makes him a giveaway at this point."

Halladay more likely to go than Gonzalez

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November 10

SI.com

"Baseball people seem to believe that of the two superstar players available in trade -- Roy Halladay and Adrian Gonzalez -- Halladay is more likely to be moved for a few important reasons, such as: 1) He's eligible for free agency after this year, whereas the Padres have Gonzalez for two more years. 2) He makes $16 million to only about $5 million for Gonzalez, who has $10.25 mil over two remaining. 3) He wants out of Toronto. In an especially weak free-agent starting-pitching market, Halladay, 31, would draw interest from several teams, and with a new GM in Toronto (Alex Anthopoulos replaced J.P. Ricciardi), the whole game could change. It isn't known how Padres GM Jed Hoyer or ..."

Gonzalez might put Padres in a bind

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November 9

San Diego Union-Tribune

"With Jake Peavy gone, Adrian Gonzalez has become the face of the Padres. An extremely popular personality on both sides of the border, the 27-year-old native San Diegan has also blossomed into one of the top all-around first basemen in the National League. Over his four seasons as a Padre, Gonzalez has a .285 average with 130 homers and 400 RBI. He is a two-time All-Star and the 2008 National League Gold Glove winner at first base. And he is still a bargain. Gonzalez is committed to the Padres for two more seasons at a total of $10.25 million plus possibly an additional $500,000 in reachable performance bonuses - at most a total that is $4 million less than Peavy was to have made next ..."

Hazen turns down Padres, opts for Sox

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November 3

Boston Globe

"The Red Sox may already have lost assistant general manager Jed Hoyer to the Padres and bench coach Brad Mills to the Astros, but they won't be losing director of player development Mike Hazen, who was offered an assistant general manager job by San Diego. According to a baseball source, Hazen will remain with the Sox. His duties won't be different, including no new title, though he will be granted more autonomy based on the changing role of assistant general manager Ben Cherington. With the departure of Hoyer, Cherington will move from overseeing amateur scouting and drafting and player development to focusing more on the major league club, including roster construction and contract ..."

Hoyer offers contracts to all scouts, player development personnel

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October 29

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Shortly after taking the job as Padres general manager, Jed Hoyer on Monday praised the depth of talent in the scouting and player development department. Wednesday, on a conference call to the club's amateur scouts, cross-checkers and minor league instructors, managers and coaches, Hoyer tendered contracts to "all of both staffs." "I'm not sure everyone will return, some might take jobs elsewhere," Hoyer said late Wednesay afternoon. "But we've offered them all contracts for 2010.""

Padres to name Hoyer as general manager

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October 25

San Diego Union-Tribune

"A tip-off? He was a pitcher. Jed Hoyer never pitched a game in the major leagues, or even the minors. But he has done considerable duty on the mound, and that's seemingly become a prerequisite for positions of major responsibility with the Padres, who tomorrow will introduce Hoyer as their new general manager, according to Union-Tribune sources. Hoyer, an assistant general manager with the Boston Red Sox, had been considered the front-runner to become the new Padres general manager from almost the very start of the three-week quest to replace Kevin Towers. After 14 years at the Padres helm, Towers was fired Oct. 2 by new Chief Executive Officer Jeff Moorad, who said he wanted "more of a ..."

Signs point to Hoyer as next Padres GM

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October 24

San Diego Union-Tribune

"From all indications, the Padres seem nearly poised to take the wonder out of everybody and name a new general manager, the best bet being Jed Hoyer of the Boston Red Sox. According to a reliable Union-Tribune source and several reports around baseball, the selection of the Red Sox assistant general manager as successor to the dismissed Kevin Towers is imminent. However, the Padres have scheduled no such announcement for Thursday. "We're still working on it," CEO Jeff Moorad told the Union-Tribune via e-mail Wednesday night. "We have a couple follow-up discussions scheduled for (Thursday), then are likely to move toward a decision.""

Sources: Padres moving closer to hire

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October 21

ESPN.com

columnist Buster Olney

"The San Diego Padres are moving closer toward hiring Jed Hoyer, an assistant general manager with the Boston Red Sox, as their next general manager, according to major league sources. Hoyer, 35, has worked in Boston's front office under Theo Epstein. Hoyer has interviewed with other teams for GM jobs in the past. Jeff Moorad, who became CEO and part-owner of the Padres earlier this year, informed Kevin Towers on the final weekend of the regular season that he would not continue as the team's general manager. Towers had been San Diego's GM since 1995."

Padres could soon hire new GM

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October 21

MLB.com

"Could the San Diego Padres be close to hiring a new general manager? Padres CEO Jeff Moorad has said he would like to hire a general manager by the start of the World Series, which is set to begin on Oct. 28. Major League Baseball strongly discourages the announcement of significant transactions by teams during the World Series. But with the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies each leading their respective Championship Series 3-1, there could be an impending window for the team to make an announcement. According to sources, Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer remains a leading candidate to replace Kevin Towers, who was informed a day before the regular season ended ..."

Dodgers assistant GM Ng interviews for vacant San Diego Padres GM job

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October 19

L.A. Daily News

"At some point, Dodgers assistant general manager Kim Ng will become the first female general manager in major league baseball. Even more important, the fact she is a woman won't be mentioned when she is hired. Over the weekend Ng interviewed for the vacant San Diego Padres general manager position, according to a baseball source not authorized to comment publicly. Ng has worked for the Dodgers under three general managers since 2001. Current Dodgers GM Ned Colletti kept her on when he was hired in 2005 because her reputation as one of the brightest young minds in baseball preceded her. "I have known Kim a long time and I felt like she deserved the opportunity to stay," Colletti said. "Many ..."

Towers ousted as GM in San Diego

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October 3

San Diego Union-Tribune

columnist Tim Sullivan

"Padres CEO Jeff Moorad thinks of Kevin Towers as "a gunslinger," and, he added, "a masterful one, at that." What he wants is someone who can put more of the "general" in general manager. Strategic thinking is the crucial quality Moorad is seeking as he attempts to steer the Padres in a new direction following 14 years of Towers' sometimes seat-of-the-pants stewardship. Moorad wants to rebuild his baseball operation from its foundation, to develop detailed short-, mid-and long-term plans, and he has decided that Towers is not the right fit for those responsibilities. “The organization is indebted to Kevin for not only the 14 years he served as general manager, but for the fact that the ..."

Ramos to get his first big league start

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September 28

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Cesar Ramos will make his first major league start Tuesday night at Petco Park against the Dodgers. Ramos will start in Tim Stauffer's slot. "We're going to skip Tim to take a look at Cesar," Padres manager Bud Black said yesterday. Stauffer has made 14 starts since being promoted from Triple-A Portland just before the All-Star break. He has a 4-7 record with a 3.58 ERA. But Stauffer, who missed all of the 2008 season after shoulder surgery, worked only 7? innings in his two most recent outings, giving up five runs on seven hits and nine walks while throwing 178 pitches."

Padres or Giants could be destination for Bradley

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September 26

Chicago Tribune

"The market for troublemaking outfielders on the suspended list with expensive contracts may be better than originally anticipated. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is definitely a motivated seller, trying to find a counterpart who thinks he can revive Milton Bradley's career after a crash-and-burn season. After pawning Todd Hundley off on the Dodgers in 2002 for Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek, Hendry is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again. While conventional wisdom says Bradley has burned too many bridges to make anyone want him, the Padres, Giants and Royals are three teams Hendry may have on speed-dial this offseason. So far, Padres GM Kevin Towers is the only one on record to ..."

Dodgers almost had dream 'pen, but balked

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August 11

Foxsports.com

"The Dodgers were close to acquiring Padres closer Heath Bell at the non-waiver deadline. Real close. The Dodgers offered a multi-player package that the Padres were willing to accept, then had misgivings and chose not to complete the deal, two major-league sources say. Another source, however, puts the onus for the failed negotiations on the Padres, saying that the team changed the players it wanted from the Dodgers at the end. The talks had a "lot of momentum," one of the sources says, and continued right up until the non-waiver deadline at 4 p.m. ET on July 31. Regardless of what happened — or, to be more accurate, did not happen — the Dodgers could use the right-handed Bell. One of the ..."

Eckstein prefers to aid rebuilding Padres

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August 10

MLB.com

"It was on or about the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline when San Diego general manager Kevin Towers was queried by the Minnesota Twins if veteran infielder David Eckstein was available. Towers' first inclination was to decline such an overture, given everything that Eckstein has meant to the Padres this season, on and off the field. But he called Eckstein anyway. "I just wanted to see where his head was," Towers said. "I felt as if I owed it to him. If he felt like he wanted to go to a contending club with a chance to win, I would do everything to make that happen." Towers was more than relieved when Eckstein, 34, said he wanted to stay in San Diego. "He told me he enjoyed playing here in ..."

Taking Advantage of 2nd Chance, Yankees Make Trade for a Pitcher

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August 7

New York Times

"Last Friday, on the day of the nonwaiver trading deadline, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman tried to trade for the right-hander Chad Gaudin. But San Diego was making a complicated deal with the Chicago White Sox involving Jake Peavy, and moving Gaudin was not a priority. When Gaudin cleared waivers this week, Cashman revisited the idea. On Thursday, he acquired Gaudin for a player to be named or cash, adding another arm to the bullpen and another option for the fifth spot in the rotation. "We feel he's got a good arm, and he can help us out of the bullpen or be insurance for the rotation," Cashman said while the Yankees played the Red Sox. "He'll be a choice for us. He's stretched ..."

Padres agree to deal Peavy to White Sox

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July 31

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-handed pitcher Jake Peavy, a two-time All-Star and the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner, from the San Diego Padres in exchange for left-handers Aaron Poreda and Clayton Richard and right-handers Dexter Carter and Adam Russell. Peavy, 28, is 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA, one complete game and 92 strikeouts in 13 starts with the Padres in 2009. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has been on the disabled list since June 13 with a strained tendon in his right ankle. At the time he was disabled, Peavy ranked among the NL leaders in starts, strikeouts, strikeouts per 9 inning, opponents average , wins and baserunners per 9.0 IP. Jake Peavy was close to joining ..."

Sources: Dodgers making run at Padre stars

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July 31

Foxsports.com

"Even with Indians catcher Victor Martinez headed to the Red Sox, there is still a possibility that the Padres will trade first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers are making runs at both Gonzalez and Padres closer Heath Bell, either separately or in a blockbuster, according to major-league sources. If the Dodgers acquired Gonzalez, they presumably would send first baseman James Loney to the Padres or trade him somewhere else. The Angels also are talking to the Padres about Bell."

Fishing for Nick Johnson; Bell too pricey

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July 31

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"What would it take to make the Florida Marlins happy come the 4 p.m. non-waiver trading deadline? Booking Nick Johnson on a flight to South Florida. The Washington Nationals' first baseman, Johnson is the Marlins' biggest target as the clock winds down, a source that has spoken with the club confirmed this morning. The Marlins hope to land Johnson and his gaudy .408 on-base percentage, and plug him in the two spot in front of Hanley Ramirez. It seems like an ideal fit on some levels and raises questions on others. For starters, adding Johnson, who turns 31 in September, works financially. He is earning $5.5 million in the final season of a three-year deal and will be eligible for free ..."

Slow going for Indians in deal market

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July 31

Foxsports.com

"A lot can change in the final hours before the non-waiver deadline. A lot can change in the final minutes. But as Friday began, the Indians were pessimistic about their chances of trading catcher Victor Martinez — perhaps an indication that the Red Sox were making progress in their efforts to land Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, perhaps not. The Red Sox have been involved in discussions concerning Martinez, Gonzalez and Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay. "Not much here," one Indians official said."

Pads reviewing Bell, Gonzalez proposals

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July 31

Foxsports.com

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"The Padres' front office will meet late Thursday with ownership to review trade proposals for closer Heath Bell and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. General manager Kevin Towers and his staff will be joined at the meeting by Jeff Moorad, the team's vice-chairman and CEO, and Tom Garfinkel, the club president. "We'll talk through the kinds of proposals that have been made," Moorad told FOXSports.com. "We're always open to improving the club going forward. But the two significant players being discussed would require some element of overpaying to pry them loose." At least a dozen teams have expressed interest in Bell, according to one major-league source, while a half-dozen have shown interest ..."

Roy Halladay sweepstakes going down to wire

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July 31

New York Daily News

"Although he has been the main focus of the baseball world for the past few weeks, Roy Halladay is likely to remain a Blue Jay when the trade deadline arrives at 4p.m. Friday. Barring a last-minute surprise, Toronto appears unlikely to deal the former American League Cy Young winner, as the price set by general manager J.P. Ricciardi has been deemed too high by other teams. According to a source, talks continued yesterday between the Yankees and Mariners, as GM Brian Cashman is looking to bring veteran lefthander Jarrod Washburn to the Bronx for the stretch run. Seattle has been asking for a premium price to part with Washburn, but with the southpaw's contract set to expire at the end of ..."

Angels, Marlins interested in Bell

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July 31

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Heath Bell called it the kiss of death. "We just signed a one-year lease on a home in San Diego," the closer said Thursday in the Padres' clubhouse. "Before signing the lease, I didn't give a second thought to the possibility of being traded. But as soon as I signed the lease, I'm thinking, 'Oh, no.' " Bell hasn't been traded yet. But his name moved to the front of the potential trades Padres General Manager Kevin Towers is considering as Friday's 1 p.m. trade deadline approaches. Late Thursday night, both the Los Angeles Angels and Florida Marlins were still talking to the Padres regarding Bell, who has successfully converted 25 of 26 save opportunities this season. But Bell said he ..."

Red Sox, Padres talking about Adrian Gonzalez

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July 30

SI.com

"The Red Sox appear to be back in discussions with the Padres about superstar first baseman Adrian Gonzalez after Boston experienced a little hiccup in talks with the Indians involving Victor Martinez. The Padres, who have said they would need to be overwhelmed to trade closer Heath Bell or especially Gonzalez, are at least engaged in discussions involving their two best active players. Gonzalez has a reasonable contract (his four-year, $9.5 million deal runs through 2010 and includes a club option for 2011) and impressive power numbers (28 homers), so he would cost a haul."

Marlins and Rays in on Bell, Brewers out of Washburn talks

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July 30

Newsday

columnist Kevin Davidoff

"Just spoke to an official from an NL club who talked about "buyers turning into sellers, and sellers into buyers" over the last 48 hours. The Marlins definitely fall into the latter category; they are reportedly working hard to acquire Heath Bell. The Rays might, as well. The Mariners? It's still unclear precisely what they are. I spoke with an official who knows Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik well, and this official predicted, based on the trade that sent Ian Snell and Jack Wilson to the AL West, that the Mariners would hold onto Jarrod Washburn and keep going for a playoff spot. The Brewers are no longer in on Washburn."

Bell would be good fit for Yanks

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July 30

Foxsports.com

"If you're thinking that Padres closer Heath Bell would be a perfect addition for the Yankees, you're thinking right. The Yankees indeed have expressed interest in Bell, but the teams are not engaged in serious discussions, according to a major-league source. Bell would be an ideal setup man for closer Mariano Rivera, and give the Yankees the option of returning right-hander Phil Hughes to their starting rotation. Between 10 and 15 teams are pursuing Bell, sources say. The Marlins are among those showing the strongest interest, and the Rangers are on the periphery. The Padres, however, are asking a high price — "as much as the Blue Jays are for Halladay," one source says — and might simply ..."

Padres looking to shop Correia

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July 30

Foxsports.com

"The Padres are not just talking to teams about first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell. They also are actively shopping right-hander Kevin Correia, and the Brewers are among the teams interested. No deal is close, according to major-league sources, but Correia, 7-8 with a 4.75 ERA, would come relatively cheaply. He is owed only about $250,000 more this season."

Marlins going after Padres closer Bell

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July 30

Foxsports.com

"At trading time, the Marlins often are full of surprises. They sent infielder Miguel Cabrera and left-hander Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers at the 2007 winter meetings. They tried to acquire Manny Ramirez at the non-waiver deadline a year ago. And now, they're after the Padres' All-Star closer, right-hander Heath Bell. The Marlins are one of 10 to 15 teams pursuing Bell, according to major-league sources, and they're deep enough in prospects to pull off such a deal. However, the Padres want one of the Marlins' young starting pitchers, either left-hander Andrew Miller or Sean West, as the centerpiece of a multi-player package. To the Marlins, who traded first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the ..."

Gonzalez moving? Don't count on it

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July 29

Foxsports.com

"In late May, Padres CEO Jeff Moorad told FOXSports.com, "I've said publicly that no player is untouchable, but I would be hard-pressed to imagine a deal that could ever make sense for Adrian Gonzalez." That still appears to be the case. While the Padres are listening to proposals for Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell, the chances of them trading Gonzalez, in particular, appear minute. The Red Sox continue to explore a trade for Gonzalez, but one source familiar with the discussions characterized the chance of a deal as "very small ... slim to none." The Sox also are pursuing Indians catcher Victor Martinez, but appear to face long odds in that quest as well."

Teams still calling for Bell and Gonzalez

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July 29

SI.com

"Heath Bell has saved 24 games, and he could singlehandedly save a dreary relief market. He is available, though just barely. The Padres are telling teams they will need to fill "multiple needs" if they deal Bell. Their needs, as identified by one competing exec, are corner bat, starter, catcher and middle infielder. While the Red Sox are talking about Halladay and Lee, their focus remains offense. They've talked to the Indians about a deal for both Victor Martinez and Lee, but some believe they'd simply sell off Lee if they could pull off that deal. Martinez and Adrian Gonzalez appear to be their top targets. But the Padres are saying they are even less likely to trade Gonzalez than Bell ..."

Padres' trade bait staying put?

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July 27

Foxsports.com

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"No team should make personnel decisions based on public relations, but Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell will be particularly difficult to move because of their respective standings in the community. Gonzalez is a native San Diegan and Mexican-American, not to mention highly productive and highly affordable. Bell lacks obvious community ties, but his gregarious presence makes him especially popular with fans. The Padres recently staged a "breakfast in the park" promotion that was attended by about 500 fans. The team set up tables behind home plate and on the warning track in the outfield. Bell, without being asked, spent more time mingling with fans than any other ..."

Boston looking at Roy Halladay, Victor Martinez and Adrian Gonzalez

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July 27

SI.com

"Like their rival Yankees, the Red Sox also are believed to have talked to the Blue Jays in recent days about Halladay. Boston's surprising recent struggles are said to have club owner John Henry wanting to do something big, however. But Boston is seen by competitors as being very reluctant to give up its top prospects. Top pitching prospect Clay Buchholz is the Jays' first target, but that would just be the start. One sources suggested their asking price would also include closing prospect Daniel Bard and shortstop Jed Lowrie. In any case, since Toronto has made clear that the Red Sox have to have to pay a premium (like the Yankees), the chances do not look great here. Victor Martinez ..."

Top picks unsigned as deadline looms

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July 27

San Diego Union-Tribune

"With less than a month to go to the signing deadline, the Padres have yet to sign their Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 6 picks from the June draft. All four were selected out of high school, meaning they have options, meaning their advisers/agents likely will use brinksmanship and negotiate until the Aug. 17 signing deadline. "Obviously, they're all sitting back and playing a waiting game," said Grady Fuson, the Padres vice president of scouting and player development. "We still feel confident." But that doesn't mean the Padres are going to sign all their remaining unsigned draft picks. In fact, they probably won't. The amount of money available for the draft is finite. "I don't see that pot ..."

Gonzalez, Bell both unlikely to be traded

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July 26

MLB.com

"Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he is getting a "ton of calls" from other teams regarding the availability of Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell, though he's still opposed to making a deal involving either player. Towers is a never-say-never kind of guy, which means he won't come out and simply state that the Padres won't deal Gonzalez or Bell, but at this point he's not inclined to move his first baseman and closer as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline nears. "You always need to listen, but it would have to be the right deal," Towers said. Towers wouldn't go into specifics but stated that he's held conversations with several opposing general managers in recent weeks about the two ..."

Price will be steep for Padres' Gonzalez, Bell

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July 26

Yahoo! Sports

"The San Diego Padres were getting a lot of play on first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell as of Saturday, but club sources were adamant that interested clubs would have to overpay to acquire either. Gonzalez is the face of the franchise and of the coming reconstruction of the Padres, so he's not likely to go anywhere. But given the number of teams searching for bullpen arms and a market that won't bear much, a line could indeed form to overpay for Bell, who has a closer's mentality and destroys right-handed hitters."

Trade talk has Bell's head spinning

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July 24

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Twenty minutes after Heath Bell first heard of trade rumors regarding Adrian Gonzalez and the Red Sox he saw the news that Boston had indeed traded for a first baseman - Adam LaRoche. "In our business, this is the craziest time of the year," said the Padres closer of the rapidly approaching July 31 trade deadline. "I'm seeing my own name in rumors and I don't know what to make of it," Bell said. "To me, it seems like most of the teams contending for playoff berths don't need closers."

Padres going with youth in second half

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July 16

San Diego Union-Tribune

"What you see now with the Padres is pretty much what you are going to see for the rest of the season. Which, among other things, means you might not see Jake Peavy again. "I think it's 50-50 if Jake will pitch again this season," Padres General Manager Kevin Towers said this week as he projected the second half of the Padres season. "We'll know more when he comes out of the cast. I can't speak for Jake, but I'd much rather have him ready for 2010 than risking more serious injury by coming back too early this year.""

A's add some pop in Hairston from Padres

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July 6

Oakland Tribune

"The A's swung a trade Sunday night for San Diego Padres outfielder Scott Hairston in exchange for minor league pitchers Ryan Webb and Craig Italiano and a player to be named. Hairston, 29, was playing mainly center field and occasionally left field for the Padres. He's expected to join the A's in time for tonight's series opener in Boston. He's likely to enter the lineup immediately in center field, assistant general manager David Forst said. Hairston, who throws and bats right-handed, was hitting .299 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI in 56 games for San Diego. He hit a career-high 17 homers last season. "Hairston's a guy we've liked for quite some time," Forst said. "He's a right-handed ..."

Working the sell phones

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July 1

MLB.com

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"Indians GM Mark Shapiro has seen this movie before and might be directing it again. The struggling Tribe already shipped out useful vet DeRosa and rumors abound that Shapiro might say goodbye to pitchers Carl Pavano and Kerry Wood and possibly even slugging catcher Victor Martinez if the price is right. The Orioles could dangle Aubrey Huff, Ty Wigginton or Luke Scott, the Pirates and Nationals already have shown a willingness to part with a good portion of their players, the Royals could make available a host of position players and pitchers, the Padres might offer a little hitting (Scott Hairston) while the D-backs could deal pitching (Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Chad Qualls) to the right ..."

Young won't be rushed back

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June 26

San Diego Union-Tribune

"Chris Young is unlikely to return to the Padres rotation until after the All-Star break because of the inflammation in his right shoulder. Padres manager Bud Black Thursday said the Padres are going to follow a cautious timetable with Young. "I came back too soon a couple of times," Black said. "In the long run, nothing good comes of that. You can pass all the tests and feel good until you put a load on it." When Young's shoulder bothered him after his June 14 start in Anaheim, the Padres hoped he might only miss one start and delayed putting him on the disabled list. Then, after the first of two cortisone injections, Young went on the disabled list June 17 with hopes of missing only ..."

Red Sox want rotation depth, will keep Penny

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June 20

ESPN.com

"Be realistic. Jake Peavy and Erik Bedard probably won't be tradeable before Aug. 1. Drayton McLane is not moving Roy Oswalt. Jarrod Washburn could probably be had, and would be a good pickup for a National League team with a big ballpark (cue Dodgers, Mets and Giants). And that's about it. Oh, Brad Penny would probably be the best starting pitcher out there, but unless someone comes up with a Justin Smoak, Matt LaPorta or Brett Wallace -- which isn't going to happen -- they are going to hold onto Penny, who is two years removed from finishing third in the NL Cy Young race. Early in the season, Penny came out throwing 88-90 mph in the first couple of innings and gradually worked his way up ..."

Peavy could miss as many as 12 weeks

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June 13

San Diego Union-Tribune

"The Padres lost Jake Peavy on Friday - only not in the fashion that most fans feared. Peavy is going on the disabled list with a partially torn tendon in the right ankle that has bothered the ace right-hander since May 22. Optimistically, the Padres are hoping Peavy - the subject of trade rumors and attempts since the end of last season - will be ready to pitch shortly after next month's All-Star break. But Padres trainer Todd Hutcheson said Friday night that it could be eight to 12 weeks before Peavy is fit to pitch again. That could become a major factor in the Padres' thoughts to trade Peavy and relieve the franchise of some of the almost $60 million owed the 2007 National League Cy ..."

Friars eye sluggers with ties to UNC

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June 8

MLB.com

"Two players with ties to the University of North Carolina have landed on the San Diego Padres' radar, the day before the team selects third overall in the First-Year Player Draft. The Padres -- while in a wait-and-see mode, unsure more of who the Seattle Mariners will take with the No. 2 pick -- are reportedly prepared to take high school outfielder Donavan Tate, who has committed to play football and baseball for the Tar Heels, or current UNC first baseman-outfielder Dustin Ackley. The Padres could well end up with Tate, as the Mariners reportedly have strong interest in Ackley, who on Sunday helped the Tar Heels win their Super Regional and a berth in the College World Series by belting ..."

Roy Oswalt, Jake Peavy unjoin the club

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June 2

Chicago Sun-Times

"According to the Houston Chronicle, Roy Oswalt would turn down the White Sox if they tried to acquire him. According to general manager Ken Williams, the right-hander need not worry about being put in that situation. But the fact remained that for the second time in a week, a National League hurler has turned his back on the idea of playing for the Sox. ''I don't care,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''If I pitched in the National League, I would think twice about coming to the American League because now you'd find out how to really pitch. Every lineup is loaded. ''But if they don't want to play for the Sox, good. First of all, we never mentioned, at least Kenny never mentioned that name ..."

With Myers on the shelf, Philly's in search of starting pitching

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June 1

SI.com

"The Phillies were scouring the trade market for starting pitching help even before Brett Myers became the latest big-name casualty with the increasingly fashionable torn hip labrum. Teammate Chase Utley beat the four-month prediction for him to return from the same injury, but Phillies people understandably worry that it may be more difficult for a pitcher to come back as quickly. In any case, the world champions are aiming high now in their quest for a starter, with Jake Peavy appearing to top their list of desirable aces, perhaps followed by Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee and Erik Bedard. Ruben Amaro, the Phillies' aggressive new GM, understands better than anyone that this is a win-now team, one ..."

Peavy would be perfect for Phils

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June 1

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Reports from San Diego said righthander Jake Peavy will make his scheduled start tomorrow against the visiting Phillies, despite being bothered by tendinitis in his right ankle.Padres manager Bud Black said the ankle has improved and Peavy "feels confident it's not going to affect him." Black added that "it's always great to have that caliber of pitcher making his start."Peavy is 5-5 with a 3.57 ERA but has won his last three starts after going a month without a victory.Peavy's numbers belie his skills. The 2007 Cy Young Award winner fits the Phillies' needs so perfectly - a bulldog-tough righthanded counterpart to lefty Cole Hamels - it's as if he was created wearing red pinstripes.Forget ..."

Astros' Roy Oswalt might like change of address

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May 31

Chicago Tribune

"Keep an eye on the relationship between Roy Oswalt and the Astros. He has been disappointed that the club hasn't made an attempt to land Jake Peavy and recently has seemed at odds with manager Cecil Cooper. Oswalt has a full no-trade clause but might not mind a chance to go to a contender. ... Peavy insists he could reconsider a White Sox trade later in the season. The Sox say they're open to the possibility, but it seems as much of a long shot as it did two weeks ago. ... Add the Yankees and Braves to the possible Mark DeRosa destinations. ... Credit new pitching coach Rick Knapp, catcher Gerald Laird and an improved infield defense, as much as newcomers Edwin Jackson and Rick ..."

Trade market for pitchers confronts Philly

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May 30

ESPN.com

"Weeks ago, the Phillies began the process of evaluating the market for starting pitching. Chan Ho Park, their No. 5 starter, was struggling, and so was 46-year-old wonder Jamie Moyer. The Phillies felt they had to start preparing for the possibility that they might need a veteran starting pitcher. But now their need for a starting pitcher is acute, and probably immediate, because Brett Myers needs hip surgery. So the front office must now decide when a move should and will happen, especially so they can keep the window open for winning, as Jim Salisbury writes. There are a range of avenues for the Phillies to explore, but in the end, there are probably very few reasonable options. They ..."

Fallout from Peavy

Comment

May 30

SI.com

"Peavy can't be blamed one bit for invoking the no-trade provision that was negotiated in good faith. But one GM on a competing team said he believes the very public selling of Peavy, accompanied by continued speculation about which teams Peavy might accept, could become "the death of the no-trade clause.'' That may be wishful thinking. But this clause has certainly led to months of angst and heartache for the Padres, who competitors believe are anxious now to be rid of the $60 million or so remaining on Peavy's deal. While Padres GM Kevin Towers arranged a trade with the White Sox to get left-handed pitching prospects Aaron Poreda and Clayton Richard, as well as two more pitchers (one NL ..."

Padres Trade Rumors