Padres Trade Rumors

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
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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 ..."
As Peavy saga drags on, Bedard may become hot commodity
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May 30
SI.com
 
"The Mariners made some early noise with their nice start to the season, but the club could create a much bigger national story as a trader this summer. Unlike a vast majority of teams expected to straddle the buy/sell fence, the now 22-26 Mariners seem to understand their position as a rebuilding team. What's more, they have decent, veteran talent to trade, including front-line, left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard, who should become an increasingly popular trade target. Bedard's value on the market could depend in part on Jake Peavy's desires and some other teams' decisions regarding whether to shop their starters (for instance, Cleveland and Cliff Lee) but regardless of what happens with the ..."
Phillies' hitting potent, but rotation needs addressing
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May 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"As was the case in most of the 1980s, this is proving to be a dynasty-free decade in baseball. There wasn't a lot of talk about the Philadelphia Phillies or Tampa Bay Rays being capable of a run after they went to the World Series in October, and the three-tiered playoff system makes for long odds against any except the most dominant teams. Two months in, though, don't count out the Phillies. They are going to be really dangerous if they ever sort out their starting pitching. Charlie Manuel's defending champs had managed to lead the National League East eight days in a row before slipping a half-game behind the Mets entering the weekend. They did this despite a starting rotation with a ..."
Peavy's agent comments on Philly
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May 28
MLB.com
 
"If the Phillies decide they need starting pitching help before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the hottest name available would be San Diego Padres right-hander Jake Peavy.But would Peavy play in Philadelphia? "I have not discussed Philly with Jake because nobody has asked us to discuss Philly," said Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod.Peavy has a full no-trade clause, which means he can veto any trade. He recently vetoed a trade to the Chicago White Sox. Of course, to get to that point, the Phillies and Padres first would have to agree on the talent the Phillies would send to the Padres, which would be considerable. The Phillies also would have to be willing to take on the remaining $63 ..."
Reinsdorf shuts door on Peavy pursuit
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May 26
MLB.com
 
"Is the deal dead? That question popped up numerous times in Chicago over the past weekend, after Jake Peavy officially invoked his trade-veto power to nix a four-for-one move that would have sent him from the San Diego Padres to the White Sox. General manager Ken Williams indicated on Friday that the trade offer caught Peavy off-guard at such an early stage of the season but added that the White Sox won't sit back and wait while the right-hander is surveying the situation. Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, said he would never say never in regard to Peavy pitching in the American League but reiterated Peavy's desire to stay in the Senior Circuit. During a Memorial Day radio interview on ESPN ..."
Kouzmanoff might be a fit for Cubs
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May 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"So far, Mike Fontenot, Bobby Scales and Ryan Freel haven't been the answers to covering third base for the Cubs in the significant absence of Aramis Ramirez. But could the other guy who played third during the Cubs' series over the weekend be a solution? Forget Jake Peavy; the Cubs might make better use San Diego third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, a player the Padres have indicated a willingness to move. Nothing appears imminent, and if the Cubs can't make a move like that in next couple of weeks, the value of adding a replacement for Ramirez starts dropping with each stage of rehab Ramirez completes. But the Cubs acknowledge a potential fit, although they say they think Fontenot, in ..."
Ace pair back in play
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May 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs got ace Carlos Zambrano back Friday night in San Diego, with the big right-hander returning from his hamstring injury. But it was the Ace Who Got Away last winter, Jake Peavy, who was still fresh on the minds of Chicago baseball fans and staring down the Cubs from the mound a day after he invoked his no-trade rights to nix a trade to the White Sox. With the Cubs' sale to Tom Ricketts still a lingering, dragging work in progress, Jim Hendry's dreams of a dream rotation on the North Side remain on hold. But the Cubs certainly were still able to dream, even as Peavy tried to beat them Friday night for the first time since early in his 2007 Cy Young season. Peavy's agent, Barry ..."
White Sox leave Jake Peavy offer on the table
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May 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"he White Sox offer to San Diego for Jake Peavy remains on the table in hopes that the former Cy Young Award winner will change his mind and waive his no-trade clause. "When it happens in the third week of May and you're forced to make a decision so quickly that affects your entire family, I think it's probably a wise thing for him to take a step back, review the situation, and go from there," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said Friday. "But we won't, as I explained to him, we won't sit around. "We've got business to take care of. We've got to right our ship. So we're not going to sit around waiting for this, but who knows what will happen in the future?" Peavy apparently wanted to ..."
Jake Peavy rejecting White Sox doesn't change Cubs' situation
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May 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs position on Jake Peavy after the Padres right-hander vetoed a proposed deal to the White Sox was exactly the same as it was five months ago. They like Peavy and they'd love to have Peavy, but until the Ricketts family takes over the team, general manager Jim Hendry will not assume that Tom Ricketts is willing to take on Peavy's $63 million contract. Hendry declined to talk about Peavy on Thursday, saying it was "inappropriate" to discuss another team's player. Hendry hasn't spoken to Ricketts since the first homestand of the season and has not keep him apprised of player moves. The Ricketts are finalizing the financing necessary to close out their $900 million purchase of the ..."
Peavy says San Diego is the place for him, turns down trade
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May 22
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Two months after the arrival of a new CEO/future majority owner, the Padres nonetheless are in the same mode of slashing player payroll with ace Jake Peavy still the primary target. Five games into a winning streak, the Padres tried to clear about $59 million off their books by trading Peavy to the Chicago White Sox for four pitchers. But Peavy withheld his consent that is needed for a trade and said he will face the Chicago Cubs Friday night, rather than join a White Sox club that fell to 17-23 Thursday."
Peavy rejects trade to White Sox
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May 22
SI.com
 
"Padres ace Jake Peavy informed his team late Thursday afternoon that he was rejecting the team's proposed trade with the White Sox, SI.com has confirmed. The two teams had a deal in place whereby the White Sox would have sent left-handed pitching prospects Aaron Poreda and Clayton Richard plus two more minor leaguers to San Diego for Peavy, but the trade needed Peavy's approval since he has full no-trade clause. The Padres' star seemed to be seriously weighing whether to accept the trade and move to Chicago, which was willing to assume the approximately $60 million remaining on his contract. Earlier Thursday, in a bad sign, the White Sox were asked by the Padres, "Do you have any idea on ..."
White Sox awaiting Peavy's trade approval; former teammate says pitcher's '50-50' on the deal
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May 21
Chicago Tribune
 
"The White Sox hope to be close to finalizing a blockbuster trade for San Diego pitching ace Jake Peavy, though some signs are pointing to Peavy staying a Padre by day's end. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported this morning that Peavy met with Padres manager Bud Black late Wednesday night to discuss a trade inquiry from the Sox, and it's expected that the deal needs only Peavy's approval for finalization. The paper reported that Peavy referred to his status as "something to think about" but that his preference is to continue pitching in the National League. The story states that Peavy respects the Sox's aggressiveness but has reservations about pitching for manager Ozzie Guillen. ESPN.com ..."
Peavy deal to White Sox not imminent
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May 21
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"It's unlikely the Padres will trade ace pitcher Jake Peavy to the Chicago White Sox, though the clubs discussed a 4-for-1 swap and Peavy has heard from a White Sox player who told him he would love for Peavy to become a teammate. It's far more likely that Peavy will start for the Padres on Friday against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park, according to people close to the pitcher. Peavy's consent would be needed for a trade, but the process hasn't gotten to that point."
White Sox, Padres agree on trade for Peavy, await pitcher's decision
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May 21
SI.com
 
"The White Sox have reached agreement with the Padres on a trade for Jake Peavy but are awaiting Peavy's approval now, SI.com has learned. Peavy has full no-trade power and the trade will be entirely his call. The sides are expecting a fairly quick decision by Peavy. Peavy's agent Barry Axelrod said that Peavy prefers "Middle America,'' so that should work. However, Peavy is also known to like the National League. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported this morning that the sides were close to a deal."
Peavy trade to White Sox may be near
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May 21
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"A team from Chicago is showing interest in trading four players for Jake Peavy – but for now, it's not the Cubs. It's the White Sox. According to Padres personnel, Peavy met with Padres manager Bud Black late Wednesday night to discuss a trade overture from the Sox. Peavy, whose consent would be needed for a trade to any club, declined all comment after meeting with Black. Within the clubhouse, though, Peavy referred to the situation as "something to think about" yet also restated his desire to stay in the National League. One of Peavy's teammates said he believes Peavy respects the Sox's aggressiveness in pushing for him but may have reservations about pitching for Ozzie Guillen, the ..."
Starter(s) headed to bullpen?
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May 6
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Without getting into specifics, Padres manager Bud Black said "there is a possibility" the club will move a starting pitcher or two into the bullpen within the next 10 days. Kevin Correia is an experienced reliever who has made five starts for the Padres this season. Correia is 0-2 with a 5.92 ERA and has 16 walks in 24 2/3 innings. His high pitch counts are causing Black to dip into the bullpen earlier than he would like. In 124 relief outings with the Giants from 2003-08, Correia had a 4.31 ERA and averaged 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. In 51 career starts, he has a 4.88 ERA and an average of 6.2 strikeouts per nine innings. Walter Silva, a starter who is on the disabled list, also ..."
Hold off on pitching change
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April 19
Boston Globe
 
"The simplest thing for Jake Peavy and Padres general manager Kevin Towers would be for this surprising little start to continue through the trade deadline and perhaps the season. If that should happen, the Padres would not turn into pumpkins and Peavy would not turn into a Red Sox, Cub, Dodger, or Met. He would be a full-time performer in the Padres' Proving People Wrong Tour. "We've got a long way to go, but it's always a good thing to get off to a good start, especially with our team because we're inexperienced and we're young," said Peavy, who has two wins already for a team that started 7-3. "What was great was to know we have a team that can compete at this level. "I think we needed ..."
Could Jake Peavy be in Milwaukee Brewers' plan?
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April 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Brewers obviously have enough offense to compete for the National League Central title, but they probably could use another starter in their rotation to help them hang with the Cubs. The Brewers acquired CC Sabathia from Cleveland last summer, and don't be surprised if they make a push for Jake Peavy later this year. "That's going to be based solely on how well we play over the course of time," said center fielder Mike Cameron, Peavy's former teammate in San Diego. "I expect for us to play well. We have a lot of talent here." Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin shocked the baseball world with the Sabathia trade. But Melvin is a small-market GM with a big-market mentality, and ..."
Peavy's future with team likely hinges on how Padres perform in the first half
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April 6
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"The backdrop to a Padres season that begins Monday at Petco Park is that if the team falls out of playoff contention, Jake Peavy could be traded before or shortly after the All-Star break, perhaps to the Dodgers club that opposes Peavy in the opener. In fact, people close to Peavy say the homegrown ace expects he will be dealt for financial reasons, if he stays healthy and the team leaves the race. "I'm hoping that it's a non-issue," said General Manager Kevin Towers, who shopped Peavy for three months last offseason. "My hope is that we're contending and playing well in June and July and we need him to get us where we want to go, and that's back to postseason play." Peavy, a homegrown ..."
Niemann stalemate
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March 29
San Diego Union-Tribune
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"The Padres have shown interest in trading for starting pitcher Jeff Niemann, a No. 5 candidate for the Tampa Bay Rays. In return, the defending American League champions have inquired about Padres prospects Simon Castro, Wynn Pelzer, Juedy Valdez and Nick Schmidt. The Padres have deemed the price too high. Niemann is out of minor league options, reducing the Rays'trade leverage."
Sale of Padres 'awfully close'
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March 26
MLB.com
 
"Majority owner John Moores is on the verge of selling a one-third interest in the Padres to Jeff Moorad, a general partner of the Diamondbacks, and about a dozen partners. The announcement of that closing could occur at a media conference as early as Thursday and will come nearly three months after Moorad began the process of purchasing a portion of the team. "We're awfully close to being able to announce the deal," Moores said when reached by telephone on Wednesday night. "Things have gone as well as I could've expected, particularly because of Commissioner Bud Selig and his staff. The process has been fairly smooth from the beginning up until now. There have been no surprises." The deal ..."
Peavy rumors are false
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March 25
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"It appears the rumors are starting to spread that the Brewers have interest in trading for San Diego ace Jake Peavy, so I just gave general manager Doug Melvin a call to see what was what. Melvin assured me that those rumors are false, that he has not inquired with the Padres about Peavy. "We haven't talked to them," said Melvin. "There's nothing to it." Melvin has always been a straight shooter with me, particularly with trade rumors, so that's good enough for me. A couple of things to keep in mind. Peavy has some $60 million and four years remaining on his contract, and owner Mark Attanasio is on record as saying his budget already is stretched pretty thin. Also, Peavy has a no-trade ..."
Towers forced to look for pitching
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March 23
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"It half started as a joke, only no one is laughing. When asked about the Padres pitching staff, General Manager Kevin Towers said: "Some of them might not be here yet." And he wasn't talking about Jake Peavy and Heath Bell, who are away at the World Baseball Classic. It is becoming painfully clear that the Padres need pitching help from outside the organization, particularly in the bullpen. Meaning some of the 2009 Padres don't even know they are Padres because they have yet to be waived or released by other teams. The state of Padres pitching took another hit yesterday when Josh Geer, a candidate for the No. 5 starting job, gave up six runs on four hits - including two tape-measure ..."
Top prospects report to hitting camp
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March 14
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"PEORIA, Ariz. - Remember how Tony Gwynn swatted ground balls through the left side of the infield, the ball zooming past the shortstop as if it were supercharged? "It's not easy," said Padres prospect Blake Tekotte, a left-handed hitter and leadoff man attempting to develop that skill. "You've got to hit it with backspin. That way, it skips through the infield. That's one of things we're working on." Welcome to the grass-roots level of the Padres' farm system. Today is when spring training begins for most Padres minor-league position players - but for the past six days, Tekotte and 17 other lower-level hitting prospects got special attention. Padres instructors such as Tony Muser, a ..."
Stirring Peavy pot
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March 3
Chicago Sun-Times
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"After a question by a radio reporter suggesting the wisdom of not talking about Jake Peavy because ''that's not really a real situation,'' Piniella proceeded to agree, only to then make it sound like a very ''real situation.'' The Cubs and San Diego Padres haven't restarted the once-heated trade talks for the 2007 Cy Young Award winner since the winter meetings in December, but Peavy clearly remains on the radar as a possible early or midseason target -- if not earlier. ''Obviously, you don't know if something like that is going to happen or not,'' Piniella said. ''So I think it'd be wise to not count on it.'' So it's possible? ''Look, anything's possible,'' he said. ''Yeah, sure, it's ..."
No, Cubs, no? Peavy saga not over yet
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March 2
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Jake Peavy spent three innings of a spring training game Sunday shoving what-might-have-beens in the Cubs' faces. Then he started preparing to switch teams. ''Go Cubs Go''? No, he didn't go there. And he wouldn't go there Sunday in a conversation with reporters, repeating what he told the Sun-Times a couple of weeks ago about focusing on being a San Diego Padre and anticipating pitching this season in the same place he won his 2007 Cy Young Award -- until he's told to do it somewhere else. And just for the record, Peavy denied singing ''Go Cubs Go'' in a Las Vegas bar with pal Roy Oswalt after a Brooks & Dunn concert while the winter meetings were in town in December, as reported on a ..."
Peavy remains interested in joining Cubs
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March 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Jake Peavy saga began in November and lasted through most of the off-season, leaving Cubs fans wondering if the Padres ace would be in blue pinstripes by Opening Day. It hasn't happened yet, and there's no indication a Peavy deal ever will be consummated. But there's little doubt he's a wanted man in the Cubs' clubhouse. "Love to have him," Ryan Theriot said. "That's definitely the type of player you want on your team." The Cubs are waiting for the Ricketts family to close its purchase of the team before deciding whether to re-explore the possibility of acquiring Peavy. Talks have not resumed since the last day of the winter meetings. But after throwing three shutout innings against ..."
Despite new ownership, Pads still likely to deal ace
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February 5
Foxsports.com
 
"The Padres' sale to a group led by Jeff Moorad does not change the team's position on trading right-hander Jake Peavy, according to a source with knowledge of the club's thinking. "The odds are the same," the source said. The Padres maintain that they only will trade Peavy if the deal makes baseball sense. However, their season ticket sales have dropped from about 15,000 in 2008 to "well below" 10,000, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The increasing financial pressure might compel the Padres to move Peavy, particularly if they could land a package from the Cubs headed by minor-league third baseman Josh Vitters, a top hitting prospect. The teams have had no recent conversations; ..."
Cubs trade Cedeno, Olson to Mariners for Heilman
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January 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Cubs have traded Ronny Cedeno and Garrett Olson to Seattle for pitcher Aaron Heilman. Olson is an interesting part of the trade because he was speculated as being part of the Cubs' package to get San Diego Padres' pitcher Jake Peavy. The trade essentially boils down to a Cedeno-Felix Pie-for-Heilman trade, because the Cubs recently traded Pie to the Baltimore Orioles for Olson. Will Heilman help? Not if he pitched the way he did last season. Heilman wants to start, but he's been most effective as a set-up man. Heilman is known most for giving up the home run to Yadier Molina in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS."
Peavy deal could follow Cubs sale
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January 27
MLB.com
 
"A previously discussed trade of All-Star right-handed pitcher Jake Peavy from the Padres to the Cubs is expected to be revived once the sale of the Chicago club is finalized later this spring, sources close to the situation told MLB.com. Neither team, however, indicated Monday that the sides are actively re-engaged on the topic. Nevertheless, other highly placed sources suggested the move looks like a matter of when, not if, based on various developments. Negotiations toward a deal, widely publicized these last two months, previously involved additional teams. But as the Cubs have buttoned up other moves, they now appear prepared to acquire Peavy in a two-team transaction with the Padres. ..."
No need to make Peavy commitment at this point
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January 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Neil Hayes
"It’s always easier to spend someone else’s money, especially in these tough times. That’s what is amusing about sentiment that Tom Ricketts, the leading bidder to buy the Cubs, should agree to swallow Jake Peavy’s $63 million dollar contract to prove he’s committed to winning. Isn’t shelling out $900 million — $200 million more than the previous record price for a baseball franchise — during a national economic meltdown commitment enough, especially when it will take hundreds of millions more to refurbish crumbling Wrigley Field? The Cubs need another starting pitcher because the fifth spot in the rotation remains in flux and because Rich Harden’s right arm is held together with Silly ..."
Rockies joining Benson viewing party
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January 22
MLB.com
 
"The Rockies are one of at least seven teams who will spend Saturday in Phoenix looking at veteran pitcher Kris Benson, who finished last season in the Minors healthy after having missed 2007 with a shoulder injury that required surgery. In addition to the Rockies, Benson, 34, will be watched by the Dodgers, D-Backs, Rangers, Indians, Padres and Cardinals, and a few other teams are considering attending, his agent, Gregg Clifton, said Thursday morning. The Rockies have spent the offseason building rotation depth, and could be looking for one more pitcher to add to the mix. The Rockies have also expressed interest in another experienced right-hander, Josh Fogg, a member of the rotation that ..."
Blanco signed as backup catcher, as well as mentor to starter Hundley
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January 22
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"When Kevin Towers wanted to get the skinny on Henry Blanco, the Padres' general manager put in a call to Greg Maddux, who threw to the catcher in both Atlanta and Chicago. "When you get a strong endorsement from a guy like Maddux, it opens up your eyes," Towers said Wednesday after securing a one-year commitment from Blanco to be the backup catcher as well as a mentor to Nick Hundley. And for Towers, the 37-year-old Blanco's role as a mentor is every bit as important as his ability to catch. Towers emphasized how Blanco last year worked with National League Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto during Blanco's fourth and final season with the Chicago Cubs. "It's important for Nick to have ..."
Potential Peavy deal remains elusive, and so does the pitcher himself
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January 20
San Diego Union-Tribune
 columnist Tim Sullivan
"My car is poorly suited to a stakeout. There's no heat, no air conditioning, no GPS device, no CD player, much less the invisibility option James Bond employed to make his Vanquish vanish in "Die Another Day". So if I'm going to corner the elusive Jake Peavy, I'm probably going to need another idea. Because Peavy's e-mail is overflowing, my interview request to the Padres' pitching ace bounced back unanswered last week. A subsequent voicemail message remains unreturned. Efforts to contact Peavy through the Padres finally produced a phone call from the player's agent, Barry Axelrod, Saturday morning. Axelrod is a man of exquisite manners, but his answer, nonetheless, was no. Peavy can be ..."
Iguchi planning to return to Japan
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January 19
MLB.com
 
"It appears Tadahito Iguchi is planning to return to Japan to prolong his playing career. Iguchi is set to sign with the Chiba Lotte Marines, according to Kyodo News. The 34-year-old infielder spent the past four years in the Majors, playing for the White Sox, Phillies and Padres. Iguchi combined to hit .232 with a .292 on-base percentage and .306 slugging percentage in 85 combined games with the Phillies and Padres this past season. In his 493 career Major League games, he hit .268 with 44 homers and 48 stolen bases. While helping the White Sox win the 2005 World Series, Iguchi proved productive enough to finish fourth in American League Rookie of the Year balloting."
Padres sign ex-shortstop Eckstein, install him as their second baseman
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January 16
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"The Padres, trying to end a bad run at second base, signed longtime shortstop David Eckstein to a one-year deal for $850,000 Thursday and announced him as their second baseman. The Most Valuable Player of the 2006 World Series, Eckstein is easily the most recognizable player acquired by the Padres this offseason. He was the shortstop for World Series championship teams with the Angels (2002) and Cardinals (2006) and a member of National League All-Star teams in 2005-06. "We signed a very good second baseman who we're very excited about," General Manager Kevin Towers said. Manager Bud Black said Eckstein, who will turn 34 on Tuesday, will bat behind leadoff man Jody Gerut when not ..."
Rice vs. Ruth is apples vs. oranges
Comment
January 16
Rocky Mountain News
 
"Amid the debate over Jim Rice's Hall of Fame candidacy came a missive from a New England fan who wanted it known that "Jim Rice's offensive stats for his first 10 years in the Majors were better than Babe Ruth's." Times change. So do the value of stats. Be careful of such traps. Just like the value of the dollar, the value of a stat must be adjusted to the era in which it is compiled. Rice had an impressive career, but did he have a better first decade than Ruth? Well, Ruth was a 20-game winner twice in his first 10 years. He was 92-46 overall, having been primarily a pitcher in his first four full big-league seasons. It wasn't even until his fourth full season, when he led the majors in ..."
If Moorad in, CEO likely to leave
Comment
January 11
San Diego Union-Tribune
 
"Major league executives expect CEO Sandy Alderson to leave the Padres at some point this year if Jeff Moorad takes over the front office. Moorad has said he well regards Alderson, but major league executives doubt Alderson will stay beyond 2009 if Moorad comes aboard because the two are used to doing similar jobs. As general partner of the Diamondbacks, Moorad reportedly was active in negotiations for prominent players such as Eric Byrnes and Russ Ortiz, and his duties were comparable to Alderson's present duties. Alderson, who will attend major league ownership meetings next week, has declined comment on ongoing talks that would set up a phased-in sale of the Padres to a Moorad-led ..."
Hoffman deal is done
Comment
January 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"A reliable source familiar with the negotiations just told me that the Brewers have reached agreement with closer Trevor Hoffman on a free agent deal. It should be announced very shortly. I don't know yet if they settled on the Brewers' initial offer of one year plus an option for 2010 or if they had to guarantee a second year to beat the Dodgers for Hoffman's services. And I don't have financial details yet but I'll get them to you ASAP. So, the Brewers have their closer. And he's baseball's all-time saves leader. He might be 41 but he still converted 30 of 34 saves last year and is the best ever in conversion rate (89%). I'll post more details as I get them. But the deal is done. Hoffman ..."
Dodgers, Brewers offer Hoffman deal
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January 7
MLB.com
 
"The Dodgers and Brewers have both offered free-agent closer Trevor Hoffman a one-year deal with an option for 2010, the agent for the all-time leader with 554 saves said on Wednesday. Hoffman hasn't decided yet where he wants to play. Both deals are higher than the $4 million the Padres offered in early November, a contract that was taken off the table. "We're still negotiating on a number of fronts," Rick Thurman of the Beverly Hills Sports Council told MLB.com in a text message. Los Angeles has also offered a contract to reliever Dennys Reyes, ESPN reported on Wednesday. In addition, the Dodgers have shown interest in Guillermo Mota, who played for the club from 2002 to mid-2004, and ..."