01-07-2009, 05:15 AM
Wittenmyer:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->And those close to Hendry expect him to restart the Peavy talks with the San Diego Padres that broke down a month ago at the winter meetings.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Once Bradley passes his physical and becomes a Cub this week, Peavy might be Hendry's next focus.
The Cubs came close to making a deal for the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner in December, but the landscape has changed dramatically since then -- in some ways favorable toward a deal, but in other ways suggesting a tougher road.
The biggest payroll obstacle in taking on the $63 million Peavy is guaranteed for the life of his contract remains the Cubs' 2010 projections. None of the payroll-clearing deals of the last week did anything for 2010, and that means the flexibility to add Peavy probably doesn't exist without a nod from the team's new ownership group.
Selection of a winning bid for the club is said to be close -- perhaps by the end of next week -- and that might be just in time for the Cubs' front office to make a deal before spring training.
Also, the Cubs acquired three well-regarded pitching prospects from the Cleveland Indians in the Mark DeRosa trade last week, giving them deeper reserves of young talent to help pull off a trade.
But the biggest impediment to a deal might be the Padres' willingness to trade their ace, considering their own potential sale to Jeff Moorad's group of investors. Under financial pressures related to a divorce, the Padres' owners had ordered payroll cuts that led to aggressive shopping of Peavy. Some have speculated Moorad won't want to trade one of the team's most valuable commodities.
If Hendry can't land Peavy, plenty of free-agent pitchers remain on the market, although Derek Lowe is pricing himself beyond reason. Productive innings-eaters such as Braden Looper and Tim Redding more likely would fit the Cubs' needs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link(Sun-Times)
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->And those close to Hendry expect him to restart the Peavy talks with the San Diego Padres that broke down a month ago at the winter meetings.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Once Bradley passes his physical and becomes a Cub this week, Peavy might be Hendry's next focus.
The Cubs came close to making a deal for the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner in December, but the landscape has changed dramatically since then -- in some ways favorable toward a deal, but in other ways suggesting a tougher road.
The biggest payroll obstacle in taking on the $63 million Peavy is guaranteed for the life of his contract remains the Cubs' 2010 projections. None of the payroll-clearing deals of the last week did anything for 2010, and that means the flexibility to add Peavy probably doesn't exist without a nod from the team's new ownership group.
Selection of a winning bid for the club is said to be close -- perhaps by the end of next week -- and that might be just in time for the Cubs' front office to make a deal before spring training.
Also, the Cubs acquired three well-regarded pitching prospects from the Cleveland Indians in the Mark DeRosa trade last week, giving them deeper reserves of young talent to help pull off a trade.
But the biggest impediment to a deal might be the Padres' willingness to trade their ace, considering their own potential sale to Jeff Moorad's group of investors. Under financial pressures related to a divorce, the Padres' owners had ordered payroll cuts that led to aggressive shopping of Peavy. Some have speculated Moorad won't want to trade one of the team's most valuable commodities.
If Hendry can't land Peavy, plenty of free-agent pitchers remain on the market, although Derek Lowe is pricing himself beyond reason. Productive innings-eaters such as Braden Looper and Tim Redding more likely would fit the Cubs' needs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link(Sun-Times)
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