12-10-2008, 01:11 AM
Z's pal:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->While general manager Jim Hendry said he spoke to representatives of three or four free agents Tuesday on the second day of baseball's winter meetings, the Jake Peavy rumors continue to take center stage.
Hendry declined to comment on talk that Mark DeRosa was headed to Philadelphia for pitching prospects that would be sent to San Diego to complete a potential Peavy deal, but Phillies sources insisted a deal was in place and ready to go if the Cubs decide to pull the trigger with the Padres.
Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney said the team can afford to add a lucrative long-term contract even without knowing exactly who the new owner will be, which suggests Peavy's $63 million contract is within the projected budgets that already have been presented to the bidders.
"We think within the budget we have, we have enough room to do most of the things we need to do," Kenney said.
While nothing appears imminent, the Cubs have done enough groundwork on the Peavy deal to pull it off quickly. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jason Marquis would replace Sean Marshall in the package going to the Padres, with the Cubs eating more than half of his $9.8 million salary. The Phillies would send two pitching prospects to the Padres while acquiring DeRosa from the Cubs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Asked about trading the popular second baseman, Hendry replied: "I don't talk about our guys."
If DeRosa were traded, Mike Fontenot would move to second base, and the Cubs would sign a veteran backup. Manager Lou Piniella said Monday that Fontenot also would be given playing time at short in spring training.
But first, the Cubs are focusing on finding a left-handed, middle-of-the-order hitter, and may be closing in on switch-hitter Milton Bradley. The Cubs also have interest in free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu, but there had been no formal talks as of Tuesday evening. Abreu's agent, Peter Greenberg, said the Yankees outfielder is interested in the Cubs.
But Bradley is a less-expensive option who has played 468 career games in center field and 151 in right, meaning Piniella could play Kosuke Fukudome in right against right-handers and use Reed Johnson in center against lefties, with Bradley moving to right.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link(Tribune)
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->While general manager Jim Hendry said he spoke to representatives of three or four free agents Tuesday on the second day of baseball's winter meetings, the Jake Peavy rumors continue to take center stage.
Hendry declined to comment on talk that Mark DeRosa was headed to Philadelphia for pitching prospects that would be sent to San Diego to complete a potential Peavy deal, but Phillies sources insisted a deal was in place and ready to go if the Cubs decide to pull the trigger with the Padres.
Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney said the team can afford to add a lucrative long-term contract even without knowing exactly who the new owner will be, which suggests Peavy's $63 million contract is within the projected budgets that already have been presented to the bidders.
"We think within the budget we have, we have enough room to do most of the things we need to do," Kenney said.
While nothing appears imminent, the Cubs have done enough groundwork on the Peavy deal to pull it off quickly. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Jason Marquis would replace Sean Marshall in the package going to the Padres, with the Cubs eating more than half of his $9.8 million salary. The Phillies would send two pitching prospects to the Padres while acquiring DeRosa from the Cubs.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Asked about trading the popular second baseman, Hendry replied: "I don't talk about our guys."
If DeRosa were traded, Mike Fontenot would move to second base, and the Cubs would sign a veteran backup. Manager Lou Piniella said Monday that Fontenot also would be given playing time at short in spring training.
But first, the Cubs are focusing on finding a left-handed, middle-of-the-order hitter, and may be closing in on switch-hitter Milton Bradley. The Cubs also have interest in free-agent outfielder Bobby Abreu, but there had been no formal talks as of Tuesday evening. Abreu's agent, Peter Greenberg, said the Yankees outfielder is interested in the Cubs.
But Bradley is a less-expensive option who has played 468 career games in center field and 151 in right, meaning Piniella could play Kosuke Fukudome in right against right-handers and use Reed Johnson in center against lefties, with Bradley moving to right.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link(Tribune)
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