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Padres To Explore Peavy Deals With Cubs, Dodgers

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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Padres intend to explore a possible Jake Peavy trade with the Cubs and Dodgers at next week’s GM meetings.  Apparently Padres GM Kevin Towers would like to exhaust his possibilities with Peavy’s five preferred NL clubs before engaging others.

Rosenthal notes that the Cubs do not have the quality young pitching the Padres crave.  They still have interest in Peavy, especially if they fail to re-sign Ryan Dempster.

The Dodgers aren’t keen on giving up Clayton Kershaw or James McDonald.  Rosenthal believes the Dodgers have enough in-house pitching depth to buy out Brad Penny’s 2009 option.

If Towers moves on to negotiate with the Yankees, Peavy will complicate matters by demanding his contract be supplemented.

Cubs Rumors: Fukudome, Dempster, Wood

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Let’s check in on the Cubs’ offseason plans.

  • Cubs manager Lou Piniella says the Cubs will move Kosuke Fukudome to center field to platoon with Reed Johnson.  This move implies Jim Edmonds won’t be back.  Technically Edmonds could play right field, but he also needs a platoon partner.
  • The Cubs figure to be in the market for a lefthanded hitting right fielder.  Piniella expects the team to fill their holes via trade.  Brian Giles, Randy Winn, and Jeremy Hermida could fit the bill.
  • Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reminds fans that Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee have no-trade clauses, and does not believe either will be traded.
  • Ken Rosenthal figures the Cubs will re-sign Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood.  However, he wonders if a three-year offer from another team could entice Wood.  Rosenthal says the Mets like Wood but can’t take on that kind of risk.

Odds and Ends: Myers, Crede, Giants

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Links for Wednesday…

Cubs Offseason Targets

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Recently I wrote a Cubs Offseason Outlook, where many reasonable acquisition targets were discussed.  If the Cubs re-sign Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood, they’ll be limited by payroll unless the salaries of Jason Marquis ($9.875MM) or Derrek Lee ($13MM) are moved.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune names his possible Cubs targets: Brian Roberts, Adam Dunn, Jeremy Hermida, Mike Jacobs, Rafael Furcal, Jake Peavy, and Brian Fuentes.  Some fun names in there, many of which could only be added if payroll space is created.  Dunn would be an interesting choice for a regular right fielder, while Jacobs would represent a downgrade at first base.

The Cubs aren’t likely to add Peavy, especially if they re-sign Dempster.  If you’d like to take the speculation to the next level nonetheless, Barry Rozner has ideas at the Daily Herald.  With any trade scenario, it is always important to put yourself in the shoes of the other team and ask if it is truly the best deal for them.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Sunday

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Jake Peavy, on the block:

  • According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union Tribune, the Braves have told the Padres they will not deal Tommy Hanson in a package for Jake Peavy. This despite heavy scouting of Hanson by the Padres in recent days. MLBTR touched on this topic on Friday, but it seems the Braves are standing pat that even Peavy won’t loosen their grip on their prospects. If the Padres are putting something together with the Braves, it’s not likely to be structured around Hanson, or Jair Jurrjens, Jason Heyward and Julio Teheran for that matter. As MLBTR noted before, it could all be speculation from rival GMs.
  • Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune brings us information from Baseball America: Peavy would waive his no trade clause to play for the Cubs. While Rogers notes there’s not much of a fit he suggests a package that includes a swap of Adrian Gonzalez and Derrek Lee. Intriguing, but far fetched.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Sunday

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As we await an offer from the Dodgers to Manny Ramirez, the notion is often floated that a six year contract for Manny is better suited for an American League team. There he can spend the latter half of his deal, presumably the final years of his career, transitioning to DH.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports that Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi confirmed that he has interest in Manny Ramirez.  Rogers quotes Ricciardi: "I’ve always liked him," Ricciardi told the Toronto Sun. "But obviously getting him and liking him are two different things."  We’ve heard this before here.

Rogers goes on to explain that if Manny is going to wind up on a team in Chicago, it would first require a trade. The Cubs will need to deal Alfonso Soriano, as we discussed last week, and the White Sox would need to trade Paul Konerko or Jermaine Dye for either team to be able to afford Ramirez. The article mentions a bad history between White Sox Owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Scott Boras, but it does give credit to Ken Williams’ craftiness and Manny’s power potential as a righty in U.S. Cellular Field. Jim Thome and Manny hitting back-to-back would be imposing to say the least.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Manny, Peavy, Cubs

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • Sox and Pinstripes has eight questions the Red Sox must address this offseason including whether or not to re-sign Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield.
  • Dodger Thoughts notes that there is not a lot of substance behind the rumors of the Dodgers offering Manny Ramirez a contract worth $60MM for two years.
  • Fanhouse wonders if Ramirez could make more money in the long run if he signs a two-year deal with the Dodgers now.
  • Gaslamp Ball wonders if the Padres are not getting the offers they expected for Jake Peavy and are starting to get "cold feet."
  • Talking Chop notes that Frank Wren’s public posturing during the Peavy negotiations is in stark contrast to what Braves fans are accustomed.
  • Bleed Cubbie Blue projects a Cubs ’09 roster, including Aubrey Huff at first base and Luke Scott in right field.
  • The Sports Bank says the biggest need for the White Sox lineup is to add speed. They look at some potential moves and project an ’09 lineup that includes Rafael Furcal and Chone Figgins.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Cubs Searching For Lefthanded Bat

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Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune talked to Cubs GM Jim Hendry, while Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times chatted with manager Lou Piniella.  Both said the Cubs are looking to add lefthanded hitting.  De Luca believes Brian Roberts and Raul Ibanez remain on Hendry’s radar.

I mentioned most of the feasible names in the Cubs Offseason Outlook.  Since right field is difficult to play at Wrigley field, players such as Milton Bradley and Ibanez are a questionable fit.  I believe the ideal acquisition would be Brian Giles, but he’d have to be willing to waive his no-trade clause.

Sullivan mentions an idea that is popular with Cubs fans: trading first baseman Derek Lee.  Freeing up first base would expand the Cubs’ options greatly.  Lee is owed $26MM over the next two seasons and has a full no-trade clause.  He hit .291/.361/.462 in 698 plate appearances, down significantly from ’07.  Lee’s ’08 performance was right around league average for his position.  His defense was a bit above-average this year.

I think Lee has positive trade value, especially in a weak first baseman market.  The Yankees and Giants could be fits, though I wouldn’t expect them to give up anything spectacular (especially since a concession would have to be made for Lee to waive his no-trade).  Randy Winn could be a match for the Cubs.

Hendry Signs Four-Year Extension

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7:35pm: Hendry commented on all kinds of topics to MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat.  He sounds a little more intent on re-signing Dempster than Wood.  Hendry is not sure whether Jim Edmonds will retire, but he sees Felix Pie making the team out of spring training.

Cubs chairman Crane Kenney doesn’t expect any major moves that would require significant increases in payroll.  Kenney said a few weeks ago that he anticipated a bump in payroll.

12:13pm: According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have extended GM Jim Hendry’s contract through the 2012 season.  He can now focus on free agents Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood, as well as acquiring a lefthanded bat.

Cafardo’s Latest: Lowe, Maddux, Peavy

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Here’s a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

  • Interestingly, the Red Sox are reportedly Derek Lowe’s preferred destination.  It’s unknown whether the Sox intend to add a starter this winter, but they may lose free agent Paul Byrd (and will have to decide on Tim Wakefield’s $4MM option).  Cafardo names a dozen other clubs interested in Lowe: the Yankees, Mets, Tigers, Indians, Cardinals, Cubs, Angels, Braves, Phillies, Rangers, Astros, and Blue Jays.
  • Bill Mueller, 38 in March, admits he’d like to play again.  Medically, it’s a long shot because he’d need to regrow cartilage in his knees.
  • One of Greg Maddux’s teammates feels he’ll retire. Maddux could return to the Padres as a player/coach (specifically, he’d prefer a bench coach gig).
  • The Brewers as a sleeper for Jake Peavy?  They’re not on his list, but he’s named other midwest clubs.
  • Cafardo believes catchers Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez will be available this winter.  Makes sense, given the weak free agent market at the position.
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