Rosenthal’s Latest: Griffey, Peavy, Dempster
A look at the latest column from FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:
- Rosenthal wonders if Jason Varitek‘s viral sickness and divorce last year contributed to his poor performance at the plate.
- Ken Griffey Jr.‘s wife gave him her blessing to play anywhere he’d like. If he’s focused on getting a ring, Seattle might not make sense. Griffey’s doctor believes his knee will be in better shape in 2009.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers wonders if Jake Peavy would’ve accepted a trade to the Braves, given Atlanta’s club policy against no-trade clauses. Towers isn’t talking to the Braves, Dodgers, or Yankees about Peavy, and Rosenthal says he’s "not making much headway" with the Cubs. ESPN’s Peter Gammons says the Cubs’ loss of Jose Ceda lessens their chances, while Frank Wren still believes Peavy will end up a Brave.
- The Cubs hope to resolve the Ryan Dempster situation this week. The team wants to do a four-year deal.
- The Giants are still in on Juan Cruz after their Jeremy Affeldt signing.
- The Phillies gave Pat Burrell "parameters" for a new deal, while Rosenthal speculates on the Giants and Dodgers as other possible fits.
Jake Peavy Rumors: Monday
MLB.com’s Corey Brock has the latest on Jake Peavy, after speaking to Padres GM Kevin Towers.
It doesn’t sound like much is going on with the Yankees, despite Ken Rosenthal’s report of numerous discussions. Towers says he’s had "no direct conversations with Cashman about Peavy over a period of time." Towers is currently focused on the Cubs, but admits that a third or even fourth team would need to be involved. He hasn’t talked to the Angels about Peavy.
Yankees Pursuing Peavy
A quick update on Jake Peavy. On Thursday, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune said it was clear that neither the Braves nor Cubs would be acquiring Peavy. The Braves are moving on, looking at A.J. Burnett, despite Buster Olney’s suggestion that both sides need this deal. Krasovic wondered if Kevin Towers might approach the Yankees and Angels.
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal reports Brian Cashman and Towers have been discussing a Peavy deal since the GM meetings earlier this month. Towers apparently wanted to engage NL clubs – a "strong preference" for Peavy – before touching base again with the Yankees again but talks have now officially recommenced.
This continues to be mentioned as it makes good news, and who knows, but it remains a longshot. Peavy would need to be given financial reason to waive his no-trade clause to play for a high-profile AL club on the east coast, and the Yankees would need to trade more prospects (despite already dealing five young pitchers away for Nick Swisher, Damaso Marte, and Xavier Nady) rather than solve their rotation needs through free agent signings.
Olney On Braves, Peavy, Burnett
Buster Olney writes that the Braves are still the best fit for Jake Peavy, even if they are apparently moving on for the time being. Olney argues that “both sides need this trade.”
The Braves will not bid on C.C. Sabathia, and Olney thinks they’ll have a tough time signing A.J. Burnett.
If the Braves can’t sign Burnett, Olney suggests Jon Garland, Oliver Perez and Ryan Dempster as alternatives.
The Braves have already had preliminary discussions with Burnett’s agent, Darek Brauneker.
Braves Moving On From Peavy
4:26pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs remain interested in Peavy; they intend to add one starting pitcher. Ryan Dempster is another possibility, and Randy Johnson is also on the radar.
4:14pm: Much ink has been spilled on the possibility of the Braves acquiring Jake Peavy, but GM Frank Wren tabled that idea today. Wren has notified the Padres he’s moving on to other pitchers to fill his rotation. A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Ryan Dempster are known to be targets.
Burnett, Braves Have Mutual Interest
According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves and A.J. Burnett have mutual interest. Preliminary talks have taken place. Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker, downplayed the idea that Burnett strongly desires to play closer to home. The Braves also like Derek Lowe and Ryan Dempster. They could try to sign two of the three if a Jake Peavy deal cannot be hammered out.
Burnett has a four-year, $54MM offer from the Blue Jays to shop around. The Yankees should make an offer soon.
Jake Peavy Rumors: Thursday
9:41pm: Kevin Towers told Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune that despite advanced discussions with the Braves and Cubs, he does not see a potential deal with either club. Krasovic wonders if Towers will now try to engage the Yankees and Angels.
4:26pm: Rosenthal says trade talks between the Padres and Braves remain at an impasse, but the Braves would pursue Rafael Furcal next if they do acquire Peavy.
4:14pm: Brown has a quote from Kevin Towers: "Nothing is close. I wouldn’t say we are even remotely close to pulling the trigger on anything with Jake." But the question remains – are the Padres nearing a deal with the Braves?
4:02pm: Click here to listen to an mp3 of Scott Miller on XX Sports Radio. Miller didn’t say anything new, but explained that the denials are a matter of semantics since he said the Padres are "expected to" approach Peavy soon, and not that a deal was done.
1:34pm: No agreement, says Yahoo’s Tim Brown, but "some movement" in talks with the Braves. Brown’s source also says the Cubs’ offer was much better than reported.
12:55pm: Ken Rosenthal talked to a Padres source who called Miller’s report "totally inaccurate." The source says the Padres are not close on a Peavy deal.
10:29am: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Braves haven’t gotten the sense they’re any closer to a deal with the Padres.
9:18am: CBSSports.com’s Scott Miller, using careful language, suggested the Padres and Braves neared a Jake Peavy trade last night. Ken Rosenthal, however, says the Padres have not communicated acceptance of the Braves’ offer at this time. The Cubs remain uncertain but interested, despite Lou Piniella’s remarks. Rosenthal wonders if the Padres agreed internally to make a deal with Atlanta, and will take the next steps today.
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports "no clear sign of a deal." He notes that old friends Kevin Towers and Barry Axelrod do not have the same goals.
Cubs Focused On Lefthanded Bat
Gordon Wittenmyer talked to his sources and agrees with Lou Piniella’s indication that the Cubs are not serious about Jake Peavy. Wittenmyer believes San Diego sources were putting the Cubs rumors out there to drive up the price. He says the Cubs are focused on acquiring an athletic lefthanded hitter this winter.
Wittenmyer says Raul Ibanez, Jeremy Hermida, and Brian Roberts remain on the radar. The latest word on Hermida is that the Marlins will need to be "wowed" to move him.
Braves Near Peavy Deal?
According to Scott Miller of CBSSports.com, the Padres are expected to request Jake Peavy waive his no-trade clause to go to the Braves. The deal being discussed: Yunel Escobar, Gorkys Hernandez, Charlie Morton or Jo-Jo Reyes, and Blaine Boyer or one of two minor league southpaws. Miller says the Padres are leaning toward Morton and Boyer.
The Braves want an answer by Friday, so they can figure out their free agent needs. Peavy is said to prefer the Cubs, but we’ll see what happens if the Padres approach him to waive the no-trade for Atlanta. It hasn’t happened yet.
Nothing Imminent On Peavy Deal
5:46pm: Manager Lou Piniella thinks the Peavy-Cubs rumors are "only talk." At least, he hasn’t talked to Cubs GM Jim Hendry much about it. Piniella remains fixated on a lefthanded hitter.
4:31pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown has an update on the Jake Peavy trade talks, though it’s not very exciting. A Padres exec says the team has options, but nothing is close. The Padres have not yet asked Peavy to approve a trade.
Interesting note from Brown – the Yankees pushed hard, while the Red Sox and Mets "inserted themselves" into the mix.
Brown notes that Peavy would probably want the fifth year of his contract guaranteed upon a trade. At that point it’d be a five-year, $81MM deal. How much worse off would a team be signing a solid free agent starter at a lower price, while preserving the farm system?