Brendan Bianowicz is back with another installment of his GM Trade History series. Click here to download the spreadsheet chronicling the moves of Padres GM Kevin Towers.
Kevin Towers
Peavy Trade Not Probable, But Padres Listening
Former Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy is likely to remain a San Diego Padre, this despite numerous trade rumors during the offseason, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Krasovic wrote that Padres general manager Kevin Towers will continue to listen to offers, though. A potential deal with the Chicago Cubs has fallen through, Krasovic added.
Padres Notes: DePodesta, Zduriencik
A few Padres non-Peavy notes from Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune…
- Padres exec Paul DePodesta doesn’t have any interest in the upcoming Moneyball movie. I hadn’t realized that DePo appeared in a few episodes of the excellent "Homicide: Life On The Street" TV show back in the day.
- Padres GM Kevin Towers is a longtime friend of new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik. Perhaps the Padres and Brewers will be frequent trade partners for Zduriencik.
Several Teams Could Have New GMs In ’09
A few articles today take a look at some GM positions in ’09 that will have new faces…
- Michael Radano takes a look at who might fill the GM post for the Phillies in ’09. Based on the Phillies current success, Radano wonders if they should just promote from within. That would mean one of the team’s assistant GMs, Mike Arbuckle and Ruben Amaro Jr. Both Arbuckle and Amaro have interviewed with other teams for open GM positions in the past.
- Rick Freeman takes a look at the names most likely to end up as the GM in Seattle (John Hart, Gerry Hunsicker, Kevin Towers, Kim Ng) and the Phillies (Hunsicker, Arbuckle, Amaro Jr) noting that Hunsicker was the leading candidate for the same post three years ago prior to the hiring of Pat Gillick. He also notes that Kevin Towers will not likely be kept from interviewing with other teams this time around and Ned Colletti could be gone if the Dodgers miss the playoffs. Among the GMs that Freeman believes will remain with their current teams are Brian Sabean, Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein, the latter two of whom are in the final year of their respective contracts.
- A blogger interviewed Paul DePodesta. The Padres assistant General Manager sounds like somebody that has no interest in becoming a GM for another organization, saying "I think I’ve moved around enough and when you land in a place like San Diego there isn’t much incentive to leave. The reality is that I came here for a number of reasons, both professional (the people who work here) and personal (my wife’s family), so unless those things change I would like to stay here as long as they’ll have me." DePodesta may be waiting for Towers to move to another organization.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Heyman’s Latest: Padres, Lowe, Manny, Minaya
Let’s take a look at what SI.com’s Jon Heyman has for us today.
- The Padres might be looking to slash their already-low payroll. With Kevin Towers, Paul DePodesta, and Sandy Alderson on staff, they might be able to do it. The question is of how competitive they’ll be in ’09. For more on the topic, check out our Padres Offseason Outlook.
- Towers thinks that when it comes to free agents, no one does it better than Pat Gillick.
- Will the Dodgers retain Manny Ramirez? Tough to say. Owner Frank McCourt might not want to spend the dough. Then again, with Manny’s jersey going for over $300 at Dodger Stadium — no, that’s not a typo — he might keep him on as an attraction. If only they weren’t so committed to Juan Pierre.
- It doesn’t appear likely Derek Lowe will don Dodger blue next season. He’s had a few rough starts this season, but is still pitching to a 3.69 ERA, and his walks are low. He’ll get a nice contract somewhere, and won’t cost a draft pick.
- The Mets want to extend Omar Minaya’s contract, which expires after the 2009 season.
Bonser Not Discussed In Washburn Talks
8:42pm: Hold the phone – John Hickey says Bonser’s name never came up in the Washburn talks. Jim Street and Larry Stone agree. The criticism of the Mariners may be somewhat unjustified. Hickey says Nick Blackburn was on the table for a very brief period of time. Lee Pelekoudas was tight-lipped on the topic.
4:52pm: Even Washburn can’t believe the Mariners wouldn’t trade him for Bonser. He’s disappointed the trade didn’t go through. Perhaps a new GM will deal him this winter.
FRIDAY, 12:19pm: Joe Christensen has details on the Twins’ uncharacteristic claim of Washburn. He heard they offered the Mariners Boof Bonser (plus apparently the salary relief), but the Ms wanted someone like Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey. It is hard to see this as anything but a blunder for the Mariners’ front office.
On a related note, Scott Miller says Lee Pelekoudas will not become the Mariners’ permanent GM, while Jon Heyman says Kevin Towers is unlikely. Pat Gillick is still rumored as a possibility for the next team president.
THURSDAY
11:48pm: Baker says the Twins put in claims on both Washburn and Ibanez, but only won the Washburn one. With Washburn, the Twins would’ve put him in the rotation and moved a starter to the setup man role. Baker notes that a deal still could happen.
4:58pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Twins won the Washburn claim and the Tigers won the Ibanez claim. The Red Sox and Mets also put in claims on Ibanez. Interesting on both fronts, but no deals were struck so both players will remain with the Mariners.
Heyman says that while the Twins’ Washburn claim had the flavor of a blocking move, the two teams did have trade discussions. There wasn’t really anyone to block, unless the White Sox were lying about their lack of interest.
4:56pm: The Cardinals did not put in a claim on Washburn, according to Derrick Goold.
3:00pm: Geoff Baker expects that the Mariners will hold onto Ibanez, given the compensatory picks they’ll receive this winter. He further speculates that Washburn’s next start will not be for Seattle.
10:54am: The Twins didn’t win the claim on Ibanez, according to Joe Christensen. Ibanez doesn’t expect a trade, though the Mariners have not discussed an extension with him.
9:57am: Geoff Baker confirms both players have been informed they’ve been placed on waivers. He sees the Jays, Red Sox, and Rays as possible AL claimants for Ibanez. Buster Olney considers the Twins a possibility as well. There seems little chance Ibanez would slip to the NL. Baker and Olney also heard an unconfirmed rumor that the Cardinals claimed Washburn.
WEDNESDAY
According to Ken Rosenthal, Mariners players Jarrod Washburn and Raul Ibanez were claimed on waivers yesterday. The Ms have until tomorrow afternoon to work out a deal with the claiming teams. Rosenthal says the Yankees did not claim Washburn.
At the least, the Mariners have a chance to unload Washburn’s contract. Ibanez is inexpensive, so they’ll want quality prospects in return. The Mariners can also elect to keep both players if they don’t like the offers.
The American League received first crack at the two Mariners, in the following order (omitting non-contenders):
- Tigers
- Rangers
- Blue Jays
- Yankees
- Twins
- White Sox
- Red Sox
- Rays
- Angels
Knobler’s Latest: Pirates, Brewers, Beltre, Cabrera
Here’s the latest from CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler.
- A rumor made the rounds that Pirates president Frank Coonelly and GM Neal Huntington were at odds over the team’s strategy, with Coonelly pushing .500 as a goal. Huntington denied that, and has five coveted players to work with in the next week. Keep in mind that only Damaso Marte is a free agent after the season, so moves can be made in the offseason.
- Teams with available relievers believes the Brewers are still in the market, despite Doug Melvin’s claims. Many teams are scouting the Brewers’ Double A club.
- Adrian Beltre’s contract wouldn’t be a problem for the Twins, but the teams haven’t found a match on players.
- Knobler heard that the Marlins might consider Baltimore catcher Ramon Hernandez.
- The rumor about Kevin Towers becoming a candidate for the Seattle GM vacancy won’t die.
- Some folks expect the White Sox to move shortstop Orlando Cabrera before the deadline. They’re still looking for pitching.
Padres Would Not Allow Mariners To Interview Towers
XX Sports Radio recently interviewed Padres CEO Sandy Alderson. The hosts asked whether the Padres would give the Mariners permission to interview Kevin Towers for their GM vacancy. Alderson stressed that the Mariners have not asked and he doesn’t expect them to. He added that if they did ask, the Padres would not grant permission.
Towers is signed through 2010, but Jayson Stark recently heard rumblings that he "might be willing to listen to inquiries from a place like Seattle" because he’s lost clout. Sounds like a moot point, given Alderson’s comments.
Davidoff’s Latest: Padres, Garcia, Lofton
Newsday’s Ken Davidoff posted a new column yesterday.
- Davidoff spoke to Padres GM Kevin Towers, who is not ready to throw in the towel. Realistically Towers could let all of June play out before shopping his veterans.
- If all goes according to plan, Freddy Garcia might appear in the Majors in late August. If so, he’d be eligible for the postseason.
- Davidoff implies that Kenny Lofton is asking for the same $6MM he earned last year. No wonder he’s still sitting at home.
Towers Angry, May Make Changes
Padres GM Kevin Towers got angry last night, pointing out his team’s many flaws. He suggested that wholesale changes may be on the way. Minor leaguers would be called up as a group; he doesn’t want Chase Headley to feel too much pressure. The Jake Peavy injury might be the nail in the coffin, though at least Peavy’s ulnar collateral ligament is said to be intact.
Which players would be part of a veteran purge?
