Come To Think Of It...Cubs Trade Talk: Padres Send Jake Peavy To Cubbies?

It's fairly obvious that the San Diego Padres want to trade Jake Peavy. In fact, their apparent sense of urgency makes me concerned that they know something medically that we don't.  Hopefully that's not true.

Assuming it's a trade designed to clear his salary off the books, this trade makes sense for both teams. The Cubs will need a starting pitcher to replace Ryan Dempster if he leaves, and the Padres owner needs to clear salary space to help pay for his divorce.

All along it's been assumed that the Atlanta Braves have the upper hand in this deal.  And they still may end up being the eventual trade partners that the Pads decide to hook up with.

However, with Atlanta balking at trading top prospects, San Diego has had to turn to other teams on Peavy's pre-approved list of teams.  And yes, the Cubs are on his fav five list.

At first glance, it may appear that the Cubs do not have the pieces to make such a deal.  After all, Peavy is a 2007 Cy Young award winner who has a 3.25 career ERA as well as just about as many strikeouts as innings pitched.

But young center-fielder Felix Pie may be just the kind of speedy, athletic type that Pads GM Kevin Towers goes for. With Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson splitting time in center as the plan for '09, it doesn't appear there is any room for Pie here. (Funny, there's always room for Jello...)

If the Cubs add young lefthander Sean Marshall, and perhaps third baseman Josh Vitters, they might be able to get it done. Towers said yesterday that three prospects could make a deal if they were the right three.

And Towers and Cubs GM Jim Hendry like and respect each other, so a deal would appear to be a natural thing.

Now back to the concerns about Peavy. He has on occasion broken down. He spent time on the shelf briefly last season with elbow tightness. And his strikeouts were down while his walks were up last year, never a good sign.

And he's a bulldog. Normally, that's a compliment except for a pitcher that means he puts forth maximum effort into every pitch, which puts a strain on his arm.

Still, he's worth the gamble.  After all, any free agent pitcher is a gamble, right? Every pitcher is one wrong pitch away from the disabled list.  Anyway, I'm sure whoever trades for Peavy will get a good look at his medical reports.

As far as the money is concerned, Peavy's contract will pay him just above what Dempster is expected to be asking on the free agent market. At least through 2013, when the big money option kicks in for $22 million dollars (with a $4m buyout).

At $8 million dollars in 2009, he is a bargain.

So why not the Cubs? Come to think of it, it makes sense.