Cubs Finalist In Peavy Sweepstakes, Who Could Be On Their Way Out?

According to various media outlets, the Chicago Cubs are one of three finalists to get the services of the San Diego Padres former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy. The other teams mentioned as finalist are the Atlanta Braves and the long shot Los Angeles Dodgers.

In my opinion, unless the Dodgers offer up Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsely,  they are a very long shot to acquire Peavy since they are rivals and I think Kevin Towers would be run out of town by the Padres fans.

So that leaves us with the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs, both teams are rich in prospects that the San Diego Padres would want, but as of right now the Atlanta Braves seem unwilling to let go of their high caliber talent. The Cubs on the other hand have only one prospect on their list that they will not let go, Jeff Samardizja, everyone else is on the table.

I will discuss various names that the Cubs may use to entice the padres to trade Jake Peavy to them. The first name on the list of players that the Cubs could offer to the Padres is back-up second baseman Mike Fontenot. Fontenot played very well for the Cubs in a part time role hitting .305 with nine homeruns and 40 RBI.

Currently the Padres have Edgar Gonzalez, the brother of the Padres gold glove first basemen Adrian Gonzalez, but Fontenot brings a better defensive game to the field and has more offensive upside.

Another name that the Cubs would likely include in a deal with the Padres is left-handed pitcher Sean Marshall who was 3-5 with a 3.58 ERA last season as a spot starter/long reliever with the Cubs.

If the Padres deal Jake Peavy they are going to need pitching and a lot of it. Marshall would be one piece that they would gladly include in any deal for Peavy because he was having a difficult time cracking the already deep rotation.

High level prospects what will make this deal work, and the Chicago Cubs have a ton of them. One name that might get thrown into the mix is their No. 6 prospect in 2008 according to Baseball America, left handed pitcher Donald Veal.

The 6' 3" lefty has been struggling in Tennessee with the Cubs AA affiliate, but Veal has a ton of upside—but it is unlikely that he could make the jump to the Majors next season

Just a couple of years ago Angel Guzman was slated to be the next Chicago Cubs closer, but he has hit somewhat of a wall in the Cubs bullpen. If the Cubs can sign Kerry Wood and keep him as their closer then it would seem as though innings seven through nine would belong to Samardizja, Marmol and Wood with no room for Guzman.

Trevor Hoffman is inching closer and closer to retirement and eventually they are going to need to groom some one to replace Hoffman, and Angel Guzman could be that guy.

Finally I get to who many have considered one of the Cubs top prospects since he was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2002, Felix Pie. Pie was touted as the "five-tool" player when he was signed but has not lived up to those expectations with limited time with the major league club.

Currently the Padres have an outfield that consists of top prospect Chase Headley (LF), Scott Harriston (CF), and Brian Giles (RF). But none of these players possess what Pie can bring to the field—speed and great athleticism.

It will probably take a package of at least three or four of these players and additional medium level prospects to get any deal done for Peavy. The Cubs have plenty to offer, but it is just a matter of what the Braves and the Dodgers are willing to offer for Peavy.

It would seem as though the Cubs are more willing then ever to part with their young players for a chance at the best rotation in baseball and another shot at the World Series.