Are the Padres Playing Games or Making Trades?

The rumor mill surrounding San Diego Padres Starting Pitcher Jake Peavy is starting to resemble the circus that Scott Boras created before the Texas Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez.

On Wednesday, Padres General Manager, Kevin Towers, claimed in multiple media reports that he has identified a third team to make a deal happen with the Chicago Cubs.

This comes on the heels of Cubs Manager, Lou Piniella saying publicly that the Cubs no longer need another starting pitcher, specifically Peavy. Piniella specifically mentioned that he expected Cubs management to turn their attention to either a leadoff hitter or a left handed hitting outfielder.

Meanwhile, the Padres reportedly continue to court the Atlanta Braves as a possible suitor for the 2007 Cy Young award winner.

So what exactly is going on?

To an innocent bystander, it would appear that Towers is simply trying to field options to make a trade happen. But as the weeks pass and the reports continue to flow out of San Diego, indications point to Towers as trying to unload Peavy.

But where does he intend to move Peavy?

Upon deeper review, it appears Towers is trying to play the Braves into making a deal, one that would reportedly involve top-tier shortstop prospect Yuniel Escobar.

If there is a third team indeed available to make a deal happen with the Cubs, Towers is certainly not playing his cards very close to the vest. He hasn't named the mystery third franchise, but also has not closed the book on the Braves, who publicly walked away from the table with Towers a couple weeks ago.

The secondary level of these rumors, if Atlanta is indeed the intended destination, is the future of Khalil Greene in San Diego.

Greene, has shown flashes of power and Gold Glove defense, but had issues making consistent contact with the ball. Does he move to third base or the outfield? Or is he on his way out of San Diego as part of the Peavy trade or a subsequent move?

Towers holds the cards, and continues to openly flaunt the top talent of the franchise that is still under contract to any bidding team. He has already broken ties with closer Trevor Hoffman, and did so in a fashion that left the all-time saves leader in baseball history mad, and looking for a new home.

What he does next, and perhaps more importantly how he does it, could have a huge bearing on the next decade of baseball in San Diego.