If they wanted an ace pitcher for next season, they could just keep Peavy.

They are looking to rebuild so they are looking for a package built around a top of the rotation starting pitcher with 0-3 years of MLB service time.

Harden will be a free agent after 2009 so he would not fit what they are looking for as a centerpiece. Marshall is not a top of the rotation pitcher so he would not fit as the centerpiece.

… what tville was talking about was the perceived “negative” vibes that were given off in the clubhouse, and that Ramirez might have been the source of some of this.

Maybe getting one or two more like Dempster WITHOUT dumping good players just because of their clubhouse vibes, might do the trick.

After all, we have one already under contract stashed away in the broadcast booth.

Who know what effect the economy will have on the free agent market? Maybe it only affects the bottom, maybe it also affects the middle, maybe it affects the entire free agent market.

but I don’t think that it’s the unmitigated impossibility that some do.

The health issues are a concern, although obviously not to the extent that Harden’s were.

As for the extension, it’s hard to say. The money he’s owed makes him attractive, but the no-trade clause lowers his value. (Yes, a big-market team could induce him to waive the no-trade clause by extensively renegotiating his contract. But then why not just throw the money at Sabathia, Burnett or Dempster? It’s foolish to give up the money and the top prospects. The Padres will get a better return for Peavy with his contract intact.)

Do you really think that Theo Epstein is going to risk a $1M fine and the loss of a first round draft pick or two when he can talk to CC right now?

From the Union-Trib:

Towers and the Dodgers could talk trade again this month as Towers tests Jake Peavy’s trade value. Jump-starting the GM meetings in Dana Point, Towers yesterday was to meet with the Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals.

He has said that he wants 3 elite prospects for Peavy. Good. I don’t blame him for wanting to rebuild. The Cubs have two players who might fit that category, though neither is a pitcher: Vitters and Pie. (Pie probably still has value to the Dads because of the vastness of Petco Park.)

What to do about the third? Two possibilities:
1. Take Khalil Greene. That clears $6.5M off their books, and they seem to want to dump him. If they want Theriot, send him over. If they want Cedeño, send him over. Having taken Greene, they may be willing to settle for a lesser prospect(s) like Ascanio and/or Veal.

2. Send them a veteran that can be flipped for prospects. DeRo has no value to the Dads on the field in 2009, but he might have a lot of value to the Twins as a 3B, Mets as a 2B, Indians, or Dodgers. Let Towers negotiate a deal with a third team. That gives the Dads one A-level or two B-level prospects, so they might get four prospects total. The Twins especially seem to have good young pitchers and a gaping hole at 3B. The Cubs would have to decide whether they can handle the loss of DeRo, and whether or not they need to replace him. Harden might be another candidate for this strategy. Lilly would work as well, but it defeats the purpose of getting another stud for the rotation.

You tell me if you are sitting in San Diego’s shoes if you trade Jake Peavy for Felix Pie, Jose Ceda and Sean Marshall. An outfielder who can’t hit major league pitching, a relief prospect that originated in the San Diego organization and a lefty pitcher who projects as perhaps a 4th or 5th starter but more than likely a swing pitcher out of the pen.

If this guy overcomes his durability problems, he’s going to be a solid starter.

should be in the rotation. His salary allows you put money into other positions. You cant have every pitcher in your rotation making 10M+. The Cubs don’t have a starting pitcher at his development level in their organization, so they would be crazy to put him in a deal to get a part-time LH bat. Put him in the rotation and look somewhere else for trade bait.