Kevin Towers Speaks On The Peavy Aftermath

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 5:19 PM CST in Chicago Cubs News

Once again, Kevin Towers spoke on San Diego radio and it's summarized over at our SBN Padres site Gaslamp Ball. Here are some of the highlights:

At this point in time Jim Hendry isn't inclined to make a deal for Jake Peavy. Towers didn't get into the details why, some of it probably had to do with the number of players and the money. Towers doesn't anticipate the Cubs coming back after Peavy.
Better than average odds that Peavy will be a Padre on Opening Day. The train is back in the station. (Italics added by me)
The priority is getting a good deal for Peavy, more so than getting the payroll to $40m. There are other ways to shrink the payroll, Towers hopes by the beginning of the season he'll be able to get it down to $40.

OK, have at it. (Towers may say he's "spent", but he's pretty damn chatty. Maybe that's what is "spending" him.)

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I just hope he doesnt come near the NL central

My guess is he accepts a trade to the Angels, they have a lot to give up.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 13, 2008 5:23 PM CST reply actions

That sounds pretty logical.

However, Peavy does have a NTC, so he’d have to approve.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 5:26 PM CST up reply actions

Angels farm system

isn’t what it once was. But maybe they can throw some major league talent down south.

Peavy might accept a trade to the Angels as he could commute from his SD home without moving. But he really wants to stay in the NL.

by Josh Timmers on Dec 13, 2008 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

The price is going to...........

………..drop as time wears on. The Pads need to save the $$$ and teams know it. There’s no reason to buy high and Hendry’s no fool.

If the Cubs didn’t have Z, Harden, Lilly, Demp already on board, with guys like Marshall and Marquis in the wings, then it might be different. But with those guys in the stable, Hendry can wait things out.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Dec 13, 2008 5:33 PM CST reply actions

Or just not do it at all.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 6:11 PM CST up reply actions

True, but............

……..with Harden likely gone after this year and Lilly in the open market the year after, grabbing a guy as (relatively) inexpensive as Peavy for small change makes a lot of sense.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Dec 13, 2008 6:51 PM CST up reply actions

Why would those two necessarily leave?

If Harden proves to be healthy, by his standards, why wouldnt they bring him back. As for Lilly, hes half way through his deal and Id say certainly on his way to earning another one.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 13, 2008 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

As I see it, Harden...........

……….doesn’t seem comfortable in the NL. Can’t really explain it other than my gut says this guy would rather be in the AL. And on top of that, I REALLY think he’s the kind of player who wants to be WHERE THEY PAY HIM THE MOST. Based on that premise, I’d rather have Peavy.

As for Lilly, again, there are no guarantees this guy will return. And, again, I’d rather have Peavy than Lilly anyway.

Not saying either is going, but when compared to Peavy, which of the three would you rather have?

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Dec 13, 2008 10:11 PM CST up reply actions

I dont really buy your argument

For a guy like Harden, with all his injuries, it would behoove him to stay in the NL to avoid the DH.

Lilly has been one of the best signings of that FA class, and he isnt a power pitcher; so Im not saying he’ll go as long as Moyer or Jeff Fassero, but Lilly should have a few more years in him.

So I dont see why they couldnt have all three, but I dont think this trade is going to happen anymore anyway

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Dec 14, 2008 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

I wonder why

… the Brewers haven’t called Towers. If they were willing to spend $100 million on CC …

by elgato on Dec 13, 2008 5:33 PM CST reply actions

I suspect that Peavy wants nothing to do with Milwaukee...

…since he has been specifc about where he is willing to go…I dont remember Milwaukee on that list.

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by JB 23 on Dec 13, 2008 5:44 PM CST up reply actions

Bingo

Peavy has a no-trade and won’t waive it for just anyone.

by Josh Timmers on Dec 13, 2008 5:46 PM CST up reply actions

I'm guessing he'd do it for the Angels, though.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

You're probably right

Guys want to play for the Angels. Great Owner, winning ballclub, respected manager. Big emphasis on clubhouse character.

Now if that’s just enough for Teixeira to stay. :-) Of course, if Teixeira stays, they don’t have the money for Peavy.

by Josh Timmers on Dec 13, 2008 7:39 PM CST up reply actions

I think Texiera stays in Orange County

With their aging sluggers, it makes total sense. You guys are spot-on – Moreno is a great owner and very down to earth. He pays for good ballplayers.

"Hey Hey, Holy Mackerel, No Doubt About It!"

by scottsdalecubs on Dec 13, 2008 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

Towers

is a blabbermouth, and isn’t liked in San Diego. There have been calls for his firing for the last couple of years.

I’d take anything he says with a mountain of salt.

by Clark Addison on Dec 13, 2008 6:47 PM CST reply actions

So which statement of his is true?

“This train has left the station”

“The train is back in the station”

If he’s so bad (and I’m not questioning you, he appears to have a bit of a screw loose), why doesn’t Moores fire him?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 14, 2008 3:59 AM CST up reply actions

My guess on this situation

Towers is actually a pretty good GM and Moores knows it. He also knows that there is no way given the circumstances that any GM worth his salt is going to come and work for him right now.

Towers knows that the situation is not good. He sees where this club is headed. (express train for the 100 loss season) He is making sure that everyone knows that his hands are tied and that there is nothing that he can do. He wants to make sure that it is enough in everyone’s consciousness that they will remember 5 years from now when he is interviewing for another job that his hands were tied and he had to strip that team.

Might not be the case, but then again it really might be. Every rat for himself on that sinking ship.

"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run [i]for[/i] Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray

by Archie on Dec 15, 2008 9:02 AM CST up reply actions

I think you are correct.

Lack of discreetness aside, Towers isn’t the worst GM in the league. (I believe that Jim Bowden has retired that trophy anyway.)

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 15, 2008 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

I agree also, but...

… apparently, the chattiness is the reason you cite for letting everyone know how bad things are. When he’s interviewing for his next job, how is his next boss going to like that?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2008 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

Well right now I'm bored and finally finished with my english paper

I think I’ll watch the Z no hitter game..

BCB Works Miracles: It saved my English grade!

by Chanman25 on Dec 13, 2008 9:06 PM CST reply actions

I hope Towers gets backed into such a sharp corner that he has no choice but to send Peavy to the Cubs.

And then Hendry signs Crazy Milton, assigning him his own trainer and security supervisor, and I’m a happy camper.

Fact: Your Opinion is Wrong.

by northsider on Dec 14, 2008 2:57 AM CST reply actions

You're getting close

The true (secret) plan is to hire Kosuke a new translator who is also a NINJA MASTER whose job will be to subdue Milton Bradley as necessary.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Dec 14, 2008 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

Nice to see you

back. You were missed.

by sue369 on Dec 14, 2008 8:30 PM CST up reply actions

If you take anything the Padres

say at face value….it’s somewhat naive. Let me repeat — from afar, you’d think this is over.

It isn’t, I assure you.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Dec 14, 2008 6:39 AM CST reply actions

Unless you actually work in the Padres front office...

… and I happen to know you don’t, I’ll take their words (not “word”, and there is a difference) before yours.

We’ll see.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 14, 2008 7:27 AM CST up reply actions

Smooth Jazz Men

often have in’s with front offices.

With the recent talk that the Cubs have to move Marquis to even sign Bradley, it makes me wonder how we could take on Peavy and a bat.

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by Brett Taylor on Dec 14, 2008 7:06 PM CST up reply actions

I agree, this is just negotiating and adjusting their position.

The momentum behind trading Peavy comes from the owner. It doesn’t mean he goes for nothing, but the limited teams is hampering the deal. Peavy could very well start the season with the Padres but he’ll be gone by the deadline. A lot of it depends on peavy, does he want to get to his next team and get settled in before the season starts? Does he want to toil for a 440 M payroll AAA+ team? Peavy’s got to make it easier to get value for him. I think it will happen before opening day.

by DudeVf11 on Dec 14, 2008 8:12 PM CST up reply actions

Negotiating?

What part of

At this point in time Jim Hendry isn’t inclined to make a deal for Jake Peavy. Towers didn’t get into the details why, some of it probably had to do with the number of players and the money. Towers doesn’t anticipate the Cubs coming back after Peavy.

didn’t you understand?

Maybe Peavy will be traded at the deadline. But it won’t be to the Cubs.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 15, 2008 4:34 AM CST up reply actions

I disagree.

There is no way that Towers can take a chance on Peavy throwing another pitch for the Padres with an elbow that already required a DL stint last year. Peavy won’t be traded to the Cubs unless KT significantly reduces his demand for return talent, but he will be traded somewhere before Opening Day — with the Dodgers as a last resort.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 15, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions