My best guess is that trading for Peavy Cubs would have to give up:

Cedeno, Theriot or Fontenot, Pie, Stevens, Gaudin, Hart, & Vitters. From all that I have read Towers wants a decent young starter (Gaudin), a reliever or two (Stevens & Hart), an occupying SS, a 2B who both can play right away, an OF’er who can chase down the big OF and a real prospect making the trade of a top player all worth it.

This would leave a hole in the Cubs infield where Miles fills in one of the spots and the Cubs would need to find a utility player. My hope is Theriot is traded and Fonty and Miles start in the infield and they Cubs get a player like Counsel or Loretta on the infield.

On paper the Cubs are counting on Samardz or Marshall or Atkins or someone else stepping forth and then when Lilly’s contract expires another will be needed to step up.

of if he is in Mesa clearly shows up Gathright.

Hendry and even the suits have said that 2009-2010 they hold that they are in position to be a WS contender/aspirant. Hendry has said that:

SunTimes 01/07/09 :

And those close to Hendry expect him to restart the Peavy talks with the San Diego Padres that broke down a month ago at the winter meetings. "’We’re going to continue to look for pitching before we go to camp,’’ Hendry said

.

12/6/08 SunTimes:

CEO Crane Kenney has stated that the payroll will actually be north of $140 million.

12/31/08:

Payroll is set until new owner is named

I think looking at these published reports and looking at the Cubs current payroll of $133M right now and with the subtraction of those that are presumed going to a proposed SD trade and how it fits into the 2009 stated $140M payroll target, the only issue then is as follows in the Jan 7th article:

Once Bradley passes his physical and becomes a Cub this week, Peavy might be Hendry’s next focus.

The Cubs came close to making a deal for the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner in December, but the landscape has changed dramatically since then — in some ways favorable toward a deal, but in other ways suggesting a tougher road.

The biggest payroll obstacle in taking on the $63 million Peavy is guaranteed for the life of his contract remains the Cubs’ 2010 projections. None of the payroll-clearing deals of the last week did anything for 2010, and that means the flexibility to add Peavy probably doesn’t exist without a nod from the team’s new ownership group.

This goes back to the radio show comment about the new ownership which must sign off on the increase of payroll for 2010, which I see running above $150M, with possible subtractions of a couple role players bringing down under that level but still $10M above $140M set for this year.

This all fits and basically is quite transparent. Cubs can make some minor moves with salaries under $1M…..Wuertz and signing a $500K LOOGY or signing a $500K back up catcher or going with a $400K minor leaguer. (As for catching I am thinking the Cubs will go scavenger hunting and looking for someone to cut a player and pick them up when they clear waivers like RJohnson or Edmonds and put K Hill on the roster unless Bako comes at the minimum.)

Let’s arm ourselves to the teeth.

it’s probably safe to say, they’ve loaded up again this year. should be interesting to see if it works out for them or not.