If one were to base their expections for a return on Jake Peavy from history, it is hard to predict much more than a handful of minor league prospects, and maybe some cash. The Padres have a history of dumping salary rather then trading to improve the ballclub. Word from the Winter Meetings point in the same direction.Jayson Stark reports that the Padres are only dealing with the cubs at this point.
"Towers also said he is only talking to the Cubs about Peavy at this point because Peavy and his agent, Barry Axelrod, haven't expressed any willingness to expand their list of teams Peavey would waive his no-trade clause to play for."
Jake and his agent are, in a way, holding the Padres hostage on this one. They can either keep him or trade him to one team, which severely limits the clubs leverage. I can't say I blame him, I would probably do the same thing.
The next clue also comes from Stark reporting on the Cubs search for a corner outfielder.
"The Cubs have also talked to the Marlins about Jeremy Hermida. But Florida is reluctant to move Hermida just for prospects, and the Cubs aren't interested in trading players who would leave holes on their big league roster."
That pretty much means that the Padres will not be getting an impact player out of the Cubs. So unless Jake expands his list of teams, we shouldn't expect more. The best case scenario is that Towers and Moores give up and we keep the best pitcher the Padres have ever drafted and groomed.
