In this latest episode of "Shopping Jake Peavy", I guess you can move the Cubs to the top of Peavy's list. According to Ken Rosenthal, he's certainly at the top of Kevin Towers' list of trade partners as the Braves don't seem to be a match.
The Cubs have emerged as a front-runner in the Peavy sweepstakes, perhaps even ahead of the Braves, according to major-league sources.
The club also is willing to give (Ryan) Dempster a four-year contract, sources say, a decision that should put them in good position to retain the free-agent right-hander.
Even though the Cubs are for sale, team officials apparently believe that they can absorb the four years and $63 million remaining on Peavy's contract while committing at least $50 million to Dempster over the same term.
Carlos Zambrano, Jake Peavy, Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster. Yikes.
The Cubs would do good not to be "Diamondbacks East", where they have all their money sunk into the rotation and can't hit. But with Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, and Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs needn't worry about that. And if the Cubs can't afford Kerry Wood when all is said and done, then here comes Carlos Marmol to close anyway. Besides, if they hit a little less, they can win every game 2-1 anyway with that scary rotation.
Arm bash: Chicago Cubs Online
Cubs Aim for World Domination: Take Lead in Jake Peavy Derby originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.