Outsiders review of the Jake Peavy potential deal

by Dex on Nov 19, 2008 11:05 AM PST Comment 9 comments

Notsellingjeans over at Athletics Nation has a pretty good rant about how the Padres front office looks right now regarding Jake Peavy. He puts most of the blame on Kevin Towers, which is partially right...

1) He thought he could get a Dan Haren-quality package for Peavy, and 2) he thought that he should open up the bidding to every team possible first and then try to get Peavy's blessing for that particular team afterward, rather than covertly getting Peavy's blessing and then quietly engaging 1-2 teams only to avoid media leaks.

That much is true, but this is wrong:

The Padres and Towers' motive - extracting maximum value - is entirely logical. But it looks like they've overplayed their hand and suffered the consequences of seeking as many bids as possible - multiple media leaks, embarrassment, and alienation from their best trade partners in terms of logical fit...and they still haven't consummated a deal.

The Padres aren't trying to extract maximum value. They're trying to extract maximum potential value while keeping the dollar figures at a bare minimum.

So what are we dealing with?

Jake Peavy with a no-trade clause
Jake Peavy basically wants a raise from whatever team he goes to
The fact that KT isn't allowed to take on any contracts that would even come close to Jake Peavy's contract
The fact that every other GM in the game knows this.

To me, putting the blame on KT is rough. We've seen his ability to completely take advantage of other teams through trades, but this is just the toughest spot possible. What the Padres basically want is a group of can't miss prospects well within their initial contracts, from a team willing to trade them away and give Jake Peavy a raise, all knowing that they're under no threat of an actual bidding war because of the no-trade clause.

Our front office is over the barrel and it's not Jake Peavy or Trevor Hoffman's agent or other GMs that put them there. It's John Moores. Let's just get the team sold already so we can quit making some of the brightest baseball minds look like complete jackasses.

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Nice analysis

KT does have some leverage however: contending teams’ desperation, which comes in waves. He can wait for a mid season deal if need be.

I still like getting Escobar from Atlanta if possible. A good hitting starting shortstop for the next five years is nothing to sneeze at. Otherwise, very excited about the possible Brad Ausmus signing.

by Billy Almon on Nov 19, 2008 11:42 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

He's a great glove, too

As a Braves fan, I do not want to see him in a package for Peavy. Young, cheap, and very productive players shouldn’t get traded without a clear replacement, and a replacement is something Atlanta doesn’t have right now.

by BraveBronco0121 on Nov 19, 2008 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

But wait, there's more!

If you act now, we’ll throw in Khalil Greene at no extra charge!

Ron Rivera. Change we can believe in. YES WE CAN!

by sdsuaztec4 on Nov 19, 2008 3:44 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I think there is a lot of blame to go around

but very little of it lies with Towers. His job is far different now than it was before Alderson arrived.

by Winfield's Ghost on Nov 19, 2008 11:55 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Bottom line

Moores

Others have contributed, but this all comes back to Moores.

by TJB on Nov 19, 2008 12:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well said

“Our front office is over the barrel and it’s not Jake Peavy or Trevor Hoffman’s agent or other GMs that put them there. It’s John Moores. Let’s just get the team sold already so we can quit making some of the brightest baseball minds look like complete jackasses.”

by SDPads_1 on Nov 19, 2008 3:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs