Padres look for Eaton, Peavy to step up

By: SHAUN O'NEILL - Staff Writer | Sunday, February 22, 2004 9:30 PM PST ∞

PEORIA, Ariz. ---- Padres general manager Kevin Towers knows he is holding one ace. If he doesn't have a matched pair, or even better, three of a kind, he will be forced to ante up again.

The Padres' foray into the free-agent market last winter showed that front-line pitchers don't come cheaply, or easily. The Padres never made a bid for Bartolo Colon or Kevin Millwood. And they quickly realized they didn't have the buy-in for Greg Maddux's high-stakes game.

Towers got his ace by offering left-hander David Wells a $1.25 million guarantee. With that money, Towers also bought some time.

Wells turns 41 in May, is on a one-year contract and is thinking retirement with a capital "R." All of which means Towers will be back in the market for a front-line starter next winter ---- unless he already has another ace in the hole.

It would save Towers many weeks of consternation and financial planning if Jake Peavy or Adam Eaton proves to be that ace. It's a lot easier to find another arm to round out the rotation than it is one to start the rotation.

"You always want to see your young pitchers make progress," Towers said Sunday.

"I'd like to think that next year we'll have a couple No. 1s. Hopefully, Eaton and Peavy will evolve into that kind of pitcher. If Wells decides to call it quits, I'll probably still be looking to add another arm next year."

Wells' presence now saves Peavy and Eaton from the burden of carrying the No. 1 tag prematurely, as Brian Lawrence was forced to do last season, but they know their continued development in 2004 is key to the Padres' long-term success.

"I know I will do everything in my power to make Kevin's job easier," Peavy said. "I don't want to be just a major league pitcher. I think that's true of all of us: We want to get the most out of our ability and get to that next level."

Said Eaton: "I feel confident in my ability to be a quote, unquote No. 1 guy. Whether I am, whether they want to put that sticker on me is to be determined. If I earn it, well, good for me."

And good for the Padres.

Here's why it's not a leap of Friar faith to think there is an ace in the making: Both right-handers are young (Peavy 22, Eaton 26). Both have more than two effective pitches. Both have a competitive fire and a willingness to take blame in defeat. They want the ball.

"I'd rather be called a stopper," Eaton said, "somebody who can be counted on to step up when the team really needs it."

Yet faith alone won't produce the results the Padres must get from the talented twosome. Peavy (12-11, 4.11 for a 98-loss team last year) must continue to improve his cut fastball to tie up left-handed hitters, and Eaton (9-12, 4.08) has a bad habit of outthinking himself and getting beat on his third- or fourth-best pitch in a key situation.

More important, both need to show they can handle a greater load of innings while retaining a high degree of effectiveness. Given Peavy's youth and Eaton's elbow surgery three years ago, that's no certainty for this year.

But they already have passed one important test: Both want the ball, and they want to pitch in a brighter glare, no matter the pressure.

"I know what my expectations are of what kind I pitcher I want to be, what kind of pitcher I can be," Eaton said. "I don't think I'm there yet."

Added Peavy: "We can talk about the future, but the important thing to remember is this team has a chance to win this year, to win a title. If the three of us (including Lawrence) take another step forward, that is going to help us now. I can't see why we wouldn't."

Towers obviously concurs. After dealing promising lefty Oliver Perez last August to get slugging outfielder Brian Giles, Towers spurned all trade inquiries regarding Peavy and Eaton last winter.

"I hope we're talking here next spring where Eaton and Peavy have each won 15-16 games and we've got two or three top end of the rotation pitchers," Towers said.

Towers is a former pitcher, a former pitching coach and a former scout. He has made mistakes on pitchers before ---- trading Woody Williams remains a chief regret ---- but he doesn't make a habit of it. He has staked a lot more than his reputation on the belief Peavy and Eaton are the keepers.

We'll know whether he was right on Opening Day 2005. If anybody but Peavy or Eaton throws the Padres' first pitch, the plan went awry.

Contact staff writer Shaun O'Neill at (760) 740-3546 or soneill@nctimes.com.