PADRES: Cooling off period for Peavy talks

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:59 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The World Series arrived Wednesday, just in time to give Jake Peavy and the Padres a breather from two-plus weeks of trade chatter.

With teams barred from making personnel announcements during the Fall Classic, general manager Kevin Towers, Peavy and his agent, Barry Axelrod, have a chance to regroup after a chaotic period in which as many as 14 clubs inquired about the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner's availability.

Axelrod plans to meet with Peavy, who just returned from a hunting trip, by Friday, and also has a scheduled meeting with Towers and Padres CEO Sandy Alderson next week. It's part of a ploy by both Axelrod and Towers to slow down the process in an attempt to let the emotion of the situation subside and avoid a rash decision.

"These things have a life of their own," Axelrod said. "It's taken on the aura of a free-agent situation. We're going to examine all the elements, sit down and sort things out. (Towers and Alderson) are great communicators. ... In these situations, you have an immediate reaction and later on you have a more reasonable reaction."

Towers was incommunicado until Wednesday, taking a four-day vacation and promising his wife he wouldn't answer phone calls from agents, general managers or the media. Until that point, Towers said the situation had taken off "like a wildfire," with some teams moving aggressively and others simply calling to exchange names.

According to some reports, Atlanta has an offer on the table that would include prospects Jordan Schafer and Tommy Hanson and either second baseman Kelly Johnson or shortstop Yunel Escobar. Schafer, a 22-year-old center fielder, was suspended 50 games at the start of the 2008 season for suspected use of human growth hormone.

But Towers and Alderson will wait until after they meet with Axelrod to take any more steps, meaning no trades are likely until at least the general manager's meetings in Dana Point from Nov. 3-6.

"We're going to keep Jake abreast of what's going on," Towers said. "We'll give them an idea of the clubs that have asked. There have been names exchanged with clubs, but all it really boils down to is what Jake wants. ... We've held off with other clubs because we don't want to get the ball rolling."

Peavy has yet to make his desires public, as the pitcher has made few comments since the Padres confirmed they were fielding trade offers for him earlier this month.

When he was approached on Sept. 27 ---- the next-to-last day of the regular season ---- Peavy stated that he'd "wonder what (his) other options were" if the Padres decided to implement a rebuilding strategy.

Though he was often frustrated during the Padres' 99-loss season, Peavy, 27, has never said he wants to be traded.

When asked how long he thought it would take for the team to return to contention, Towers said it's reasonable to believe the Padres could turn it around in 2010 and perhaps next year.

"A lot is going to depend on how good our young players are," Towers said.

Would that answer be satisfactory for Peavy, who has purchased a home in 4S Ranch and moved his family to San Diego on a full-time basis?

"It's a big decision," said Axelrod, who noted a no-trade clause would have to be part of any trade. "You have to look at all the factors and moving parts. We're usually pretty deliberate. ... At times, (Peavy's frustration) bubbled over. He's a fiery competitor. You don't want to take that out of him. You don't want to tame that too much. But I heard Jake say it, I heard Brian (Giles) say it and I heard Trevor (Hoffman) say it ---- they're not that far away. I think if they kept (Mike) Cameron, (Geoff) Blum and (Doug) Brocail, they're in it last year ---- 84 games wins this division."

Peavy has a no-trade clause in his contract with the Padres, giving him veto power over any trade. He has indicated a strong preference to remain in the National League, according to Axelrod, who said the Braves, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals all emerged when Towers asked him which teams Peavy would likely approve.

Axelrod said Peavy would consider other teams if and when they are presented. But all along, Towers has stated that the exploration process "is an exercise to see how we can improve our ballclub."

"There is a great chance he could remain a Padre," Towers said. "We know what we have here."

Said Axelrod: "It wouldn't surprise me at all if Jake says I want to stay. Nor would it surprise me if he were to say I'd be willing to go here and here."

 

Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at dhayes@nctimes.com.