JAY PARIS COMMENTARY: Big Apple or no, Peavy is a goner

Yankees equipped, and Jake intrigued

By JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Sunday, November 2, 2008 9:44 PM PST ∞

It's a long shot, but Padres pitcher Jake Peavy could be wearing Yankees pinstripes next season. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff Photographer)

The crowd settles into the seats at the new Yankee Stadium, as legendary public address announcer Bob Sheppard clears his golden throat.

"Your attention, please, ladies and gentleman,'' booms Sheppard's deep voice, filling the South Bronx air. "Pitching for the Yankees, Jake Peavy.''

Don't laugh ---- although you might want to cry.

Peavy pitching for the Yankees is a long shot, according to Barry Axelrod, his agent. But it's likely no bigger odds than Peavy hugging the Petco Park rubber next season.

Peavy is gone, Padres fans. Not yet, but it's only a matter of time.

It could happen this week if the Padres' Kevin Towers finds a trade partner at the general managers meetings in Dana Point.

While the Yankees aren't in Peavy's preferred National League, the idea isn't completely wacky.

"Playing with (Derek) Jeter, playing for the pinstripes,'' Towers said, the idea rumbling around to give him a New York state of mind. "It's down the list; he wants to stay in the National League.

"But if that doesn't work out, we maybe go back to them and ask them if they would consider New York.''

The Yankees possess two things that the Padres seek: money and prospects. If the Steinbrenners give Peavy some green, and send some green players to San Diego, who knows?

"It's probably the only American League team Jake would consider. He talks with Derek Jeter all the time,'' the Encinitas-based Axelrod said. "He said to me at one point, 'Gosh, every kid growing up dreams about the pinstripes.' "

Even an Alabama native accustomed to the sleepy backcountry instead of a city that never sleeps?

"He wouldn't even be intimidated by pitching in Yankee Stadium ---- he is not Ed Whitson," Axelrod said. "He would go back there and face up to the challenge and the fans would love him, even though he is a country boy. They would love that competitiveness."

Padres fans do. That's why the masses aren't pleased about Peavy's impending exit.

But in the wake of the Padres' 99-loss clunker, Peavy is deemed too expensive and too valuable ---- in what he could bring via trade.

The penny-pinching Padres, whose 2009 payroll will be well south of last season's $73 million, have a Neiman Marcus-quality product sitting on their Wal-Mart shelf.

To retool the Padres, trades and/or an infusion of youth is on the docket. But much of the peach-fuzz brigade was on display last year, and not all are ready.

That puts the onus on Towers' wheeling and dealing, because high-priced free agents need not leave a call-back number.

With the team eager to dump a rich contract and extract some compelling pieces, that places all eyes on Peavy. And that causes Padres backers to cover theirs.

"It's understandable,'' Towers said of the building discontent, which will grow louder when a deal is consummated. "But I think ultimately what the fans want is an improved ballclub. If we don't do anything and keep Jake, are the fans going to be happy losing 90-95 games with Jake?

"No trade is easy, especially when it's an individual like Jake ---- I love him to death. But I've got to look at it from a business standpoint and how to make the Padres better. If we have to move Jake to make that happen, I have to put aside my personal relationship.''

There's little question about how the locals regard Peavy. From the initial chords of "Sweet Home Alabama" when he emerges for his first pitch until he departs, the Friar faithful is in Peavy's corner.

Let's connect the dots on the Padres reaching this point, less than a year after signing Peavy to a $52 million extension through 2012:

-- Owner John Moores' impending and expensive divorce.

-- A dreadful season that will torpedo 2009 season-ticket sales.

-- An economy that will compromise corporate sponsorships.

So shedding Peavy gives the Padres players and erases a labor cost that, under their business model, they decline to absorb.

"I'm not unsympathetic to the Padres' plight,'' Axelrod said. "I understand it. I don't like it, Jake doesn't like it. But we understand.''

Towers understands that, in return, he must get as many as five players. He's looking for pitching and more pitching ---- arms that help now and in the future.

"If I'm sitting in the Padres' shoes, I probably feel like I'm giving up a  27-year-old former Cy Young Award winner and I better get a lot back,'' Axelrod said. "But I don't know too many teams that have the two elements ---- the money and the prospects. Atlanta seems to be one.''

Peavy wouldn't balk at heading south. But the Braves ---- maybe it's a bluff ---- say they won't part with prized pitching prospect Tommy Hanson.

The other teams that Peavy, who has trade veto power, initially gave the OK to explore were the Dodgers, Cubs, Astros and Cardinals.

But let's say the Yankees don't get free agents CC Sabathia or A.J. Burnett. What about a New York package including young starters Ian Kennedy, Phil Hughes and second baseman Robinson Cano?

If Towers and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman chill together in Dana Point, might it ignite a hot-stove blockbuster?

"I think Kevin perceives they are a prospect-rich organization," Axelrod said. "And he and Cashman play well together ---- but that's a long shot. We strongly prefer the National League."

Padres fans favor Jake Peavy staying put. Sadly, that's the biggest long shot of them all.

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.