PADRES: Peavy talks remain quiet for the holiday

Towers: Billingsley's injury won't affect Dodgers' interest in Padres ace

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Thursday, November 27, 2008 12:13 AM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Padres general manager Kevin Towers said the broken leg suffered by Los Angeles pitcher Chad Billingsley isn't likely to encourage the Dodgers to beat down his door for Jake Peavy.

Earlier this week, Billingsley ---- who was 16-10 with a 3.14 ERA last season ---- reportedly slipped on ice in front of his Pennsylvania home and broke his leg, an injury that will sideline him until January. But Towers doesn't believe it will affect talks regarding Peavy, which appear to have slowed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

"I doubt that influeces anything," Towers said this week. "I haven't had any contact with the Dodgers since the (GM) meetings (Nov. 3-6)."

Towers' contact with most of Peavy's suitors appears to have waned recently. The Atlanta Braves have been out of the running for nearly two weeks, while Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella reiterated Tuesday that the club's priorities don't include a starting pitcher.

Towers said as late as last week that the Cubs could still be involved, but they might need to involve a third team or "get creative" to acquire the 2007 National League Cy Young winner.

On Wednesday, CEO Sandy Alderson said on his weekly radio appearance that neither the Cubs nor the Braves should be ruled out. However, he thought both clubs and the Padres would re-evaluate their positions in the week leading up to baseball's winter meetings, which will be held Dec. 8-11 in Las Vegas.

The current lack of activity puts the Padres' offseason plans on hold, as their direction will be dictated by whether or not Peavy can be moved. Towers said he'll have a better handle on it by the end of the winter meetings.

"If we don't move Jake, there's probably not a lot we could do," Towers said. "Our payroll will be close to $50 million, and we need it at $40 million. The focus is on Jake. We'll have to try to piece it together from there."

Depending on what the Padres receive in a potential deal, they could accelerate efforts to make other moves. The organization would consider trading Khalil Greene for prospects if they could receive another shortstop as part of a Peavy deal.

The Padres also could then move forward in talks surrounding third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff or left fielder Chase Headley, both of whom were inquired about during the GM meetings earlier this month in Dana Point. Kouzmanoff, though, would likely draw less interest after undergoing shoulder surgery last week.

Last week, Towers said he would "exhaust" talks with all five teams on Peavy's preferred list ---- the Cubs, Dodgers, Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros ---- before moving on to other organizations. But Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, said Peavy's list wasn't exclusive and that the pitcher had only flatly denied one team ---- believed to be the Texas Rangers.

Axelrod also indicated in an e-mail that six-to-eight other clubs could be in the mix and that he had only named the five teams when pressed for guidance from Towers. Axelrod added that the list isn't set in stone.

Towers' efforts to deal Peavy, who will earn $11 million in 2009, would be greatly enhanced if, say, the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Angels were introduced into a bidding war.

"I know that Kevin's thought is to get some sort of pre-approval on teams so that he doesn't waste his time or the time of any other organization," Axelrod said. "That is fine, but he does not need permission from Jake to talk to any other team. The only official input Jake can have is to approve or disapprove of a specific trade. Again, the list was to give some guidance, but is not the exclusive list of teams that Jake would consider."

Padres note

CEO Sandy Alderson said during his weekly radio appearance Wednesday that he has made attempts through several sources to contact RHP Trevor Hoffman, but that those attempts have been met without success. "I remain open to it," Alderson said of a meeting. He added that he wants to explain to the veteran closer the circumstances surrounding his contract offer being pulled and the Padres' prospects moving forward.

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